Every green‑card packet has historically included a hard‑back booklet that explains a new permanent resident's rights, responsibilities and practical tips. The guide’s disappearance has surprised many recipients.
USCIS has not formally announced a discontinuation; instead, the agency says the guide is still available as a downloadable PDF on its website.
Former supervisor Douglas S. Pierce told Newsweek that the decision likely cuts printing and postage costs, shifting the material to an online format.
One recipient, a 28‑year‑old engineer from Kenya, said she was disappointed to not receive a physical copy, but accepted the online version as sufficient.
The move does not alter a green‑card holder’s legal status, and the agency maintains that the information remains unchanged on the web.