USCIS Looks to Combat Fraud by Redisgning Employment Authorization Document and Certificate of Citizenship

USCIS is hoping that new technology will help to deter counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate quick and accurate authentication of employment authorization documents and certificates of citizenship.

 New Employment Authorization Documents and Certificates of Citizenship

USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas today announced the launch of an enhanced Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a redesigned Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) that will employ new features meant to strengthen security and deter fraud.

The new developments are part of USCIS’s ongoing efforts to improve the integrity of the immigration system. The purpose of the new technology is to deter counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate quick and accurate authentication of both the employment authorization and certificate of citizenship documents. USCIS has already begun issuing the new EADs and will begin using the redesigned certificates on October 30th. The agency has anticipated that more than 1 million people will receive the redesigned documents over the next year.

“These enhanced documents are more secure than ever,” said Director Mayorkas. “They advance our efforts to safeguard against fraud and protect the integrity of the immigration system.”

The new features of the EAD will allow workers, employers and law enforcement officials to identify the card as definitive proof of authorization to work in the US.

USCIS worked alongside ICE’s Forensic Document Laboratory to incorporate technology and tactile features in order to deter fraud and facilitate card authentication.

In addition, USCIS now uses a more secure printing process for its redesigned Certificate of Citizenship that makes the certificate more tamper-proof.

While the look and feel of the documents is new, the way in which an applicant applies for and receives the documents will not change. Individuals applying for a renewal or replacement of their EADs will receive the new, enhanced documents. That being said, all EADs that have already been issued will remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card. Unlike the EADs, previously issued Certificates of Citizenship remain valid indefinitely.

These changes are a part of USCIS’s ongoing efforts to produce more secure documentation. In 2010, USCIS issued the new Permanent Resident Card, which added features to the physical card in order to increase security and incorporated technology improvements in the card production process. In addition, USCIS issued the redesigned Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) showing the naturalization candidate’s digitized photo and signature embedded into the document. USCIS has stated that it will continue to improve document security features as technology allows.