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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 15

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 21 Chapter 15 Noncitizens, Refugees, and Citizenship

15.2.3.K I-551 Permanent Resident Card This card is proof of LPR status. It is commonly called a Green Card, even though some cards are different colors. Until recently, these cards had no expiration date, but cards being issued currently expire 10 years after the date they are issued. At the end of the 10 years, the LPR does not lose his status, but must simply renew the card. Conditional permanent residents are issued cards that are coded “CR” and expire after two years. All I-551 cards contain codes showing how the noncitizen obtained LPR status—whether through work skills or as the relative of a U.S. citizen. Some codes are important in determining whether the noncitizen is eligible for public benefits. Noncitizens who legalized under the general amnesty program have codes W16, W26, or W36 on their cards. Noncitizens who legalized under the Special Agricultural Worker (SAW) program are issued cards containing codes S16 or S26. These codes indicate that the noncitizen may be disqualified for five years from receiving certain federal benefits. 15.2.3.K.1 Between January 1977 and August 1989

15.2.3.K.2 Revised 1989