Printer-friendly Adobe .pdf

JUN 22  1995

To: Schools and lenders participating in the Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program

Subject: Changes in Resident Alien Card Requirements for Prior Conditional Residents
School Policy Memorandum S-95-13
Lender Policy Memorandum L-95-15

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) notified the Department that conditional residents are oftentimes permanently approved as lawful permanent residents prior to receiving their new I-551 card. This occurs when a conditional resident has requested the removal of the conditional basis of permanent residence status. Upon approval of this request, the INS issues a letter to the applicant stating that his/her request has been approved. In addition, the letter states, "You are deemed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States as of the date of your original admission or adjustment of status." Also, the removal of the class code "CR" and the issuance of a new class code is indicated on the letter.

Since the INS has "deemed" the once conditional resident to be a lawful permanent resident, the HEAL Program will henceforth acknowledge, as sufficient proof of residency status, the following documentation:

A student, formerly a conditional resident, will become eligible for HEAL loans if he/she provides a copy of the attached letter issued to him/her, plus a recently stamped document with the words "Processed for I-551. Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence." Directly under the stamp an INS official will have handwritten and initialed that the adjustment status has been changed to the new class code which appears on the letter and the date of the status change.

Legible copies of these two documents must be submitted with the HEAL application to the HEAL lender.

It will be the responsibility of the school to assure that a copy of the student's new alien registration card, once issued, is placed in the student's financial aid file and a copy is forwarded to the HEAL lender for their records on the borrower in accordance with sections 60.42, 60.51, and 60.56 of the HEAL regulations. While a copy of the 1-551 card is preferred, in cases where the borrower is likely to separate from school prior to the issuance of the actual registration card, the card will not be required where it is not practical for the school to obtain a copy. In these cases, copies of the documents, as described above, which formed the basis of determining eligibility, will be sufficient documentation of proof of permanent residency and must be retained and filed by both the school and the lender. A note explaining why the registration card could not be acquired must also be placed in the file.

If you have any questions regarding this policy memorandum please contact Ms. Terri Ehrenfeld of the HEAL Branch at (301) 443-1540.

Stephen J. Boehlert
Chief, HEAL Branch
Division of Student Assistance

Sample

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF CONDITIONAL BASIS
OF LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE

File Number 12345678
New Classification
Date of Decision: 06/13/95

J DOE
P.O. BOX 1234 
ANYWHERE
CA 900120000
Symbol: IR6

Admission Date: 06/13/93

Your request for the removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved. You are deemed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States as of the date of your original admission or adjustment of status.

You must obtain a new alien registration receipt card (Form I-551). To do so, appear in person at the Service Office shown below. Bring two recent photos of the same type as on your present alien card (if needed, exact specifications may be obtained from the Service Office shown below). Your new alien registration receipt card will be mailed to you within six months.

You should not trave1 outside the United States before receiving your new card unless you have first received a passport endorsement from this Service indicating that your new card is being processed.

INS OFFICE:

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Thomas
Director

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION
1001
300 N LOS ANGELES ST
LOS ANGELES CA 900120000