US Department of Homeland Security Unveils a New Security-Enhanced Travel Document

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a new security-enhanced travel document that has looks similar to a US passport.

The agency says the new document, which went into production on October 24th, has more features to prevent tampering, counterfeiting and fraud.

USCIS, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, says the new travel document can serve in place of:

• Form I-327, Permit to Reenter the United States: Lawful permanent residents use the Reentry Permit to return from temporary travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Reentry Permit for travel in place of a passport; and
• Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document: Those with refugee or asylum status use a Refugee Travel Document if they wish to temporarily travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Refugee Travel Document for travel in place of a passport.

The new travel document contains the following features:

• Redesigned booklet cover
• Four montages containing three images, each of notable U.S. architecture, used throughout the booklet
• A combination of first-, second- and third-level security features (overt, covert and forensic)
  •  Overt is something you can see with the eye, such as the central image of the Statue of Liberty.
  • Covert is something that requires a tool, such as a magnifying glass, to see fine detail artwork.
  • Forensic is something that requires laboratory examination.

USCIS says previous versions of the travel document will remain valid until their expiration date.