The shiny conditional GC arrived!

[MacTO 6]

So finally it is here. It came in the mail yesterday. It took 3 weeks and 2 days since the Welcome NOA.

The new shiny conditional GC looks normal, but, to me, has a different design altogether, compared to the ones I've seen before. Then, when you flip it, it has a wide hologram bar crossing the back of the card, which contains Name, D.O.B., Exp. Date, Card # and A#. When I took it to the SS Office, they were impressed by the security features like that.

Oh, and it came with a little paper wallet, which says, 'We recommend use of this envelop to protect your new card and to prevent wireless communication with it."

Cheers!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The little wallet has always been part of the deal. It's actually a smart thing to keep the card in there, even more so if you plan on carrying it around, as the magnetic strip can easily be damaged and then, when you really need it when getting back to the US from a trip abroad, the CBP officer ask you to replace it, which will set you back $310 for no good reason.

Therefore, many, if not most residents keep theirs at home, next to the passport, where it is safe, protected, can't get damaged, and can't get lost.

[MacTO 6]

The little wallet has always been part of the deal. It's actually a smart thing to keep the card in there, even more so if you plan on carrying it around, as the magnetic strip can easily be damaged and then, when you really need it when getting back to the US from a trip abroad, the CBP officer ask you to replace it, which will set you back $310 for no good reason.

Therefore, many, if not most residents keep theirs at home, next to the passport, where it is safe, protected, can't get damaged, and can't get lost.

Good to know. Thanks Bob.

They (the paper wallet and the card) are already in my wallet.

[Kimbear 53]

it sounds almost like there is some sort of gps type thing embeded in it...wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[Jolibee76 1]

Congrats!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Congrats

** moved from "Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas" to "Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports" as the prior forum is for questions and this one is for updates/progress**

Edited June 3, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[summersurf 10]

Does the new GC look prettier ?

Yeaaa..congratulation !!! happy for ya..

[kaibigan 8]

congratulations!!!.. im still waiting for mine..

hope hear from the USCIS soon.. 'im worried

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The Green Card does not belong in your wallet. If you choose to carry it around, put it away from your driver license and other documents.

Why?

If you lose your wallet with your driver license, your credit card(s) your ATM card, your GC and whatelse not, you are f*cked to the YinYang. In order to get a new ATM card or even access your bank account, you'll need a new driver license first. In order to get a new driver license, you need to show proof of legal presence. In order to show proof of legal presence, you'll need a new Green Card. In order to get a new Green Card, you'll have to pay $310 and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait.

Do you understand the implications of losing your Green Card? Do you really?

If you lose that same wallet without you GC in it, you can easily get a new Driver License by just showing your Green Card. Keep in mind the GC is a FEDERAL ID, the only Federal ID non-FBI and non-CIA people will ever have the chance to "own" until they get a US passport. With your Green Card you will therefore also able to get a new ATM card (remember, you also lost your driver license), and all other documents you need to replace, in an instant, without any problems.

That's how important the Green Card is. That's why it's in my safe at home until I need to show it.

I can't even count how many times people here on VJ posted that they lost their wallet with their Green Card in it. That is absolutely not necessary if it's inside your passport.

But everyone his own . . .

[Vivi6 12]

The Green Card does not belong in your wallet. If you choose to carry it around, put it away from your driver license and other documents.

Why?

If you lose your wallet with your driver license, your credit card(s) your ATM card, your GC and whatelse not, you are f*cked to the YinYang. In order to get a new ATM card or even access your bank account, you'll need a new driver license first. In order to get a new driver license, you need to show proof of legal presence. In order to show proof of legal presence, you'll need a new Green Card. In order to get a new Green Card, you'll have to pay $310 and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait.

Do you understand the implications of losing your Green Card? Do you really?

If you lose that same wallet without you GC in it, you can easily get a new Driver License by just showing your Green Card. Keep in mind the GC is a FEDERAL ID, the only Federal ID non-FBI and non-CIA people will ever have the chance to "own" until they get a US passport. With your Green Card you will therefore also able to get a new ATM card (remember, you also lost your driver license), and all other documents you need to replace, in an instant, without any problems.

That's how important the Green Card is. That's why it's in my safe at home until I need to show it.

I can't even count how many times people here on VJ posted that they lost their wallet with their Green Card in it. That is absolutely not necessary if it's inside your passport.

But everyone his own . . .

Ditto! I made the HUGE mistake to keep my passport in my wallet when I was here on a J1 visa...wallet got stolen along with passport and visa attached. I still have my Italian DL, but it was a PAIN to lose the visa. The wallet, atmm credit cards were found a day later, but NO PASSPORT. As a result, I had to pay $325 (or something like that) for a new i-94 card, which took 3 months to get to me. In the meantime, I could not apply for a SSN , therefore I didn't get paid from the internship company until I got the 1-94 back and applied for a SSN. Also, no DL as I had no i-94 card. The worst was that I was stuck for 14 months in the US, as the visa is a one time thing and cannot be re-issued or reprinted and if I had left the country I would have not been allowed back. So my parents had to come visit as I couldn't visit them, and until I got a new passport from the Italian Consulate in LA (another $150 bucks or so) I had no valid ID so...no drinking LOL! Most of the times they would frown at my European DL so I didn't go to bars/clubs for a while !

All in all, a terrible experience from which I learned a lot...now I have a CA DL, so no need to carry my passport around. And when I travel, I used one of those wallets you keep around your neck! My GC will go in our safe with my passport, my husband's passport and our SSN:)

[sweet angel 5]

So finally it is here. It came in the mail yesterday. It took 3 weeks and 2 days since the Welcome NOA.

The new shiny conditional GC looks normal, but, to me, has a different design altogether, compared to the ones I've seen before. Then, when you flip it, it has a wide hologram bar crossing the back of the card, which contains Name, D.O.B., Exp. Date, Card # and A#. When I took it to the SS Office, they were impressed by the security features like that.

Oh, and it came with a little paper wallet, which says, 'We recommend use of this envelop to protect your new card and to prevent wireless communication with it."

Cheers!

Great news! Congrats!

[MacTO 6]

Well, for the record, I have never lost my wallet or any kind in my life. Oh, except for a cheap watch that I lost when I was young, if that counts.

Having said that, I absolutely agree that my wallet might get stolen. It has nothing to do with my will. So, I see what you both guys are saying. Particularly, I have never carried my passport with anywhere anyway, except when I crossed the border.

So, in spite of the fact that, and that is why I put it in my wallet in the first place, the GC must be carried by you (or me) at all times in the U.S. or abroad according to the letter that came with the GC, I guess I would leave my GC with my passport and other IDs at home.

Cheers.

[mrs.sr 0]

Is there a difference between the "conditional" Green Card and the "10 Year" Green Card other the expiry date (2 years vs 10 years). I mean physical differences.

[MacTO 6]

Is there a difference between the "conditional" Green Card and the "10 Year" Green Card other the expiry date (2 years vs 10 years). I mean physical differences.

As far as I know, and this is what my IO told me at the interview, that the only thing different from the conditional card and the permanent card physically is the Category on them. It reads CR now. And then, it will change to PR.

Of course, the Expiry Date will read whatever year to which 10 years is added after the CR GC expires. Correct me if I am wrong, anyone.

Cheers.

[mrs.sr 0]

As far as I know, and this is what my IO told me at the interview, that the only thing different from the conditional card and the permanent card physically is the Category on them. It reads CR now. And then, it will change to PR.

Of course, the Expiry Date will read whatever year to which 10 years is added after the CR GC expires. Correct me if I am wrong, anyone.

Cheers.

Thanks. I did some searching and found this for category codes:

IR1 - Spouse of U.S. Citizen

CR1 - Spouse of U.S. Citizen (Conditional)

http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/vll/fedreg/2008_2009/fr20mr08.pdf

See page 6

More info:

http://www.trackitt.com/usa-discussion-forums/i485-eb/125892951/green-card-category-codes