For the amount of fees we pay...

[jsnearline 2]

It seems to me that given the amount of money they charge for a green card, USCIS should send it using something a bit more secure than regular mail. If the green card never arrives because the post office loses it or delivers it to the wrong address, you're pretty much screwed. If I read the instructions right, USCIS will only let you file a fee free I-90 for a green card that was not received in cases where USCIS sent it to the wrong address or the card is returned to them as undeliverable.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

It seems to me that given the amount of money they charge for a green card, USCIS should send it using something a bit more secure than regular mail. If the green card never arrives because the post office loses it or delivers it to the wrong address, you're pretty much screwed. If I read the instructions right, USCIS will only let you file a fee free I-90 for a green card that was not received in cases where USCIS sent it to the wrong address or the card is returned to them as undeliverable.

Yep thats what happened to me.... I got to pay all over again because they (USCIS) cant send mail by secure mail where it has to be signed for....

Oh well guess they have to make a profit somehow...

Kez

[jsnearline 2]

I emailed my Senator tonight pointing this issue out. I told him that if US Embassies abroad send tourist visas by secure courier, USCIS should do at least as much for green cards. I also told him that I thought the cost of replacing a green card is punitive, particularly given the legal requirement to carry it at all times. I told him that the excessive fee probably deters immigrants from complying with the law because they don't want to lose their shirts to USCIS if their green cards are lost or stolen.

[Dan J 277]

I emailed my Senator tonight pointing this issue out. I told him that if US Embassies abroad send tourist visas by secure courier, USCIS should do at least as much for green cards. I also told him that I thought the cost of replacing a green card is punitive, particularly given the legal requirement to carry it at all times. I told him that the excessive fee probably deters immigrants from complying with the law because they don't want to lose their shirts to USCIS if their green cards are lost or stolen.

That's a good idea.

We have put off moving to a bigger apartment as we don't want to have any issues with the green card getting sent to the wrong place once its approved. But I suppose some people don't have that luxury.

[tom_g 3]

I think the USPS unions would throw a wobbly if another government branch openly declared mistrust for their services.

Also, in the UK, I had to pay extra for the courier service, it wasn't part of the deal

I'd prefer it if I could go to the green card factory and pick it up myself

[jsnearline 2]

They could still use USPS, but they should send it certified return receipt.

[carpe diem 2]

I think the USPS unions would throw a wobbly if another government branch openly declared mistrust for their services.

Also, in the UK, I had to pay extra for the courier service, it wasn't part of the deal

I'd prefer it if I could go to the green card factory and pick it up myself

I got my H-1B from a consulate in an Eastern European country not too long ago and they required that you pay a fee for a messenger to deliver your passport (which is not a requirement in other countries where I have gotten my visas). I guess the U.S. government isn't shy about casting doubt on the reliability of the mail services of former communist countries... I would definitely prefer the option at least to pay a few bucks extra for FedEx or return receipt.

[Jasman0717 9]

It is probably a cost issue. I think I paid aboug five bucks extra to send packets to the USCIS. Multiple that by millions of GCs issued each year and it becomes obvious

[DavidsPrincess 1]

It would be so nice if they provided the option to pay like $20 more for UPS or overnight service or SOMEthing with delivery confirmation. A tracking number would be far too much to ask for, I know. But I would gladly pay more for the better mailing services.

[catrocks 0]

It's unbelievable.... mine was delivered to our OLD address even though I'd filed all the forms and called USCIS to make sure it would come to the new address... but no. I had the keys still so I was able to pick it up, but if I had given the keys back my green card would still be sitting there in the mailbox.

I would happily have paid extra $ to have it send registered USPS. I guess it's not a big deal to them like it is to us.

[jsnearline 2]

Part of the issue for me is that the fees just went up big time. You'd think they could use a small portion of that money to send the card via certified or registered mail.