How to Spot a Fake Permanent Resident Card

For U.S. employers who see Permanent Resident Cards ("green cards") frequently while hiring immigrants and filling out the federally required I-9, it can be easy to spot a fake or counterfeit one. One glance at the identity card that your new employee shows you might reveal, for instance that:

• the font, alignment, and layout are inconsistent with genuine green cards
• the document does not contain the normal security features, and/or
• there are glaring typos or inaccuracies on the face of the card.

Then again, you don't want to jump to conclusions. For one thing, the U.S. government often redesigns the green card. So, for example, the one issued beginning in January of 2023 was a stronger shade of green, which might look artificial to employers accustomed to the older, lighter cards.

In any case, when performing an initial review of any I-9 document leads you, as an employer, to believe that the document might be fraudulent, you potentially have a legal duty to review it more closely. See What to Do If an Employee's Green Card or Other I-9 Documents Look Fake or Suspicious for details on your responsibilities under the law.

This article focuses on the physical aspects of the green card itself, and some of the common signs that a green card is a forgery and not acceptable as proof of a foreign national's right to work in the United States.

Typos, Mistakes and Inconsistencies, and Other Signs of a Fake Green Card

You are not expected to be a document expert, but if a document does not pass your initial "smell test," you might be able to use the information below to confirm or change your initial determination.

1. The font, alignment, or layout of the card is inconsistent with genuine cards. You can look at examples of valid cards in Section 13.1 of the I-9 Handbook for Employers.
2. The card contains references to the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) but was issued after the agency ceased to exist and the green card was revised. The INS became a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, and its functions were divided amongst a number of agencies. The Permanent Resident Card was revised in 2004 to reflect the DHS seal; cards issued after that should not contain references to the INS.
3. The card is the wrong version for the time period in which it was issued. See the examples in the Handbook for Employers. Note that the issue date for the card is not found on the card and is not necessarily the same as the date that permanent residence began. Cards are typically issued for 2-year or 10-year periods.
4. The card contains internal inconsistencies. The USCIS number (USCIS#) on the face of the card should match the number at the end of the first line of "code" on the back of the card. The holder's date of birth on the front of the card should also be the same as the one listed at the beginning of the second line of "code" on the back of the card. If, for example, the birthdate on the front is listed as 17 Aug. 1978, you should be able to spot 780817 on the back.
5. The card contains other typos or spelling or grammatical errors. Fake cards more commonly contain typos and related mistakes on the back of the card rather than on the front. A sentence like "If finded, dop in any USA Mailbox" is a serious sign of trouble.
6. You are looking at a card that says "Resident Alien" across the top but has an expiration date in 2009 or later. These older-style green cards are acceptable for I-9 purposes. They should, however, have expired in 2008 or earlier (or have no expiration date at all).
7. The card contains the incorrect form number. The form number for all green cards issued since 1979 is I-551. On newer cards, this is printed on the back of the card in the upper left corner. Some fake green cards have been spotted with a 1-551 (the number "one"-551) instead of I-551 (the letter, pronounced "eye"-551) or have the form number I-766, which corresponds with an Employment Authorization Document, not a green card. Others have been seen bearing completely random numbers following the "I".
8. The card is an obvious copy of an online sample. Get to know the versions USCIS posts online, and if you see the exact same photos, birthdates, fingerprint pattern, or signature in a card you're presented, be suspicious.
9. The card doesn't feel like it should. Perhaps the plastic coating feels flimsy and the whole card feels thin. Or perhaps it's all completely flat. Modern cards have what the government calls "tactile features," or raised letters and images that one can feel by running a finger over the card.
10. If it's the latest version of the card, it lacks holographic features. If you're looking at a recently issued green card, try shifting it in your hand, observing it from different angles. Different parts of the design should then become visible.

There is an underground market for fake green cards, despite ongoing efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to combat it. Some of the producers are large "document mills," others are individuals trying their hand at a possibly lucrative, if criminal enterprise. The level of sophistication of the fraudsters varies widely (as does the cost to the buyer), but it's clear that not all are offering a high-value product.

What If You're Still Not Sure Whether a Green Card Is Fake?

If you are not certain that a supposed green card is a forgery, do not reject it quite yet. It is always best to have a clear I-9 policy in place at your company and to consult an experienced immigration attorney when you have questions about your responsibilities as a U.S. employer when it comes to reviewing documents presented by would-be employees.