Lost Green Card and job interview :(

[magdc 0]

Hello all,

So i lost my GC and can not afford to cough up the $370.00 for the replacment at the time. The problem is that I just got a job offer and need to present my GC in order to start working. My question is if I will go ahead and apply for replacment will I be issued some sort of temporary permit? Any ideas?

Thank you!

[HeatDeath 430]

Yes. When you apply for the replacement GC, you will receive a receipt. According to the instructions on the I-9 form and the M-274 Guide for Employers (both of which are on the USCIS web site, under the forms section, both of which you should read with a fine-tooth comb) you can show your employer the receipt for the replacement card, and then you have 90 days to get the actual card and re-do the I-9.

Order your new card right away, even if you have to borrow from family or do a cash advance from a credit card or something, and you should be fine.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=31b3ab0a43b5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf

Edited August 12, 2010 by HeatDeath

[john_and_marlene 162]

So i lost my GC and can not afford to cough up the $370.00 for the replacment

Sounds like you can not afford to not cough up the $370.00 for the replacement.

[magdc 0]

Or should I just go ahead add another $200 and some and apply for citeznship? I am eligable.

[milimelo 4,481]

Or should I just go ahead add another $200 and some and apply for citeznship? I am eligable.

You can do that if you're eligible. Not sure why the employer insists on GC - if you have a valid DL all you have to produce is SSN with it to be accepted as allowed to work in the US.

Mind you, for N400 you will have to give them a copy of the police report instead of your GC (hope you reported it) or they won't give you the certificate.

[Dakine10 5,452]

You can do that if you're eligible. Not sure why the employer insists on GC - if you have a valid DL all you have to produce is SSN with it to be accepted as allowed to work in the US.

Except some people never update their social security card either. It's possible the SS card says "valid for work with USCIS authorization only", in which case the employer would be required by law to check for the authorization.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Dakine10

[HeatDeath 430]

Or should I just go ahead add another $200 and some and apply for citeznship? I am eligable.

That would solve your long-term problem, but not the short term problem with the job offer. The I-90 Green Card replacement receipt will show up within 2 weeks of ordering a replacement GC, and can be used in lieu of a green card with an employer and will enable you to work, assuming you do not have the other main combination of work authorization documents: an unrestricted SS card and a normal state full drivers license (as opposed to limited-time DL or driving privilege card).

Applying for naturalization will solve these employment problems permanently going forward, but the NOA1 for the N-400 Naturalization application cannot be used for work authorization, and naturalization will take months and months, so that won't help you with this job.

Even though it sucks to spend several hundred dollars on a green card this close to the naturalization process you have obviously been considering, I would look at it this way: the job, if it is worth having, will repay the cost of the GC replacement within a week. I think it's worth it to order the card and take this job.