INS Settles Class-Action Suit Over Green Card Replacement
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has agreed to give legal immigrants more time to get new-look green cards and will publicize how some people don’t have to pay the $75 fee.
The agreement settles a class-action lawsuit filed by groups that claimed the replacement program was unfair.
The program aims to replace all the old, easily forged cards with new, tamper-proof cards covered by a special holographic plastic and bearing the holder’s fingerprint. Both cards have the holder’s photo.
In addition to delaying the renewal deadline until March 20, 1996, the INS has agreed to publicize certain conditions that were not stressed when the program was announced in June, 1992.
People with income below the federal poverty level do not have to pay the $75 application fee and those with limited mobility because of age or infirmity will not have to go to an INS office to apply.
The agency also agreed to publicize the availability of naturalization as an alternative to green-card replacement.
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