Which document is valid up to 10 years for an immigrant?

Which document is valid up to 10 years for an immigrant?

• A. I-551 Permanent Resident Alien Card: Valid up to 10 years, Immigrant
• B. I-766 Employment Authorization Document: Valid 1-4 years, Non-immigrant
• C. MRZ—Machine Readable Zone
• D. OVI—Optically Variable Ink

Answer: (A)

Ten-year validity for an immigrant’s primary proof of status comes from the Permanent Resident Card, the I-551. This card is issued to lawful permanent residents and serves as both proof of status and identification, with a ten-year expiration that requires renewal before it lapses to maintain continuous documentation. In contrast, the Employment Authorization Document (I-766) provides work permission and typically lasts one to four years; the machine readable zone is just a data area on travel documents, not a standalone immigration credential; and optically variable ink is a security feature, not a status document.

Ten-year validity for an immigrant’s primary proof of status comes from the Permanent Resident Card, the I-551. This card is issued to lawful permanent residents and serves as both proof of status and identification, with a ten-year expiration that requires renewal before it lapses to maintain continuous documentation. In contrast, the Employment Authorization Document (I-766) provides work permission and typically lasts one to four years; the machine readable zone is just a data area on travel documents, not a standalone immigration credential; and optically variable ink is a security feature, not a status document.