USCIS Adds Mail Delivery Option for ADIT (I-551) Stamps — How It Works and When to Use It

USCIS now lets many lawful permanent residents (LPRs) receive temporary proof of permanent residence by mail, instead of going to a field office for an ADIT (I-551) stamp. This gives LPRs a faster way to document status for work, travel, DMV, and I-9 purposes while a replacement card or other filing is pending.

What USCIS announced

• Field offices can issue and mail a Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp, DHS seal, and a printed photo from USCIS systems—serving as temporary I-551 evidence. This document is acceptable for Form I-9/E-Verify as a List A receipt.
• To request it, contact the USCIS Contact Center. Officers verify identity, confirm a deliverable address (e.g., UPS/FedEx capable), then either create an in-person appointment or route the request to a field office to mail the stamp if an appearance isn’t required.

Who may still need an in-person visit
USCIS can require an appointment for urgent travel, if there’s no usable photo in USCIS systems, or if identity/address can’t be confirmed—then the stamp is placed in a passport or on an I-94 at the office.

When an ADIT stamp makes sense

• Your green card is expired, lost, or delayed, and you need proof of status now (e.g., while I-90, I-751, or N-400 is pending).
• Your I-797C extension isn’t available or sufficient for a particular agency/employer. (Many LPRs can use the 24-month I-90 extension; the ADIT route is a back-stop.)

Employer I-9 tips

• An unexpired foreign passport + unexpired I-94 with ADIT stamp is acceptable List A evidence. Do not ask for extra documents beyond what the I-9 rules require. Reverify when the I-94/ADIT validity ends.

Practical steps for LPRs

1. Call the Contact Center; have your A-Number, receipt numbers, and mailing address ready.
2. Print your I-94 (after issuance) and keep it with your passport.
3. Travel only after confirming your combination of passport + ADIT evidence is valid through your return date.
4. Keep copies of everything you receive.

Bottom line: The by-mail ADIT process can bridge proof-of-status gaps without a field-office visit—speeding work authorization verification and travel readiness for LPRs.