Starting today, naturalization certificates issued to new U.S. citizens will be different. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the redesign of the certificates (Form N-550), with new security features to reduce fraud and prevent forgery of the document.
The redesigned certificate now includes the new citizen's digitized photograph and signature incorporated into the document. The background also features a color-changing ink pattern that is difficult to reproduce. USCIS is also using a more secure printing process that makes the certificate more tamper-proof.
USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas today also announced that by the end of the year the production process for the new certificates will be fully automated, reducing the time it will take to prepare these documents.
It is estimated that approximately 600,000 people who will become citizens over the course of the next year will receive the new certificate.
All previously issued naturalization certificates remain valid.