The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office is launching a redesign of Form N-550 to combat fraud.
In the past year, more than 10,000 Minnesotans were sworn in as new citizens and received their certificates. USCIS officials say the new forms are being rolled out in select cities, and will reach Minnesota by the end of the year.
OLD VS. NEW:
• The old certificate featured a passport-size photo glued onto the certificate of naturalization In the new one, a digital photo will be embedded in the document.
• While the old background was static, the certificate's new background has a color-shifting ink pattern that's difficult to copy.
• The old certificates had a blank space reserved for the USCIS director; officials would stamp the signature on the day of the naturalization ceremony. The new forms already have the director's signature digitally embedded.
FOR MORE INFO:
Go to www.uscis.gov.
ALLIE SHAH
