Green Card got stolen... do I need a replacement?

[Anastasia 1]

I have my citizenship application ready and I was planning to mail it tomorrow. Today my purse got stolen with my green card in it. Doh... I filed a police report. I already have photo copies of the green card to send in with my application. Is it necessary to fill out I-90 form to get a green card replacement, considering I will become a citizen in a few months? Citizenship fee is already so much $$$ for me, and now to add $450 to that, seems horrible... I also saw people reporting it takes about 6 months or more to get a green card replacement, so I may even already be a citizen by then... Are there any other people here that it happened to? And how did you deal with it? Any advice?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I have my citizenship application ready and I was planning to mail it tomorrow. Today my purse got stolen with my green card in it. Doh... I filed a police report. I already have photo copies of the green card to send in with my application. Is it necessary to fill out I-90 form to get a green card replacement, considering I will become a citizen in a few months? Citizenship fee is already so much $$$ for me, and now to add $450 to that, seems horrible... I also saw people reporting it takes about 6 months or more to get a green card replacement, so I may even already be a citizen by then... Are there any other people here that it happened to? And how did you deal with it? Any advice?

You won't likely be a citizen without showing them your greencard at the interview. Is there any hope your belongings from the purse will be returned? If not you need to let USCIS know immediately that your GC has been stolen because you don't want it falling into the wrong hands and being misused under your name. You've filed a police report which is the first step. I'm sure someone who has had to replace a GC will chime in, but yes you might have to pay both fees although it will be difficult.

[Presley 4]

U can always make an info pass to get the right information. I know people on visa journey give good advise. In this case if I were u I woul make an info pass and speak directly to an io. U might have or u might not have to get the green card. U have to let uscis know ur green card got stolen. This is something very important.

[No-Where-Man 147]

Hello,

This must be really frustrating. I am sorry that this happened.

You are required to send copies of your GC which you already had. In case of GC is stolen (unfortunately before sending in the application), in this case you will need to go a head file for a replacement, this is good and bad news.

Bad news---------------- yes you will pay more money

Good news------------- you only need to wait for the NOA(shows that you applied for a replacement), and you do not have to wait till they send you your new card to start your N-400.

From cases I have seen, if you got your GC before the interview (perfect), if not, they accept the NOA, and the N-400 will force the replacement to go through.

So, basically you do not have to wait all the way till they send you the replacement.

Important:

In your application for N-400, I would send the police report of the incident + the photocopy of the old stolen GC + the NOA for the replacement with a small letter detailing what happened and the steps you took.

Hopefully knowing you can still file for N-400 ease the situation, but wait for the NOA first.

Hope that helps

Edited July 8, 2012 by no_where_man

[NickD 202]

First mistake we made was buying a 300 buck jacket for our daughter for Christmas in college, goes to a restaurant, uses the rest room, and leaves it on a chair. That was stupid of her, was gone when she came back. And had her wallet in her pocket. Was only 14 bucks for a new drivers's license that took her all of twenty minutes, a new college ID that cost us 20 bucks, colleges today love to rob. But fortunately, all they got was a copy of her green card, in color, printed on both sides.

Yeah, I did that, I know the law says you are suppose to carry your green card with you wherever you go, but was willing to fight that statement if it ever came about in that it does not say the original or just a copy of it. Reason being the exorbitant cost and extremely long wait to get a replacement. Then what are you suppose to carry with you if it was stolen. Then women's purses, while traveling, always carried my wife's green card with me sealed in a zippered inside pocket jacket along with her passport book.

To the best of my knowledge, you have to show the USCIS proof you applied for a new green card, they are kind of greedy. Her jacket was stolen just three weeks before her interview, but could turn in her green card. One key advantage of USC, don't have to carry that damn card anymore, one less thing to worry about.

Ironic over the years the number of people that came here with the same problem. Wife and daughter were asked to see their driver's license for various reasons, like cashing a check, using a credit card, definitely at the airport. But never were they asked to show their green card. Well coming back from an international flight, had to show it. But that was the only time.

[nycfeng 2]

I filed both I 90 and N 400.

[Presley 4]

I will see an immigration officer first.