“New Card Is Being Produced”: what it means
Your approved card is being printed. It is mailed once production finishes.
Checked against USCIS guidance on October 17, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
What this status means
Your case was approved and the card is being printed. Once an officer approves an application for a green card or a work permit (EAD), USCIS prints the card at a card production facility and mails it from there.
The same message appears for green cards, work permits, including H-4 work permits, and other card-based documents.
What it means for your form
- I-485 (green card)
- This is your green card being printed after your adjustment of status was approved. The approval notice is mailed separately, so it is normal to receive one before the other.
- I-765 (work permit, including H-4 EAD)
- Your work permit application was approved and the card is being printed. It is mailed the same way as a green card.
- Immigrant visa (USCIS Immigrant Fee)
- If you came to the United States on an immigrant visa, USCIS produces your green card after you pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, and the card is not issued until the fee is paid. USCIS says to use its online help form if the card has not arrived within 90 days of paying the fee, or of entering the country if you paid before you arrived.
What usually happens next
- The status changes to “Card Was Mailed To Me”. If you have a USCIS online account, it shows the U.S. Postal Service tracking number when the card is mailed.
- A card normally comes with its own notice, Form I-797D.
3 steps · Checklist
Next steps: New Card Is Being Produced
What to do now, as a checklist you can save and tick off.
Make sure USCIS has your current address
Make sure USCIS has your current address. Changing it with the Postal Service is not enough: USPS does not forward mail from USCIS.
Get the tracking number from your USCIS account
Sign in to your USCIS online account to get the tracking number when the card is mailed.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery so you can see the envelope before it arrives.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Does “New Card Is Being Produced” mean my case is approved?
Yes. USCIS prints a green card or work permit only after an officer approves the application.
How long does “New Card Is Being Produced” take?
USCIS does not publish a production time, and it varies. The next message to watch for is “Card Was Mailed To Me”; with a USCIS online account you also get the USPS tracking number at that point.
What if the card never arrives?
If the online status says the card was mailed more than 30 days ago and it has not arrived, USCIS asks you to submit an e-Request. Ask your post office too.
USCIS says that, in general, a card that was never delivered is reissued only if you file a new form, which is why the address on file matters before the card is mailed.
Read more
Sources
General information about how USCIS status messages are used, not legal advice. The notices USCIS mails you are the official record for your case.
