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998 Chapter 7:Worker guides • Section 1: Multiple program worker guides (07/2026) Alien Registration Receipt Cards USCIS Forms I-151 and I-551, are issued to non-citizens who have been granted permanent resident status in the United States. They retain this status while in this country. The bearer is required to have this card in his/her possession at all times. The first ALIEN REGISTRATION RECEIPT CARD, Form I-151, was introduced in 1946. Through 18 years of various revisions, it remained primarily green in color causing it to become known as a “green card”. This term is still commonly used today although the cards have not been “green” since 1964. These cards contained no expiration date and were only required to be renewed if the recipient was under the age of 14 at the time of issuance, or if the card was lost or stolen. Note: As of March 20, 1996, the above form I-151 is no longer acceptable as evidence of permanent residence. Employment Authorization Document This EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT, Form I-688B, is issued to non-citizens who are not permanent residents but have been granted permission to be employed in the U.S. for a specific period of time. The card originally was produced with a Polaroid process similar to the I-688 and I-688A, but has the added feature of interlocking gold lines across the front. In May 1995, some INS (currently USCIS) offices began issuing a modified I-688B. The most significant change was to the card stock which was changed from the Polaroid process to a synthetic material called Teslin on which the biometric and biographic data of the bearer are printed. Note that on this version, the name is printed on two lines.