The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) appears to have stopped including its printed “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” with newly issued green cards, according to recent reports from Green Card recipients. The change has drawn attention because the booklet has traditionally served as an introductory guide for new lawful permanent residents, explaining their rights and responsibilities and providing information on settling in the US.USCIS has not announced that the guide has been formally discontinued but they said that all information was available online. The agency’s website continues to make the guide available online, and its official page for new green card holders still lists the publication among the resources available to permanent residents.The reports about the missing booklet appear to be based on recent Green Card recipients who say their cards arrived without the printed guide. The development was reported by Newsweek based on claims on Reddit.
What is the ‘Welcome to the United States’ guide?
The publication is an official USCIS guide titled “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants.” It provides basic information intended to help new permanent residents settle in the country.The guide covers subjects including maintaining permanent resident status, working in the United States, paying taxes, travelling internationally, finding housing and healthcare, and understanding rights and responsibilities.USCIS continues to host the publication as a downloadable PDF on its website.The agency’s “After We Grant Your Green Card” webpage also continues to direct permanent residents to the guide.The apparent removal of the printed booklet does not change the legal status of a person who has been granted permanent residence. USCIS continues to issue Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as green cards, to lawful permanent residents.The booklet itself is informational. It is not a required immigration document, and not receiving a physical copy does not invalidate a green card or alter the holder’s rights and obligations as a permanent resident.The guide remains available electronically, meaning new immigrants can still access the same USCIS information online.
Why the change is drawing attention
The development came at a time when the Trump administration has introduced a series of changes affecting the US immigration system, including changes to immigration processing and screening.That broader context has prompted speculation about whether the disappearance of the printed welcome guide represents another policy change.A former USCIS supervisor, Douglas S Pierce, told Newsweek that the agency might have stopped mailing the guide to cut printing, postage and storage costs by moving materials online.
