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Permanent residence (United States)
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Latest green card (2017)
United States Permanent Resident Card (green card) (May 2010)
United States Permanent Resident Card (2008)
John Lennon's Green Card, finally awarded in 1976
United States Alien Registration Receipt Card
United States lawful permanent residency, informally known as having a green card, is the immigration status of a person authorized to live and work in the United States of America permanently. Green cards are valid for 10 years for permanent residents, and 2 years for conditional permanent residents. After this period, the card must be renewed or replaced. The application process may take several years. An immigrant usually has to go through a three-step process to get permanent residency that includes petition and processing.
A United States Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551), formerly known as Alien Registration Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (INS Form I-151), is an identification card attesting to the permanent resident status of an alien in the United States. Owing to its green design from 1946 until 1964, it is known informally as a "green card", a nickname it retained even after the color was changed. The card was restored to green in 2010.[1][2] "Green card" also refers to an immigration process of becoming a permanent resident. The green card serves as proof that its holder, a lawful permanent resident (LPR), has been officially granted immigration benefits, including permission to reside and take employment in the United States. The holder must maintain permanent resident status, and can be removed from the United States if certain conditions of this status are not met.
Green cards were formerly issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107–296, 116 Stat. 2135) dismantled INS and separated the former agency into three components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The first, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), handles applications for immigration benefits. Two other agencies were created to oversee the INS's former functions of immigration enforcement: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), respectively.[3]
Permanent residents of the United States eighteen years of age or older must carry their actual green card at all times. Failing to do so is a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, carrying the possibility of a fine up to $100 and imprisonment for up to 30 days for each offense.[4] Only the federal government can impose these penalties.[5]
Cards issued between January 1977 and August 1989 do not have document numbers or expiration dates and are valid indefinitely.[6]
Contents
1 Reading a permanent resident card
2 Path to U.S. citizenship
3 Types of immigration
3.1 Immigration eligibility and quotas
4 Application process
4.1 Application process for family-sponsored visa for both parents and for children
4.1.1 Green-card holders and families
4.1.2 Improving the application process in obtaining a green card
4.1.2.1 Challenges with processing time of application
4.1.2.2 Quota system challenges
4.2 Application process for employment-based visa
4.3 Green card lottery
4.3.1 Recent developments
4.3.2 Crime: green card lottery scam
4.3.3 Green card lottery e-mail fraud
4.4 Registry
5 Conditional permanent residence
5.1 Differences between permanent residents and conditional permanent residents
6 Abandonment or loss of permanent residence status
6.1 Tax costs of green card relinquishment
7 Visa-free travel for green-card holders
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
10.1 US Government immigration sites
Reading a permanent resident card[edit]
While most of the information on the card is self-evident, the computer- and human-readable signature at the bottom is not. The format follows the machine-readable travel document TD1 format:
First line:
1–2: C1 or C2. C1 = resident within the United States, C2 = permanent resident commuter (living in Canada or Mexico)
3–5: USA (issuing country, United States)
6–14: 9-digit number (A#, alien number)
15: check digit over digits 6–14
16–30: 13-character USCIS receipt number,[7] padded with "<" as a filler character[8]
Second line:
1–6: birth date (in YYMMDD format)
7: check digit over digits 1–6
8: gender
9–14: expiration date (in YYMMDD format)
15: check digit over digits 9–14
16–29: country of birth
30: cumulative check digit (over digits 6–30 (upper line), 1–7, 9–15, 19–29 (lower line))
Third line:
surname, given name, middle name, first initial of father, first initial of mother (this line is spaced with "<<" between the surname and given name).[citation needed] Depending on the length of the name, the father's and mother's initials may be omitted.
A full list of category codes (i.e. IR1, E21, etc.) can be found in the Federal Register[9][10] or Foreign Affairs Manual.[11]
Since May 11, 2010, new green cards contain an RFID chip[12] and can be electronically accessed at a distance. They are shipped with a protective sleeve intended to protect the card from remote access, but it is reported to be inadequate.[13]
Path to U.S. citizenship[edit]
A lawful permanent resident can apply for United States citizenship, or naturalization, after five years of residency including a physical presence of 30 months within a five-year period (a lawful permanent resident must be physically present on U.S. soil at least 30 months of a 5-year residency period as defined under Title 8 Code of Federal Regulations Section 316.2 - there are limitations where the physical presence exemption is waived if the lawful permanent resident is employed overseas e.g. with the U.S. Government including military service, U.S. Government contractors, recognized American institutions of research, public international organizations e.g. Christian missionaries, or organizations defined under the International Immunities Act e.g. International Red Cross, World Health Organization, UN). This period is shortened to three years if married to a U.S. citizen (8 CFR 319). Lawful permanent residents may submit their applications for naturalization as early as 90 days before meeting the residency requirement. In the United States, 8.8 million lawful permanent residents are eligible to naturalize.[14] Citizens are entitled to more rights (and obligations) than permanent residents (who are still classified as aliens in this respect). Lawful permanent residents generally do not have the right to vote, the right to be elected in federal and state elections (although even naturalized citizens cannot be elected President under Article II of the Constitution), the ability to bring family members to the United States (permanent residents are allowed to sponsor certain family members,[15] but this is often not practical due to long approval delays),[16][17] or eligibility for federal government jobs. Male permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 25 are subject to registering in the Selective Service System. Permanent residents who reside in the United States must pay taxes on their worldwide income (this includes filing annual U.S. income tax returns), like U.S. citizens.
Types of immigration[edit]
U.S. immigration legislation in the Immigration and Nationality Act[18] (INA) stipulates that a person may obtain permanent resident status primarily through the course of the following proceedings:[19]
immigration through a family member
immigration through employment
immigration through investment (from 0.5 to 1 million US dollars)
immigration through the Diversity Lottery
immigration through refugee or asylum status
immigration through "The Registry" provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act
immigration approved by the Director of Central Intelligence.
Immigration eligibility and quotas[edit]
Category
Eligibility
Annual quotac
Immigrant visa backlog
Family-sponsored
IR Immediate relative (spouse, children under 21 years of age, and parents) of U.S. citizens
(A U.S. citizen must be at least 21 years of age in order to sponsor his or her parents.) No numerical limita
F1 Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of U.S. citizens 23,400 8–21 yearsb[20]
F2A Spouse and minor children (under 21 year old) of lawful permanent residents 87,934 1–2 yearsb[20]
F2B Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of permanent residents ??? ???
F3 Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens 23,400 10–22 yearsb[20]
F4 Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens 65,000 13–24 yearsb[20]
Employment-basedc
EB-1 Priority workers. There are three sub-groups: 1. Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; 2. Foreign nationals that are outstanding professors or researchers with at least three years' experience in teaching or research and who are recognized internationally; 3. Foreign nationals that are managers and executives subject to international transfer to the United States. 41,455[21] currently available
EB-2 Professionals holding advanced degrees (Ph.D., master's degree, or at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience) or persons of exceptional ability in sciences, arts, or business 41,455[21] 6 months – 9 yearsb
EB-3 Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers 41,455[21] 6 months – 10 yearsb[22]
EB-4 Certain special immigrants: ministers, religious workers, current or former U.S. government workers, etc. 10,291[21] currently available
EB-5 Investors, for investing either $500,000 in rural projects creating over 10 American jobs or $1 million in other developments[23] 10,291[21] currently available
Diversity immigrant (DV) 50,000
Political asylum[24] No numerical limit
Refugee[24] 70,000[25]
a 300,000–500,000 immediate relatives admitted annually.
b No more than 7 percent of the visas may be issued to natives of any one country. Currently, individuals from China (mainland), India, Mexico and the Philippines are subject to per-country quotas in most of the categories, and the waiting time may take longer (additional 5–20 years).[26]
c Spouse and minor children of the IR/F4/EB applicants, DV winners, asylums & refugees may apply for immigrant visa adjudication with their spouse or parent. The quotas include not only the principal applicants but also their nuclear family members.
Application process[edit]
See also: Form I-140
The whole process may take several years, depending on the type of immigrant category and the country of chargeability. An immigrant usually has to go through a three-step process to get permanent residency:
Immigrant petition (Form I-140 or Form I-130) – in the first step, USCIS approves the immigrant petition by a qualifying relative, an employer, or in rare cases, such as with an investor visa, the applicant himself. If a sibling is applying, she or he must have the same parents as the applicant.
Immigrant visa availability – in the second step, unless the applicant is an "immediate relative", an immigrant visa number through the National Visa Center (NVC)[27] of the United States Department of State (DOS) must be available. A visa number might not be immediately available even if the USCIS approves the petition, because the number of immigrant visa numbers is limited every year by quotas set in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are also certain additional limitations by country of chargeability. Thus, most immigrants will be placed on lengthy waiting lists. Those immigrants who are immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen (spouses and children under 21 years of age, and parents of a U.S. citizen who is 21 years of age or older) are not subject to these quotas and may proceed to the next step immediately (since they qualify for the IR immigrant category).
Immigrant visa adjudication – in the third step, when an immigrant visa number becomes available, the applicant must either apply with USCIS to adjust their current status to permanent resident status or apply with the DOS for an immigrant visa at the nearest U.S. consulate before being allowed to come to the United States.
Adjustment of status (AOS) – Adjustment of status is for when the immigrant is in the United States and entered the U.S. legally. Except for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the immigrant must also be in legal status at the time of applying for adjustment of status. For immediate relatives and other relative categories whose visa numbers are current, adjustment of status can be filed for at the same time with the petition (step 1 above). Adjustment of status is submitted to USCIS via form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.[28] The USCIS conducts a series of background checks (including fingerprinting for FBI criminal background check and name checks) and makes a decision on the application. Once the adjustment of status application is accepted, the alien is allowed to stay in the United States even if the original period of authorized stay on the Form I-94 is expired, but he/she is generally not allowed to leave the country until the application is approved, or the application will be abandoned. If the alien has to leave the United States during this time, he/she can apply for travel documents at the USCIS with form I-131, also called Advance parole.[29] If there is a potential risk that the applicant's work permit (visa) will expire or become invalid (laid off by the employer and visa sponsor) or the applicant wants to start working in the United States, while he/she is waiting for the decision about his/her application to change status, he/she can file form I-765, to get Employment Authorization Documents (also called EAD) and be able to continue or start working legally in the United States.[30][31] In some cases, the applicant will be interviewed at a USCIS office, especially if it is a marriage-based adjustment from a K-1 visa, in which case both spouses (the US citizen and the applicant) will be interviewed by the USCIS. If the application is approved, the alien becomes an LPR, and the actual green card is mailed to the alien's last known mailing address.
Consular processing – This is the process if the immigrant is outside the United States, or is ineligible for AOS. It still requires the immigrant visa petition to be first completed and approved. The applicant may make an appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in his/her home country, where a consular officer adjudicates the case. If the case is approved, an immigrant visa is issued by the U.S. embassy or consulate. The visa entitles the holder to travel to the United States as an immigrant. At the port of entry, the immigrant visa holder immediately becomes a permanent resident, and is processed for a permanent resident card and receives an I-551 stamp in his/her passport. The permanent resident card is mailed to his/her U.S. address within several weeks.
An applicant (alien) in the United States can obtain two permits while the case is pending after a certain stage is passed in green card processing (filing of I-485).
The first is a temporary work permit known as the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which allows the alien to take employment in the United States.
The second is a temporary travel document, advance parole, which allows the alien to re-enter the United States. Both permits confer benefits that are independent of any existing status granted to the alien. For example, the alien might already have permission to work in the United States under an H-1B visa.
Application process for family-sponsored visa for both parents and for children[edit]
U.S. citizens may sponsor for permanent residence in the United States the following relatives:
Spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21;
Parents (once the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old);
Unmarried children over the age of 21 (called "sons and daughters");
Married sons and daughters;
Brothers and sisters (once the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old).
U.S. permanent residents may sponsor for permanent residence in the United States the following relatives:
Spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21;
Unmarried children over the age of 21 (called "sons and daughters");
The Department of State's "Visa Bulletin," issued every month, gives the priority date for those petition beneficiaries currently entitled to apply for immigrant status through immigrant visas or adjustment of status.[32] There is no annual quota for the spouses, unmarried children, and parents of U.S. citizens, so there is no waiting period for these applicants—just the required processing time. However, all other family-based categories have significant backlogs, even with a U.S. citizen petitioner.
Regardless of whether the family member being sponsored is located in the United States (and therefore likely to be applying for adjustment of status) or outside the United States (in which case the immigrant visa is the likely option), the process begins with the filing of an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. The form and instructions can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.[33] Required later in the process will be additional biographic data regarding the beneficiary (the person being sponsored) and a medical examination. Additional documents, such as police certificates, may be required depending on whether immigrant visa (consular processing) or adjustment of status is being utilized. In the case of consular processing outside the United States one should ensure one is up-to-date with the particular practices of the relevant US embassy or consulate.[34] All petitioners must supply the I-864 Affidavit of Support.[35]
Green-card holders and families[edit]
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Green-card holders married to non-U.S. citizens are able to legally bring their spouses and minor children to join them in the USA,[36] but must wait for their priority date to become current. The foreign spouse of a green-card holder must wait for approval of an "immigrant visa" from the State Department before entering the United States. Due to numerical limitation on the number of these visas, the wait time for approval may be months or years. In the interim, the spouse cannot be legally present in the United States, unless he or she secures a visa by some other means. Green-card holders may opt to wait to become U.S. citizens, and only then sponsor their spouses and children, as the process is much faster for U.S. citizens. However, many green-card holders can choose to apply for the spouse or children and update their application after becoming a U.S. citizen.
The issue of U.S. green-card holders separated from their families for years is not a new problem. A mechanism to unite families of green-card holders was created by the LIFE Act by the introduction of a "V visa", signed into law by President Clinton. The law expired on December 31, 2000, and V visas are no longer available. From time to time, bills are introduced in Congress to reinstate V visas, but so far none have been successful.
Improving the application process in obtaining a green card[edit]
The most common challenges that USCIS faces in providing services in the green card process are: (1) the length of the application and approval process, and (2) the quotas of green cards granted. USCIS tries to shorten the time qualified applicants wait to receive permanent residence.
Challenges with processing time of application[edit]
Under the current system, immediate family members (spouse, child, and dependent mother and father), have priority status for green cards and generally wait 6 months to a year to have their green card application approved. For non-immediate family members, the process may take up to 10 years.[citation needed] Paperwork is processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so new applications may go untouched for several months. To address the issue of slow processing times, USCIS has made a policy allowing applicants to submit the I-130 and I-485 forms at the same time. This has reduced the processing time. Another delay in the process comes when applications have mistakes. In these cases papers are sent back to the applicant, further delaying the process. Currently the largest issue creating long wait times is not processing time, but rather immigrant visa quotas set by Congress.[37]
Quota system challenges[edit]
Long wait times are a symptom of another issue—quotas preventing immigrants from receiving immigrant visas. Georgia's Augusta Chronicle in 2006 stated that an estimated two million people are on waiting lists in anticipation to become legal and permanent residents of the United States. Immigrants need visas to get off of these waiting lists, and Congress would need to change immigration law in order to accommodate them with legal status.
The number of green cards that can be granted to family-based applicants depends on what preference category they fall under. An unlimited number of immediate relatives can receive green cards because there is no quota for that category. Family members who fall under the other various preference categories have fixed quotas, however the number of visas issued from each category may vary because unused visas from one category may rollover into another category.
Application process for employment-based visa[edit]
Many immigrants opt for this route, which typically requires an employer to "sponsor" (i.e. to petition before USCIS) the immigrant (known as the alien beneficiary) through a presumed future job (in some special categories, the applicant may apply on his/her behalf without a sponsor). The three-step process outlined above is described here in more detail for employment-based immigration applications. After the process is complete, the alien is expected to take the certified job offered by the employer to substantiate his or her immigrant status, since the application ultimately rests on the alien's employment with that company in that particular position.
Immigrant petition – the first step includes the pre-requisite labor certification upon which the actual petition will reside.
Labor certification – the employer must legally prove that it has a need to hire an alien for a specific position and that there is no minimally qualified U.S. citizen or LPR available to fill that position, hence the reason for hiring the alien. Some of the requirements to prove this situation include: proof of advertising for the specific position; skill requirements particular to the job; verification of the prevailing wage for a position; and the employer's ability to pay. This is currently done through an electronic system known as PERM.[38] The date when the labor certification application is filed becomes the applicant's priority date. In some cases, for highly skilled foreign nationals (EB1 and EB2 National Interest Waiver, e.g. researchers, athletes, artists or business executives) and "Schedule A" labor[39] (nurses and physical therapists), this step is waived. This step is processed by the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The labor certification is valid for 6 months from the time it is approved.
Immigrant petition – the employer applies on the alien's behalf to obtain a visa number. The application is form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker,[40] and it is processed by the USCIS. There are several EB (employment-based) immigrant categories (i.e. EB1-EA, EB2-NIW, EB5)[41] under which the alien may apply, with progressively stricter requirements, but often shorter waiting times. Many of the applications are processed under the EB3 category.[42] Currently, this process takes up to 6 months. Many of the EB categories allow expedited processing of this stage, known as "premium processing".
Immigrant visa availability. When the immigrant petition is approved by the USCIS, the petition is forwarded to the NVC for visa allocation. Currently this step centers around the priority date concept.
Priority date – the visa becomes available when the applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date announced on the DOS's Visa Bulletin[43] or when the immigrant visa category the applicant is assigned to is announced as "current". A "current" designation indicates that visa numbers are available to all applicants in the corresponding immigrant category. Petitions with priority dates earlier than the cutoff date are expected to have visas available, therefore those applicants are eligible for final adjudication. When the NVC determines that a visa number could be available for a particular immigrant petition, a visa is tentatively allocated to the applicant. The NVC will send a letter stating that the applicant may be eligible for adjustment of status, and requiring the applicant to choose either to adjust status with the USCIS directly, or apply at the U.S. consulate abroad. This waiting process determines when the applicant can expect the immigration case to be adjudicated. Due to quotas imposed on EB visa categories, there are more approved immigrant petitions than visas available under INA. High demand for visas has created a backlog of approved but unadjudicated cases. In addition, due to processing inefficiencies throughout DOS and USCIS systems, not all visas available under the quota system in a given year were allocated to applicants by the DOS. Since there is no quota carry-over to the next fiscal year, for several years visa quotas have not been fully used, thus adding to the visa backlog.[44]
Immigrant visa adjudication. When the NVC determines that an immigrant visa is available, the case can be adjudicated. If the alien is already in the USA, that alien has a choice to finalize the green card process via adjustment of status in the USA, or via consular processing abroad. If the alien is outside of the USA he/she can only apply for an immigrant visa at the U.S. consulate. The USCIS does not allow an alien to pursue consular processing and AOS simultaneously. Prior to filing the form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) it is required that the applicant have a medical examination performed by a USCIS-approved civil surgeon. The examination includes a blood test and specific immunizations, unless the applicant provides proof that the required immunizations were already done elsewhere. The civil surgeon hands the applicant a sealed envelope containing a completed form I-693, which must be included unopened with the I-485 application.[45] (The cited reference also states that the February 25, 2010 edition of the Form I-693 reflects that an individual should no longer be tested for HIV infection.)
Adjustment of status (AOS) – after the alien has a labor certification and has been provisionally allocated a visa number, the final step is to change his or her status to permanent residency. Adjustment of status is submitted to USCIS via form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If an immigrant visa number is available, the USCIS will allow "concurrent filing": it will accept forms I-140 and I-485 submitted in the same package or will accept form I-485 even before the approval of the I-140.
Consular processing – this is an alternative to AOS, but still requires the immigrant visa petition to be completed. In the past (pre-2005), this process was somewhat faster than applying for AOS, so was sometimes used to circumvent long backlogs (of over two years in some cases). However, due to recent efficiency improvements by the USCIS, it is not clear whether applying via consular processing is faster than the regular AOS process. Consular processing is also thought to be riskier since there is no or very little recourse for appeal if the officer denies the application.
Green card lottery[edit]
Main article: Diversity Immigrant Visa
Each year, around 50,000 immigrant visas are made available through the Diversity Visa (DV) program, also known as the Green Card Lottery to people who were born in countries with low rates of immigration to the United States (fewer than 50,000 immigrants in the past five years). Applicants can only qualify by country of chargeability, not by citizenship. Anyone who is selected under this lottery will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. They can also file for their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21.
If permanent residence is granted, the winner (and his/her family, if applicable) receives an immigrant visa in their passport(s) that has to be "activated" within six months of issuance at any port of entry to the United States. If already in the U.S. adjustment of status may be pursued. The new immigrant receives a stamp on the visa as proof of lawful admittance to the United States, and the individual is now authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Finally, the actual "green card" typically arrives by mail within a few months.
Recent developments[edit]
Over 6.4 million applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery were submitted. This is an increase from the more than 5.5 million applications submitted in the 2007 Diversity Visa Lottery. Taking into account dependents, there are more than 10 million participants in the 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery. Most of the applications were from Africa and Asia: 41 percent of the total came from Africa, 38 percent from Asia, 19 percent coming from Europe, and two percent from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The largest number of applicants came from Bangladesh (more than 1.7 million applicants), followed by Nigeria (684,735) and Ukraine (619,584).
Normally somewhat fewer than 100,000 applicants will be announced as winners to ensure that all 50,000 green cards will be issued.
For the fiscal year 2008 there were 5,983 Bangladesh, 8,773 Nigerian and 5,018 of the Ukrainian applications declared as winners.[46] Of these, there were finally used 2,286 of the Bangladesh winner numbers, 3,425 of the Nigerian winner numbers and 1,914 of the Ukrainian winner numbers to get a green card within the time limit. At the end, 46,633 were issued in FY 2008, 3,367 less than planned.[47] Therefore, the chances to become a winner in a lottery differs from the country of origin for which you are filed for. It also differs from year to year.
Over 14.7 million applications for the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery were submitted. This is an increase from the more than 2.7 million applications submitted in the 2011 Diversity Visa Lottery. Taking into account dependents, there are more than 19.6 million participants in the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery. The largest number of applicants came from Bangladesh (more than 7.6 million applicants) followed by Nigeria (2,144,626) and Ukraine (1,080,091).[48]
Crime: green card lottery scam[edit]
There is a growing number of fraudulent green card lottery scams, in which false agents take money from applicants by promising to submit application forms for them. Most agents are not working for the distribution service. Some claim that they can increase the chance of winning the lottery. This is not true; in fact, they may delay or not submit the application. Likewise, some claim to provide to winners free airline tickets or other benefits, such as submissions in future years or cash funds. There is no way to guarantee their claims, and there are numerous nefarious reasons for them not to fulfill their promises. Applicants are advised to use only official U.S. government websites, in which the URL ends in .gov.
Green card lottery e-mail fraud[edit]
Other fraud perpetrators will e-mail potential victims posing as State Department or other government officials with requests to wire or transfer money online as part of a "processing fee." These fraudulent e-mails are designed to steal money from unsuspecting victims. The senders often use phony e-mail addresses and logos designed to make them look more like official government correspondence. One easy way to tell that an email is a fraud is that it does not end with a ".gov". One particularly common fraud email asks potential victims to wire money via Western Union to an individual (the name varies) at the following address in the United Kingdom: 24 Grosvenor Square, London. These emails come from a variety of email addresses designed to impersonate the U.S. State Department. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services blog has published information on this email scam and how to report fraudulent emails to the authorities.
The Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security[49] and the Federal Trade Commission have issued warnings about this type of fraud or similar business practices.[50][51]
Registry[edit]
The "registry" is a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act which allows a person who has previously entered the United States illegally to obtain legal permanent residence simply on the basis of having de facto resided in the country over a long time. To avail himself of the benefit of this provision, the immigrant has to prove that he has continuously resided since before the stipulated "registry date".[52]
The concept of "registry" was first added to the INA in 1929, with the registry date set to June 3, 1921. Since then, the registry date has been adjusted several times, being set to July 1, 1924; June 28, 1940; and June 30, 1948. The most recent adjustment to the registry date came with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, when it was set to January 1, 1972.[53] A number of bills have been introduced in Congress since then to further alter the registry date, but they have not been passed.[52][53]
Conditional permanent residence[edit]
As part of immigration reform under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), as well as further reform enacted in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA), persons who are eligible and properly apply for permanent residence based on either a recent marriage to a U.S. citizen or as an investor are granted permanent residence only on a conditional basis, for two years. An exception to this rule is the case of a U.S. citizen legally sponsoring a spouse in which the marriage at the time of the adjustment of status (I-485) is more than two years old. In this case, the conditional status is waived and a 10-year Permanent Resident Card is issued upon USCIS approval of the case. A permanent resident under the conditional clause may receive an I-551 stamp as well as a Permanent Resident Card. The expiration date of the conditional period is two years from the approval date. The immigrant visa category is CR (conditional resident).
When this two-year conditional period is over, the permanent residence automatically expires and the applicant is subject to deportation and removal unless, up to 90 days before the conditional residence expires, the applicant must file form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence[54] (if conditional permanent residence was obtained through marriage) or form I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions[55] (if conditional permanent residence was obtained through investment) with USCIS to have the conditions removed. Once the application is received, permanent residence is extended in 1-year intervals until the request to remove conditions is approved or denied. For conditional permanent residence obtained through marriage, both spouses must sign the form I-751; if the spouses are divorced, it is possible to get a waiver of the other spouse's signing requirement, if it can be proved that the marriage was bona fide.
The USCIS requires that the application for the removal of conditions provide both general and specific supporting evidence that the basis on which the applicant obtained conditional permanent residence was not fraudulent. For an application based on marriage, birth certificates of children, joint financial statements, and letters from employers, friends and relatives are some types of evidence that may be accepted.[56] That is to ensure that the marriage was in good faith and not a fraudulent marriage of convenience with a sole intention of obtaining a green card. A follow-up interview with an immigration officer is sometimes required but may be waived if the submitted evidence is sufficient. Both the spouses must usually attend the interview.
The applicant receives an I-551 stamp in their foreign passport upon approval of their case. The applicant is then free from the conditional requirement once the application is approved. The applicant's new Permanent Resident Card arrives via mail to their residence several weeks to several months later and replaces the old two-year conditional residence card. The new card must be renewed after 10 years, but permanent resident status is now granted for an indefinite term if residence conditions are satisfied at all times. USCIS may request to renew the card earlier because of security enhancements of the card or as a part of a revalidation campaign to exclude counterfeit green cards from circulation.
It is important to note that the two-year conditional residence period counts toward satisfying a residency requirement for U.S. naturalization, and other purposes. Application for the removal of conditions must be adjudicated before a separate naturalization application could be reviewed by USCIS on its own merits.
Differences between permanent residents and conditional permanent residents[edit]
Conditional permanent residents have all of the equal "rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties which apply to all other lawful permanent residents."[57]
The only difference is the requirement to satisfy the conditions (such as showing marriage status or satisfying entrepreneur requirements) before the two-year period ends.
Abandonment or loss of permanent residence status[edit]
A green-card holder may abandon permanent residence by filing form I-407, with the green card, at a U.S. Embassy.[58]
Under certain conditions, permanent residence status can be lost involuntarily.[59] This includes committing a criminal act that makes a person removable from the United States. A person might also be found to have abandoned his/her status if he or she moves to another country to live there permanently, stays outside the USA for more than 365 days (without getting a re-entry permit before leaving),[60] or does not file an income tax return on their worldwide income. Permanent resident status can also be lost if it is found that the application or grounds for obtaining permanent residence was fraudulent. The failure to renew the permanent resident card does not result in the loss of status, except in the case of conditional permanent residents as noted above. Nevertheless, it is still a good idea to renew the green card on time because it also acts as a work permit and travel permit (advance parole), but if the green card is renewed late, there is no penalty or extra fee to pay.[61]
A person who loses permanent residence status is immediately removable from the United States and must leave the country as soon as possible or face deportation and removal. In some cases the person may be banned from entering the country for three or seven years, or even permanently.
Tax costs of green card relinquishment[edit]
Due to the Heart Act[62] foreign workers who have owned a green card in eight of the last 15 years and choose to relinquish it will be subject to the expatriation tax, which taxes unrealized gains above $600,000, anywhere in the world. However this will only apply to those people who have a federal tax liability greater than $139,000 a year or have a worth of more than $2 million or have failed to certify to the IRS that they have been in compliance with U.S. federal tax obligations for the past five years.[63][64]
If the green card is not relinquished then the holder is subject to double taxation when living or working outside of the United States, whether or not within their home nation, although double taxation may be mitigated by foreign tax credits.
Visa-free travel for green-card holders[edit]
Note: This list excludes countries that allow visa-free travel with valid U.S. visas (for example, Costa Rica,[65] Dominican Republic,[66] Mexico,[67] Panama)[68] Also note that the Green Card holder might already have visa-free access to many destinations by virtue of the nationality already held.
Albania: 90 days within 180 days
Antigua and Barbuda: 30 days
Bahamas: 30 days[69]
Belize: permanent residents of the USA can obtain a visa on arrival, provided prior approval is obtained from Belizean Immigration (fee USD 50). Visitors may also have to pay a repatriation fee.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 90 days within 180 days
Bermuda[70]
British Virgin Islands: 1 month[71]
Turks and Caicos Islands: 30 days
Canada: 6 months[72] ETA required for travel by air[73]
Caribbean Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire, Aruba, Sint Maarten or Curaçao): 30 days[74]
Costa Rica: 30 days[75]
Cayman Islands: 30 days[76]
Dominica: 6 months
Dominican Republic: 30 days[77]
Georgia: 90 days within 180 days
Guatemala: 90 days
Honduras: 3 months
Jamaica: 6 months
Mexico: 180 days[78]
Nicaragua: 3 months
Panama: 90 days
Serbia: 90 days[79]
Montenegro: 30 days
Taiwan: 30 days max. for holders of a ROC (Taiwan) Business and Academic Travel Card, issued by Republic of China (Taiwan).
Kosovo: 15 days[80]
See also[edit]
Blue Card (European Union)
Permanent residency in Canada
Indefinite leave to remain, a British residence status equivalent to the Canada Permanent Resident Card
Permanent residency
References[edit]
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^ Jump up to: a b Holtzman, Alexander Thomas (2015-01-01), A Modest Proposal: Legalize Millions of Undocumented Immigrants with the Change of a Single Statutory Date, SSRN 2561911
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Jump up ^ "Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the USA".
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External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Green Cards (United States).
US Government immigration sites[edit]
USCIS: Green Card
How Do I Get a Work Permit
How Do I Become a Lawful Permanent Resident While in the United States?
2008 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2008)
State Department warning on fraudulent diversity visa websites
Types of employment-based Green Card application categories
Information for Permanent Residents
Petitioning Procedures: Bringing a Spouse (Husband or Wife) to Live in the United States
General Tips on Assembling USCIS Applications for Mailing
USCIS Civil Surgeons Locator
IRS Green Card Test
PERM application process time.
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TracFone Wireless
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Net10" redirects here. For the indoor American football tournament, see Arena Football League.
TracFone Wireless, Inc.
Type
Subsidiary
Industry
Telecommunications
Predecessor
Topp Telecom, Inc.
Founded
Miami, Florida, United States (1996 (1996))
Headquarters
Miami, Florida, United States
Number of locations
90,000 retail locations
Area served
United States (incl. Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico)
Services
Prepaid mobile virtual network operator
Number of employees
400+ (2008)
Parent
América Móvil (98.2%)
Others (1.8%)
Website
www.tracfonewireless.com
Footnotes / references
[1]
TracFone Wireless, Inc. is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. TracFone Wireless is a subsidiary of Mexico's largest telecommunications company América Móvil, and offers products and services under multiple brands which include TracFone, NET10 Wireless, Total Wireless, Straight Talk, SafeLink Wireless, Telcel América, SIMPLE Mobile, Page Plus Cellular, GoSmart Mobile, and Walmart Family Mobile. TracFone Wireless operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), holding agreements with the United States' largest wireless network operators to provide service using their networks, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, Sprint Corporation, and U.S. Cellular. TracFone Wireless had 25.668 million subscribers in 2015.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 TracFone Family Brands
2.1 TracFone
2.2 NET10 Wireless
2.3 SafeLink Wireless
2.4 Straight Talk
2.5 Total Wireless
2.6 SIMPLE Mobile
2.7 Telcel América
2.8 Page Plus Cellular
2.9 GoSmart Mobile
2.10 Walmart Family Mobile
3 International long distance
4 Company operations
5 Class actions
5.1 Misleading "Unlimited" plan claims by Straight Talk, Net10 Wireless, Simple Mobile, And Telcel America - 2015
5.2 Roaming and repair issues - 2007
6 Networks and coverage
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
History[edit]
TracFone was established in 1996 as Topp Telecom Inc., a prepaid mobile phone company, in Miami, Florida. In February 1999, Topp received a major infusion of capital from Teléfonos de México (NYSE: TMX), a.k.a. TelMex, Mexico's largest telephone company. TelMex paid $57.5 million for a 55 percent controlling interest in the company.
In 2000, TelMex spun off their mobile unit, creating América Móvil, of which Topp Telecom became a subsidiary. In November 2000, Topp Telecom Inc. changed its name to TracFone Wireless Inc.[2]
In May 2012, TracFone's parent company, América Móvil, announced it had reached an agreement to acquire rival MVNO Simple Mobile. The deal was completed in June 2012.
In 2013, TracFone unveiled a tweaked logo. Later that year, TracFone also introduced Android phones (4 models), all CDMA.
In May 2013, América Móvil purchased Page Plus Cellular for an undisclosed amount. On January 6, 2014, regulatory approval was received and Page Plus Cellular joined other Américan Móvil subsidiaries like TracFone.[3] At the time of sale, Page Plus Cellular had 1.4 million subscribers.
TracFone Family Brands[edit]
TracFone provides ten brands of service: TracFone Wireless, NET10 Wireless, Total Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Straight Talk, Telcel América, SIMPLE Mobile, Page Plus Cellular, GoSmart Mobile, and Walmart Family Mobile. These brands differ not only in their logos and prepaid minute rates but their underlying networks options:
TracFone[edit]
The Nokia 5125, a model commonly used by TracFone in early 2000.
Until late 2013, TracFone service was limited to TracFone-branded handsets (all TracFone handsets are pre-programmed by the manufacturer; therefore, the handset is locked including its latest GSM models). Other unlocked GSM handsets would not accept TracFone SIM cards, because Tracfone SIM cards were locked to the handset to which they were programmed. Additionally, on most handsets, some features like USB and Bluetooth have been modified by the manufacturer to prevent direct transfer of user files. In December 2013, TracFone unveiled "Bring your own phone," which allows customers to use a Verizon Certified CDMA phone on the TracFone network. Since June 2015, Tracfone has also allowed compatible or unlocked GSM phones to be used on the Tracfone network through the Bring Your Own Device program.
The TracFone-branded service allows a customer to buy airtime units to use on selected phones by Alcatel, Huawei, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Unimax, and ZTE among others. Which handset the user purchases decides what type of network the service uses and thus the coverage map. Phone models utilizing the Verizon or Sprint CDMA network have the letter C in the model name, while phones using the AT&T or T-Mobile GSM network have the letter G.
Tracfone minutes (known as "units") are purchased in blocks that vary in price with the quantity of minutes being purchased. Text messages and mobile web access are measured in fractions of units: sending or receiving a text message deducts 0.3 units from the user's account (some TracFone models, like the Motorola EX124G, deduct 0.5 units from the user's account to send or receive a text message, which also existed on older phones); each minute of mobile Web access deducts 0.5 units, rounded up to the next whole minute. Though earlier TracFone models charged double (2.0 units per minute) for roaming outside the user's home phone area, the current phones all offer the "single rate" plan, which charges the same 1.0 unit-per-minute rate regardless of location. Tracfones have expiration dates; purchasing more airtime typically adds 90 days of service, with a 365-day extension package available. For smartphones, card values (except service days) are tripled and minutes, text messages, and internet data are tracked discretely (e.g a 60-minute card will add 180 minutes, 180 text messages, and 180 megabytes of 3G/LTE data usage).
Tracfone typically offers new service promotions each month. These promotions consist of Free Bonus Minutes in the form of Tracfone promo codes and are able to be used by Safe Link users as well. The most popular Tracfone promotions are Triple Minutes for Life Phones, Double Minutes for Life Cards, and Promo Codes for Free Bonus Minutes. Free texting is capable with certain Tracfone GSM handsets that are Wi-Fi equipped also.
NET10 Wireless[edit]
NET10 Wireless is a related offering, using both GSM and CDMA phones which support voicemail and text messaging at a minimum. Some models also offer Bluetooth, camera, handsfree speaker, qwerty keyboard, and wireless web.[4] The "10" in NET10 signifies that each voice minute costs ten cents (five cents for text messages), with no additional fees.
NET10's slogan is No Bills, No Contracts, No Evil. Both airtime cards and auto-pay plans called "Easy Minutes" are available. Time can be added using the phone itself ("Rapid Refill"), at the company's website, or using the Customer Care Center. Minutes from one month carry over to the next, as long as service remains active. NET10 Wireless offers business plans and international calling, and number portability is advertised on their site as being available. A $50 a month unlimited use plan is also available, this service provides unlimited SMS, phone calls (not including International Long Distance Calls, for this type of calls there is an Unlimited Monthly Plan or $65) unlimited MMS (within the United States) for only one month to the customer's account. The customer can add more than one Unlimited card and this/these plan(s) are added to the "Phone's Reserve" and is charged on the phone in a monthly basis (when the cell phone has run out of service days) automatically.
Android phones made by LG and Samsung are available through NET10 Wireless, and can be used with their $50 Unlimited plan. NET10 Wireless also has the 'mini SIM cards' for unlocked iPhones with the $50 Unlimited Monthly plan.
In December 2012, NET10 Wireless began offering "Family Plans", offering the first line for $50/month, reducing each additional lines (up to 4) with a discount of $5. They also entered into a title sponsorship agreement with the Arena Football League.
NET10 Wireless also allows customers to bring AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or unlocked GSM phones to NET10 by buying a SIM card or activation kit and air time from the company. This program does not work with Blackberry and branded Straight Talk, SafeLink, TracFone, Total Wireless, and NET10 phones.[5]
SafeLink Wireless[edit]
SafeLink Wireless provides a free cell phone and a limited number of voice minutes each month for low-income-eligible families (one per family) who do not use Lifeline services offered by any other phone or wireless company. It is funded through the Universal Service Fund, but is only operational in a limited number of states.[6][7] It is similar to the Lifeline and LinkUp government subsidized service for home telephones.[8] Applications for service may be done via their web page, or by having them fax or mail an application form. No choice of phone handset is provided by the application process. Additional minutes over the free monthly benefit may be purchased. As of May 2011, Safelink Wireless had almost 4,000,000 subscribers,[9] the largest Lifeline cell phone provider in the United States.
The Safe Link Wireless provides two kind of services, according to the previous customer's choice:
350 MINUTES TALK and UNLIMITED TEXT
500 MB 4G DATA
Note: The 500 MB Monthly Plan does not Carry-over the MB on the next month, i.e., if the SafeLink customer does not use all of his/her MB's in first month, in the second month he/she will lose those remaining MB's being renewed by the next 500 MB monthly data . Safe Link does offer optional Tracfone Airtime Card Compatibility and Promotions for Free Bonus Minutes. These options allow Safe Link users to add more minutes anytime and for use after their allotted plan expires for the month.
Straight Talk[edit]
Straight Talk is another operator, through a partnership between TracFone and Walmart, offering several different rate plans; a $30 limited plan, $35, $45, and $55 30-day unlimited plans and a $60 unlimited international calling plan. Discounts are available for purchasing multiple months of the unlimited plan. Straight Talk is a Mobile Virtual Network operator (MVNO) offering both CDMA and GSM support. The CDMA network uses Verizon's or Sprint's CDMA 1xRTT wireless networks and the GSM side makes use of either T-Mobile's or AT&T's GSM networks.
The $30 limited ("All You Need") plan provides 1500 minutes, unlimited texts, free 411 calls, 100 MB of data for a service period of 30 days. This plan is exclusive to basic phones, and is not compatible with 3G or 4G LTE smartphones.
The $35 unlimited plan provides unlimited talk, texts, 2GB at 3G or 4G LTE speeds; data beyond that is transmitted at 64 kbit/s speeds.
The $45 unlimited plan provides unlimited talk, texts, 10GB at 3G or 4G LTE speeds (LTE handset required); data beyond that is transmitted at 64 kbit/s speeds.
The $55 unlimited plan provides unlimited talk, texts, and data at high speeds (3G or 4G LTE where available). The plan does not include any tethering (mobile hotspot), while video broadcasts at 480p resolution. Also, Straight Talk customers' speeds will be prioritized behind customers on the network it uses during times of congestion (i.e. A Verizon Straight Talk will be slowed before a Verizon Post Paid Beyond Unlimited customer).[10]
Straight Talk is currently exclusive to Walmart stores because of a joint-venture program between the two companies.[11] Phones and service can also be purchased directly from Straight Talk via its website, StraightTalk.com or by telephone, bypassing WalMart.
Straight Talk offers a variety of prepaid, no contract, phones on their website for use with their plans. Straight Talk also allows customers to bring AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or unlocked GSM phones to Straight Talk by buying a SIM card or activation kit and air time from the company. This program does not work with branded Straight Talk, SafeLink, TracFone, Total Wireless, and NET10 phones.[5]
Straight Talk is now selling Straight Talk branded iPhones including the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, and iPhone 6 available online and at Walmart.[12]
Other phone brands also include Alcatel, LG, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE.
Total Wireless[edit]
Total Wireless is a Mobile Virtual Network operator (MVNO) that uses Verizon's CDMA and LTE networks. Before early 2017, Total Wireless products were only sold at Walmart. They are now sold at other major retail stores such as Target and Dollar General as well as independent dealers and TracFone Exclusive Retailers. They offer several different rate plans starting at $25/month, and all plans include unlimited talk minutes and texting. Data is also available on plans starting at $35/month for 5GB of data. Multi-line "family" plans are available as well. Before May 2016, only 3G phones were sold and supported by Total Wireless. In May 2016 Total Wireless gained support for Verizon's 4G LTE network, and started selling phones with that support on its own website (as well as Walmart's website.)[13]
SIMPLE Mobile[edit]
Main article: Simple Mobile
America Movil, TracFone's parent company, acquired SIMPLE Mobile in June 2012 and has since been incorporated with its operations alongside TracFone's.
Simple Mobile (stylized SIMPLE Mobile) is a prepaid mobile network operator which was founded in November 2009 and is headquartered in Irvine, California, in the United States and functionning as T-Mobile US MVNO. It became a subsidiary of America Móvil (parent of TracFone Wireless Inc.) after it was acquired in June 2012. On February 16 of 2011 SIMPLE Mobile celebrated their one millionth activation. Simple Mobile has activated more than 2.5 million subscribers since they opened in November 2009.
The initial plans offered prepaid month-to-month wireless services including unlimited texting, voice, and capped data. In June 2010 the company began to advertise unlimited data on their prepaid monthly plans.
According to SIMPLE Mobile customer service representatives, they are unable to submit IMEI numbers to the global stolen phones database or comply with law enforcement subpoenas to track stolen phones or those belonging to abduction victims, missing persons at risk or dangerous fugitives. Simple Mobile is an MVNO on T-Mobile's Network. This means that all information is stored on T-Mobile's servers. A law enforcement professional would need to give the subpoena/court order to the Law Enforcement Relations Group. They will be able to process the subpoena. This applies to all MVNOs since their hosted carrier supports all the network and backend. Simple Mobile should refer the parties direct to their host entity T-Mobile US.
Telcel América[edit]
Telcel América is a wireless service from TracFone that is mainly targeted for Hispanic consumers, primarily the Mexican community living in the United States. Telcel América offers seven monthly plans, both including Unlimited nationwide-minutes, Unlimited SMS, MMS messaging, and Web browsing, Telcel América also offers an international calling plan for call to "over 1,000 destinations". Some plans offer roaming in Mexico at no extra charge.
Telcel América's current GSM phones are compatible with Mexico's Telcel wireless network and services. Telcel America also permits customers that have an unlocked GSM or compatible T-mobile phone to use the Telcel America Network. Telcel América is a brand of TracFone Inc. in the United States, while Telcel in Mexico is a fully owned subsidiary of TracFone's parent company, América Móvil. Both companies are owned by the Mexican businessman Carlos Slim.
Page Plus Cellular[edit]
Main article: Page Plus Cellular
Page Plus Cellular was established in 1993 by Abdul Yassine, as Page Plus Communications, selling pager services in the Toledo, Ohio area. In August 1998 the company was renamed Page Plus Cellular and launched services in Ohio and Michigan, followed by a nationwide launch in 2000.
Page Plus was originally headquartered in Holland, Ohio, and owned by Abdul Yassine.
In May 2013, Mexican telecommunications company América Móvil purchased Page Plus Cellular for an undisclosed amount.[14] As of January 6, 2014, regulatory approval was received and Page Plus Cellular has joined other América Móvil subsidiaries like TracFone. At the time of sale, Page Plus Cellular had 1.4 million subscribers.[15]
Page Plus Cellular offers both pay-as-you-go and no-contract monthly plans.[16] Both monthly and pay-as-you-go customers add voice minutes, data and text messages to their account by purchasing refill cards.
GoSmart Mobile[edit]
GoSmart Mobile was a T-Mobile US subsidiary service that launched in beta on December 7, 2012, and became officially available nationwide on February 19, 2013. GoSmart offers no-contract SIM wireless services. GoSmart Mobile sources its services to dealers who work as independent contractors under their own company name. Such sellers are known as "Authorized Dealers" with either physical or online stores. TracFone Wireless acquired GoSmart, along with Walmart Family Mobile, from T-Mobile US in September 2016.
Walmart Family Mobile[edit]
Walmart Family Mobile offers no-contract prepaid plans. GoSmart, along with Walmart Family Mobile, were purchased by TracFone from T-Mobile in September 2016.[17]
International long distance[edit]
In keeping with its marketing to immigrant communities,[citation needed] TracFone provides international calling options to all its customers. A toll-free number in the US is dialed to make phone calls to at least some telephones (not including cellphones) in over fifty countries. The International Neighbors plan allows TracFone customers to obtain up to three local telephone numbers in any of several Canadian or Mexican cities. These are forwarded to the TracFone customer in the United States at the standard rates.
Company operations[edit]
TracFone's logistics are managed by BrightPoint.[18]
Class actions[edit]
Misleading "Unlimited" plan claims by Straight Talk, Net10 Wireless, Simple Mobile, And Telcel America - 2015[edit]
The Federal Trade Commission reported that "TracFone’s limits on 'unlimited' data led to $40 million in consumer refunds" as result of a lawsuit the FTC brought.[19][20]
Roaming and repair issues - 2007[edit]
On February 9, 2007, a preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit against TracFone was carried out by Jeanette Wagner, and approved in the Boone (County) Circuit Court in Kentucky.[21][22] The complainants alleged that Tracfone misled consumers by charging a roaming rate in their home calling area (they were charged for 2 units per minute, not the usual 1 unit per minute), and that it refused to extend their prepaid service time during handset repairs. Tracfone gave each of their customers an extra 20 units of airtime.
Networks and coverage[edit]
TracFone Wireless uses the networks of major wireless providers to offer service, the coverage of which varies by the provider for each device. Retail boxes indicate the network with a code printed in the lower right corner on the back of the box.
Network
Box code
Technology
LTE since
AT&T GSM-A GSM September 2013
T-Mobile GSM-T GSM March 2014
Sprint CDMA-S CDMA May 2013
Verizon CDMA-V CDMA December 2014
On TracFones with SIM cards, the carrier can be identified in the same manner as any other SIM-based phone, by interpreting the SIM number.[citation needed] On T-Mobile phones, the first line of the SIM number will end in "SIMT5", on AT&T/Cingular, the first line will end in "SIMC4", on Claro phones, the first line will end in "SIMCL7".
See also[edit]
Prepaid mobile service operators in U.S.
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "About Us". TracFone Wireless,. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
Jump up ^ "Miami Company Prepares Prepaid Cell-Phone Invasion". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
Jump up ^ " FCC approves TracFone acquiring Page Plus Cellular", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2014-01-07
Jump up ^ "Available Phones". NET10.com. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
^ Jump up to: a b Saabedra, Humberto (March 7, 2012). "Tracfone Quietly Cancels LG Optimus 2X Launch". PhoneNews. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
Jump up ^ "TracFone Wireless Launches SafeLink Wireless to Aid Nearly 500,000 Low-Income Households in Georgia". Reuters. February 5, 2009.
Jump up ^ "TracFone Wireless Launches SafeLink Wireless to Aid Nearly 585,000 Low-Income Households in Pennsylvania". Business Wire. February 9, 2009.
Jump up ^ "Information on Subsidized Phone Service". Federal Communications Commission.
Jump up ^ "Battle Heats Up in Lifeline Mobile Market". Freegovernmentcellphones.net. May 28, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
Jump up ^ " Straight Talk Adds New $55 Plan With 10GB Of High Speed Data", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2016-03-11
Jump up ^ "Walmart to Launch Straight Talk Exclusively, Nationwide" (Press release). Walmart Stores, Inc. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
Jump up ^ "iPhone Now at Straight Talk Wireless". Straight Talk. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
Jump up ^ "Verizon MVNO Total Wireless Now Has 4G LTE Data, Ups Data On Its Plans Featuring 5GB For $35". bestmvno.com. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
Jump up ^ "TracFone acquires Verizon MVNO Page Plus Cellular and its 1.4M customers". FierceWireless.com. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
Jump up ^ "America Movil to Buy Page Plus Cellular Parent Start Wireless Group". PhoneNews.com. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
Jump up ^ "No Contract Prepaid Plans | Cellular Prepaid Plans". Page Plus Cellular. 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
Jump up ^ " TracFone Acquired GoSmart and Walmart Family Mobile", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2016-09-20
Jump up ^ "Profile: BrightPoint Inc (CELL.O)". Retrieved August 19, 2012.
Jump up ^ "Straight Talk, Net10, Simple Mobile, and Telcel America Refunds | Federal Trade Commission". Ftc.gov. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
Jump up ^ "Billionaire Carlos Slim's TracFone Wireless To Pay $40 Million To FTC For 'Deceiving' Consumers". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
Jump up ^ http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070301/NEWS0103/703010331NKY.Com[dead link]
Jump up ^ "TracFone Wireless Inc. Roaming Fees Class Action Settlemen". Class action news consumers can use. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
External links[edit]
Official website
TracFone
Family Brands
America Móvil
NET10 Wireless
Page Plus Cellular
Safelink Wireless
SIMPLE Mobile
Straight Talk
Telcel América

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