Lost Green Card and Overseas Travel

[flooper 0]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, apologies if not!

I'm a (thanks to the K1 process!) permanent resident, and recently lost my original 2-year Green Card which was about a year old. I e-Filed I-90 for a replacement immediately, received an initial I-797 confirming receipt and then a further I-797 for biometrics. I attended the biometrics appointment at my local office about a month ago. I'm confused about a couple of things, and would appreciate any comments from anyone who has been in a similar situation:

Firstly, the online status , and the status I can listen to on the Customer Service line says 'pending' with a note that USCIS sent out an I-797. The I-797 date coincides only with the initial 'Confirmation of Receipt' I-797. There is no mention of the subsequent I-797 (biometrics scheduled) or the fact that I have already attended a biometrics appointment. Is this normal?

Secondly, my wife and I had planned to visit my family overseas for Christmas. I was relying on my Green Card to get back in to the US. If I don't receive my Green Card by December, I'm wondering if I'll have to cancel the trip. I do have my advance parole documents, but these are (obviously) only intended to be used prior to AOS. I guess PRs must occasionally go on holiday and lose their Green Cards, then (I hope!) somehow make it back in to the US - so there must be some sort of procedure. But I don't want to leave the US knowing that I'm going to give myself a whole bunch of problems on my return. I'm from a Visa Waiver program country, so I guess I could attempt to re-enter on my regular passport, but I suspect that's a very bad idea.

As an aside, I have never before had any problems getting through to a real person on the Customer Service line, but this morning it seemed totally impossible - weird.

As a further aside, the legal requirement to carry GCs all the time seems a little crazy. I accept I'm to blame (it was lost, not stolen ), but if I wasn't obliged to carry it by law, my GC would have been securely locked up at home with all my other important documents. Losing a purse or wallet (or having it stolen) is hardly an uncommon event, even for generally careful people.

Grateful for any advice you can offer!

[payxibka 10,047]

you are correct.. AP is useless

[john_and_marlene 162]

Get an infopass appt. Explain your need to travel and get an I-551 stamp in the passport.

[flooper 0]

Get an infopass appt. Explain your need to travel and get an I-551 stamp in the passport.

Thank you both for the responses. On the INFOPASS appointment (I've never needed one in the past), none of the available options quite matches my situation - I think I should go for the option for "I am a Permanent Resident but have not yet received my Green Card", since this is what people needing I-551 stamps will be selecting.

As a general rule, are Field Offices 'funny' about people scheduling appointments which don't quite match their actual request, and / or can this ever screw something major up? I have to enter the application number, which presumably they'll see is an I-90 (replacement green card) not an AOS.

Thanks again.

[flooper 0]

Scratch that, I realised I could make an 'Information / Other' type appointment at my local office (Washington, DC) and attach my request number. Figured that would be the safe option.

I suppose at the very worst, even if I show up and the officer tells me to get another appointment with the other option selected, I still have plenty of time before Christmas.

Thanks again for pointing me in the direction of the I-551 stamp.

[jeangab75 0]

I was just in the same situation. I did an infopass for "additional information" and they stamped my passport allowing international travel. So no need to cancell your trip.

Take care