Lost Permanent Resident Card

[Kang Lang 7]

UGH my husband lost his green card yesterday. We are among the minority of folks who carry the actual card as per the instructions and my husband who never loses anything (or thows anything away for that matter) lost his yesterday. I understand it takes ages to replace, anyone have this experience and can speak to that please?

We are meant to go to Mexico in September for a wedding so I am hoping to have the replacement by then or can he use the 2 year and the extension letter and the new NOA1 that should come after we suck it up and pay the $500?

ugh what a waste of money cannot wait until 29 October when the n-400 window opens and we can get on with it.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Not sure if I understand your problem.

If you already mailed in your I-751 with the copy of your husband's Green Card and have received the extension letter, then you got lucky by not having to pay $450 for another one. All you have to do is wait for your new, 10-year Card to arrive in the mail. It should arrive 'til September. In the unlikely case it doesn't, get an I-551 stamp in his passport instead.

UGH my husband lost his green card yesterday. We are among the minority of folks who carry the actual card as per the instructions and my husband who never loses anything (or thows anything away for that matter) lost his yesterday. I understand it takes ages to replace, anyone have this experience and can speak to that please?

We are meant to go to Mexico in September for a wedding so I am hoping to have the replacement by then or can he use the 2 year and the extension letter and the new NOA1 that should come after we suck it up and pay the $500?

ugh what a waste of money cannot wait until 29 October when the n-400 window opens and we can get on with it.

[Kang Lang 7]

Not sure if I understand your problem.

If you already mailed in your I-751 with the copy of your husband's Green Card and have received the extension letter, then you got lucky by not having to pay $450 for another one. All you have to do is wait for your new, 10-year Card to arrive in the mail. It should arrive 'til September. In the unlikely case it doesn't, get an I-551 stamp in his passport instead.

hi just bob,

he actually lost the permanent card not the temporary, and as i understand it, that can take a long time to replace that's the main problem. the secondary thing is we have a wedding to go to in cabo in sept. so i was asking if he could travel with the expired one (and with the old noa1 if necessary) and the noa1 from the application for the replacement. i know we are going to pay for the replacement one no way around that. i am just trying to see what he can do to travel as we don't anticipate the replacement card on hand by travel time.

[Kang Lang 7]

does anyone have a general idea of how long it will take for the replacement card after sending in all the paperwork? i think i recall reading it takes longer than the actual petition iirc. i am hoping not since his window for n-400 opens 29 oct.

any insight is appreciated.

[simel1110 4]

I'm pasting this from the site

I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Initial issuance or replacement 3.5 Months

I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card 10-year renewal March 31, 2009

The first processing time applies... 3.5 months average?

No idea at all what the March 31, 2009 processing time means, other than that is the last batch they did?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

If he lost his 10-year card (how is that possible?), then you'll have to file the I-90 indeed. Once you have paid the fine, make an Infopass appointment and get--this time free of charge--an I-551 stamp in the passport. Problem solved.

[angus28 7]

I'm pasting this from the site

I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Initial issuance or replacement 3.5 Months

I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card 10-year renewal March 31, 2009

The first processing time applies... 3.5 months average?

No idea at all what the March 31, 2009 processing time means, other than that is the last batch they did?

Yes, you are that is the last time they processed such application.

[Kang Lang 7]

If he lost his 10-year card (how is that possible?), then you'll have to file the I-90 indeed. Once you have paid the fine, make an Infopass appointment and get--this time free of charge--an I-551 stamp in the passport. Problem solved.

you always offer good advice just bob, however no need for sarcasm when people are already down! sheesh. actually i'm sure it happens, his wallet was stolen. however putting up signs at his gym did the trick somebody "left it for him in the locker room." crisis and fees averted. just a few more months until n-400 application.

Edited July 5, 2011 by Kang Lang

[TBoneTX 46,151]

putting up signs at his gym did the trick somebody "left it for him in the locker room." crisis and fees averted. just a few more months until n-400 application.

That's great news, and a big relief. Congratulations, si man!

[Kang Lang 7]

thanks tbone!

yeah we have moved away from the idea of carrying the actual card! he made copies and will carry that until he gets citizenship. whew.

[Darnell 8,479]

whew ! it's good that it was returned.

Here's a thought, however malformed.

when travelling inside your county of residence, keep a color photocopy in the wallet, laminated.

Then, when he's picked up and asked to show his immigration status, he shows the photocopy.

If the arresting officer has issues with the photocopy, tell him 'Hey - the original is in my firesafe at home, let's swing by there on the way to the jail'.

Of course, do carry it when travelling out of the county.. Good luck with the wedding trip !

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

The chances of anybody being asked to produce a greencard in-country are virtually zero, unless you get arrested or are near a border checkpoint. I'm in NYC, half the people here are illegal. Law enforcement has given up on a fight they can't win. I personally know many GC holders and not one of them carries it on them. My wife doesn't carry a copy either. She has her state ID card.

[Kang Lang 7]

whew ! it's good that it was returned.

Here's a thought, however malformed.

when travelling inside your county of residence, keep a color photocopy in the wallet, laminated.

Then, when he's picked up and asked to show his immigration status, he shows the photocopy.

If the arresting officer has issues with the photocopy, tell him 'Hey - the original is in my firesafe at home, let's swing by there on the way to the jail'.

Of course, do carry it when travelling out of the county.. Good luck with the wedding trip !

yesiree...i already laminated a lovely copy (2 in fact). luckily the city we live in we have dear friends on the police force. i mean of course he's a good "citizen (proverbial)" and no one i think anticipates getting into trouble but we just wanted to follow the law/rules. i'm just glad that we were lucky enough to get everything back!

with all that said, we live in california and we do little here to stave off or eliminate illegal immigration so he would not even likely be asked if he was in trouble.

[Darnell 8,479]

Are you in OC? get to Thai Smile resturant at all ? It's nice place, the owners are the parents of Unco Chin (see youtube channel justkiddingfilms )

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

In California nobody asks about the Green Card because nobody has the RIGHT to inquire about another person's citizenship or immigration status: no sherriff', no cop, no CHP officer, none of those.

The only ones who are allowed to inquire are FEDERAL OFFICERS, and in order for an FBI or CIA officer to ask you such question, you are most likely knee-deep in sh*t anyway. In such a case your spouse can bring your Green Card to the maximum security prison they hold you in.

Who else?

USCIS officers don't roam the streets. CBP officers sit at the airport and on checkpoints only. And ICE wouldn't give you the time of the day until you are knee deep in sh*t, again, in which case they would either visit you at the jail you're being held or when kicking in your door at home at around 4 o'clock in the morning. In the latter case, you can show them the card easily. If they won't take the handcuffs off, you have a valid reason why you shouldn't be fined $125 for not having the Green Card on you.