After Receiving a Decision
If You Recently Became a Permanent Resident
After you become a permanent resident, we mail you a welcome notice. Then we mail your new Permanent Resident Card(Green Card). If you move before you get your card, change your address online or call the USCIS Contact Center.
You should also call the USCIS Contact Center if any of the following occur:
- You received your welcome notice or card, but you believe there is an error.
- It has been more than 30 days since you became a permanent resident, and you have not received your welcome notice.
- It has been more than 30 days since you received your welcome notice but you have not received your new card.
- You have questions about your new status as a permanent resident.
Applying for Other Documents from Other Agencies (Driver's License, Social Security Card) as a Permanent Resident
Permanent residents can work in the U.S. When you were granted permanent residence, we may have placed a special stamp in your passport or given you a temporary status document. Until you receive your new Permanent Resident Card, use this stamp or document if:
- You apply for an unrestricted social security card
- You apply for a driver's license
- You need to travel abroad for less than one year
If you did not receive your notice or document, you can submit a case inquiry online.
When you are hired for a new job, you must prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. to your employer. You may show your new Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or your unrestricted social security card as acceptable evidence of your employment eligibility and an acceptable identity document, such as your driver's license. For questions specific to employment eligibility, please see I-9 Central.
For information about how to apply for a social security card, please see the Social Security Administration website. If you were already in the U.S. when you became a permanent resident, and have not yet received temporary evidence of your new status, please follow the instructions on your approval notice.
If You Have Moved Since Your Case Was Approved
If you have moved since your case was approved, change your address online or call the USCIS Contact Center.
You should also call the USCIS Contact Center if any of the following occur:
- If you believe there's an error on our approval notice or document we mailed you.
- If our case status online tool says we mailed you an approval notice or document more than 30 days ago but you have not received it/them.
- If we approved your I-129 nonimmigrant worker petition, but the consulate or port of entry hasn't yet received notification.
If you filed a petition for a relative when you were a permanent resident, and want to upgrade it because you have now become a U.S. citizen, please contact the National Visa Center (NVC) with the U.S. Department of State. The contact information for the NVC can be found on your approval notice.
If you want to request that we return original documents that you may have sent us with your application or petition, please file a Form G-884.
If you want to check current immigrant visa priority dates, please check the Visa Bulletin issued by the U.S. Department of State.
If Your Case Was Denied
If an unfavorable decision is made (your case is denied and/or you are ordered removed), you will receive a notice explaining why the decision in your case was unfavorable.
This notice will also explain if you can file an appeal. With certain exceptions, you may file motions to reopen or reconsider decisions made in your case.
Administrative appeals are only available on certain kinds of cases. If an appeal or motion is available to you, how to file one is explained in the decision we mailed to you.
Forms to file an appeal are available in the Forms section of this site.