Does U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accept digital images of the green card (Permanent Resident Card) as proof of status?
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Executive summary
USCIS and related DHS guidance treat the physical Permanent Resident Card (Green Card, Form I‑551) as the official proof of lawful permanent resident status and employment authorization; they do not broadly recognize a mere digital photograph of the card as a replacement for the original when presenting active, official evidence (USCIS guidance on carrying a valid Green Card) [1]. Certain temporary documentary alternatives—an I‑551 ADIT stamp on Form I‑94 or a USCIS receipt paired with an expired card—are specifically accepted in limited contexts such as Form I‑9 or travel, but those are explicit exceptions, not a blanket acceptance of digital images [2] [3].
1. The rule on what proves LPR status: a physical Green Card is the baseline
USCIS issues the Permanent Resident Card as the formal document “as proof” that a lawful permanent resident is authorized to live and work in the United States, and adult LPRs are required to have a valid Green Card (USCIS statement on After We Grant Your Green Card) [1]. For employment verification, USCIS lists the Green Card on its acceptable List A documents for Form I‑9, implying the card itself (and its physical features) is the evidentiary baseline for identity and work authorization (Form I‑9 Acceptable Documents guidance) [4] [5].
2. What employers and DHS actually accept instead of the physical card — narrow, documented exceptions
USCIS and CBP guidance identify narrow, specific alternatives that are acceptable in place of a physical card: a Form I‑94 bearing an ADIT (temporary I‑551) stamp is explicitly acceptable as temporary evidence of LPR status and counts as a List A receipt for Form I‑9 purposes (USCIS notice on temporary I‑94 ADIT stamps) [2]. CBP guidance also notes that certain combinations—expired green card plus a USCIS receipt—can serve as evidence for re‑entry or continued status (CBP travel guidance) [6]. USCIS also extended the period that certain receipt notices serve as evidence of continued status for those who timely file Form I‑90 (receipt notices can be presented with an expired Green Card) [3]. These are process‑driven, documented exceptions—not an endorsement of an uploaded photo of the green card as standalone proof [2] [3].
3. Digital copies and photocopies: useful as backups, but not a universal substitute
Practical guidance from legal resources and renewal instructions treats photocopies or scanned copies as useful back‑ups and as acceptable supporting evidence for administrative processes (for example, submitting a copy when filing Form I‑90 or when proving eligibility for renewal), but they are not presented as an official, universal substitute for the physical card in contexts like in‑person verification or travel (Boundless on renewal and Nolo on carrying copies) [7] [8]. USCIS procedures for replacing or renewing the card rely on formal receipts, ADIT stamps, and physical card issuance processes rather than a policy that a smartphone image equals the card [1] [3].
4. Bottom line, limitations, and where to look for a definitive answer
Based on USCIS and DHS materials, the definitive evidence that an individual is an LPR remains the physical Green Card or the explicitly authorized temporary documents (e.g., ADIT I‑94 stamp, certain receipt notices) specified by USCIS and CBP; a plain digital image or photograph of the Green Card is not listed among the standard accepted primary documents for Form I‑9, travel, or proof of status in the cited guidance, and USCIS guidance focuses on physical cards and designated temporary documents [1] [4] [2] [3]. The sources provided do not contain a single, explicit USCIS policy statement saying “digital images are unacceptable in all circumstances,” so this reporting is limited to what USCIS and DHS explicitly list as acceptable evidence [4] [2]. For a definitive, case‑specific determination—such as whether a particular office will accept a scanned or emailed image for a narrow administrative purpose—USCIS recommends using its contact channels or the specific program guidance (e.g., Form I‑9 instructions, field office procedures), because the official allowable alternatives are those explicitly enumerated in USCIS/CBP guidance and notices [4] [2].