Received permanent resident card in the mail but wrong issue and expiration dates :(

[catsy 3]

I am not sure where to post this topic but I adjusted from H4 visa I am used to reading and posting on this forum. So may I just please ask the moderators to move it to appropriate forum.

Here is my situation, So I received my permanent resident card in the mail today and the first thing I looked at is the expiration date since I want to make sure to put it on my calendar the date for us to file ROC. When I looked at the issue date it says 1/05/2010 and expiration date 1/05/2012. So the first thing I did was to call the USCIS number that was on the paper where the card was attached. The representative I spoke to said that I have to file for replacement of card and use the I-90 form to do so. He also said that there is a fee of $450.00 to replace my card. I told him that I just received the card today and I am certain that it was a mistake on their part that dates were wrong. So he said that it doesn't matter and that I still have to pay the $450 because they are going to process a request.

So my question is...is there a way for me not to pay for the $450.00 fee since it was their mistake? I was also thinking of maybe scheduling an infopass appointment to see if our local office, would that help? Has anyone here had the same situation? Please advice. Thanks.

[juliava 80]

Your Green Card is a conditional one so yes, it should be valid for 2 years. After 2 years, you need to remove conditions on permanent residence to obtain the 10 years GC.

Why do you think you got the wrong issue/expiration dates?What kind of dates did you expect instead?

Edited January 15, 2011 by juliava

[caeremonarius 26]

Very strange. I'm one of those people for whom it takes at least a month to write to new year correctly. It sounds like whoever produced your GC is like me, but didn't catch the error before the card was sent out.

I'd recommend getting an Infopass appointment ASAP. Bring all your NOA's (which are all hopefully properly dated), as well as your GC. From what I've been able to gather here on VJ, calling the USCIS helpline usually offers anything but help: you get a different answer every time you call. An Infopass appointment with an IO will hopefully get you the answers you need.

Good luck!

AJ

[juliava 80]

I appologize. Now I understand the issue, I guess I am not used to the new year yet!!

Try to schedule an infopass appointment and see if there is any way to waive the card replacement fee as obviously it is an USCIS error. Umbelievable!

[caeremonarius 26]

I appologize. Now I understand the issue, I guess I am not used to the new year yet!!

Try to schedule an infopass appointment and see if there is any way to waive the card replacement fee as obviously it is an USCIS error. Umbelievable!

LOL! I know. I had to read the OP three or four times before understood the issue. As I said in my previous post, it takes me at least a month before I get the new year right!

AJ

[catsy 3]

Thank you so much for your responses. Sorry I forgot to mention that we had our interview January 05, 2011 ...Anyway, I just made an appointment for next week Thursday. Hopefully they can help me better. I was kinda sad when the customer rep said that I have to pay $450.00 to replace the card even though it was their mistake. I will let you guys know what happens. Again, thanks for your inputs.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you so much for your responses. Sorry I forgot to mention that we had our interview January 05, 2011 ...Anyway, I just made an appointment for next week Thursday. Hopefully they can help me better. I was kinda sad when the customer rep said that I have to pay $450.00 to replace the card even though it was their mistake. I will let you guys know what happens. Again, thanks for your inputs.

Just so you know, you will NOT have to pay for a new card. You file the I-90 but you tick the box that says USCIS error. That means you have no fee because, as you stated, it's their error not yours so you don't pay for their mistake. Did you read the I-90 for instructions? It actually says it in the instructions...

I wouldn't waste my time with an Infopass if it's far away (mine's 3 hours from my town). If it's nearby I would take a complete I-90 with me to the infopass and ask for an I-551 stamp in your passport (greencard stamp) so while the card is off getting replaced you still have proof of residency.

**Edit - if you called the 1800 number you now know why it's nickname is the MIS-information line.

Edited January 15, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[catsy 3]

Just so you know, you will NOT have to pay for a new card. You file the I-90 but you tick the box that says USCIS error. That means you have no fee because, as you stated, it's their error not yours so you don't pay for their mistake. Did you read the I-90 for instructions? It actually says it in the instructions...

I wouldn't waste my time with an Infopass if it's far away (mine's 3 hours from my town). If it's nearby I would take a complete I-90 with me to the infopass and ask for an I-551 stamp in your passport (greencard stamp) so while the card is off getting replaced you still have proof of residency.

**Edit - if you called the 1800 number you now know why it's nickname is the MIS-information line.

Thank you for this tip. No, haven't read the I-90 instructions (mistake on my part because i got worried when the rep told me about the fee for filing the form) but I will and just take one with me on Thursday. Our local office is just 20 mins away so I will just go ahead and take a completed form I-90 and have my passport stamped in the meantime. And I agree with you with the 1-800 number not giving the right information after explaining to him what happened...He did inform me about filing the form I-90 and the $450.00 fee that I have to pay even if it's a mistake on their part because according to him they will still be processing a request to replace my card. Anyway, thank you for your help

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you for this tip. No, haven't read the I-90 instructions (mistake on my part because i got worried when the rep told me about the fee for filing the form) but I will and just take one with me on Thursday. Our local office is just 20 mins away so I will just go ahead and take a completed form I-90 and have my passport stamped in the meantime. And I agree with you with the 1-800 number not giving the right information after explaining to him what happened...He did inform me about filing the form I-90 and the $450.00 fee that I have to pay even if it's a mistake on their part because according to him they will still be processing a request to replace my card. Anyway, thank you for your help

He is correct of course that they're processing a request to replace your card.. but THEY stuffed up. It's kinda like if the printer broke while it was being printed and you get half a card and then them trying to send you a bill to print a new one. It's their mistake, they stuffed up, you don't pay. It's a huge inconvenience for you too. Be prepared to wait around 3 months to get your new card.. maybe longer which is why I mention the I-551 stamp. They might not give you the stamp at the appointment, but instead ask you to come back with the NOA1 from filing the I-90. I'm not sure why but I have heard of them doing this.

Unfortunately USCIS phone operators don't know everything and unfortunately you got one that didn't read the instructions either But it's okay, here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-90instr.pdf page 2, bottom of the second column in the very last sentence it says if filing using D (USCIS error) then no fee required.

Honestly my opinion is you call for a service you should get accurate information. It's disappointing people on that line are so useless that it has the mis-information line nickname.. hardly fills you full of trust in the process. It's a good thing you came here and asked. Sometimes they sent the cheque back but most likely they would have just accepted the payment and there's nothing you could have done about it..

[catsy 3]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I went to our local USCIS office here in Honolulu. The IO that took care of us was very nice. She immediately apologized for the inconvenience after I explained to her the situation. She also apologized for the wrong information their representative told me over the phone. I didn't even have to ask her to stamp my passport because after she apologized she asked me if I have a valid passport with me and of course I said yes so she stamped it with a temporary I-551 valid for one year. She explained to me that I have to send in my greencard along with the I-90 and that it would probably take about 6 months for me to receive my replacement card so she stamped my passport valid for a year so I can show proof of residency incase I need to travel or show employer of my status in the meantime. She also filled out parts of the I-90 for me even if I told her I brought a completed form with me and she made copies of all the documents that I need to send in with the I-90(since she said it wasn't my fault) and greencard. So now my suggestion is if anyone would encounter somethin like this...it wouldn't hurt to go to your local USCIS if it's not too far from you.

Thank you so much for all that responded to my post. Your suggestions helped me out alot.