Withdrawal of an Application (Refund?)

[GopherGrad 0]

About six months ago, my wife left her Green Card at an airport in Germany on the way back to the US. Upon arrival, she was told that she would need to complete and pay for a form I-90 to replace the lost card. (The charge for the replacement is about $500).

We filed the I-751 to remove conditions on her status soon afterward. Of course, filing an I-751 results in the issuance of a letter meant to replace the expired (and, in this case, lost) Green Card and, hopefully and eventually, a new Green Card entirely.

We recently received a letter regarding the I-90 requesting proof that we have filed the I-751 and reminding us that, in any circumstances "filing this application is not necessary".* The letter states that we may withdraw the I-90 request in writing.

If we withdraw, will we get any sort of refund of the I-90 fee? If we wouldn't get a refund, we may as well see the application through to cover all our bases. We certainly don't stand to gain anything by withdrawal otherwise... But if we can get that money back, it seems worth it.

Advice?

*I know, it seems like the I-90 application should be denied no matter what if the immigrant's conditional status has expired; either because the immigrant has failed to apply to remove conditions or because such application obviates the need to replace the old card. I don't know why the applications aren't simply rejected on these grounds.

[Zee Bee 61]

No refunds.

[TayRivers 4]

USCIS never gives refunds, it is your responsibility to make sure you are filling for the right thing and that it is needed.

[GopherGrad 0]

Yeah, I figured as much.

I'm not sure I can countenance the argument that it was 'her responsibility to know it was needed". She was, after all, in an airport holding cell without access to a telephone and told in no uncertain terms that filing that document was required to re-enter the US.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

The US government will happily take your money no matter what, and whether you are filing the correct form or not, but the chance of getting a refund is slim to none, and slim just left the building.

Edited November 14, 2008 by kid brooklyn