A rant and a question.

[spectheintro 18]

So I assembled my wife's packet last month, made three copies, got everything ready, and waited until November 21st to send it off.

I sent it on Nov. 21st via Certified First Class Mail. And USPS promptly lost my package. I have opened an investigation but as of now their tracking information hasn't updated since the day I sent it, and they cannot locate the package. Which is awesome. I'm just freaking thrilled.

So here's my question: when can I send another copy? Can I do so at all, or do I need to wait for USPS to locate the package? I don't want to mess up anything with USCIS, but I want to get this naturalization process started ASAP so I can be done with immigration *forever.*

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

USPS doesn't really lose mail that often. I bet the package is misplaced, sitting in a box somewhere, and it will turn up shortly. It's not like it's in the trash or at the bottom of someone's pool. I would be as patient as you can be (your package will be found). Nov 21 was just a week ago.

[spectheintro 18]

USPS doesn't really lose mail that often. I bet the package is misplaced, sitting in a box somewhere, and it will turn up shortly. It's not like it's in the trash or at the bottom of someone's pool. I would be as patient as you can be (your package will be found). Nov 21 was just a week ago.

I have very little faith in the postal service right now. It may be unwarranted but I'm extremely frustrated, considering how close I am to being finished with this.

In any case, I wasn't planning on sending the new packet today or anything. I'm just wondering how long I should wait, and if (should USPS find the package eventually and deliver it) USCIS will flip out upon receiving two packages. I may give USCIS a call about this, but wanted to see if anyone here had been through something similar / had any advice to give.

[nwctzn 55]

I have very little faith in the postal service right now. It may be unwarranted but I'm extremely frustrated, considering how close I am to being finished with this.

In any case, I wasn't planning on sending the new packet today or anything. I'm just wondering how long I should wait, and if (should USPS find the package eventually and deliver it) USCIS will flip out upon receiving two packages. I may give USCIS a call about this, but wanted to see if anyone here had been through something similar / had any advice to give.

Did you include form G-1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance in your package? If yes, you will get an Email or text as soon as USCIS accepts the package.

[spectheintro 18]

Did you include form G-1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance in your package? If yes, you will get an Email or text as soon as USCIS accepts the package.

I did. The problem is, the package clearly hasn't been delivered yet (I sent it via Certified Mail so I can see its tracking status). It should have been delivered 3 days ago (on Monday). I don't want to wait a month for USPS to figure itself out (particularly during the busiest mailing season of the year) if I can just submit another package and not let USPS's idiocy hold up the process.

What I don't want to do is send the next package, have it accepted within 3 days (what should have happened with this package), and then a month down the line USPS finally delivers the original package, and USCIS freaks out because they now have two identical applications and decide this means they need to cancel both and somehow deport my wife. (Yes, I am being hyperbolic, but let's be fair: USCIS does some crazy things.)

[nwctzn 55]

I did. The problem is, the package clearly hasn't been delivered yet (I sent it via Certified Mail so I can see its tracking status). It should have been delivered 3 days ago (on Monday). I don't want to wait a month for USPS to figure itself out (particularly during the busiest mailing season of the year) if I can just submit another package and not let USPS's idiocy hold up the process.

What I don't want to do is send the next package, have it accepted within 3 days (what should have happened with this package), and then a month down the line USPS finally delivers the original package, and USCIS freaks out because they now have two identical applications and decide this means they need to cancel both and somehow deport my wife. (Yes, I am being hyperbolic, but let's be fair: USCIS does some crazy things.)

Indeed a tricky situation. Looks like you could wait a week or two and if you still cannot locate the application you could resubmit.

[LA80 3]

I think you should wait at least 2 weeks. Also, do not rely too much on track and confirm feature because it sometimes does not work. I sent a letter to Canada on 19th, and there has not been any update since 20th when it left the sorting facility.

It is great that you sent G-1145. You might get a text message/e-mail soon.

[adiiann 163]

Whenever I sent documents pertaining to immigration ar USPS, I let them know that its for immigration and very time sensitive, that way they will handle it cautiously. When I couldn't track my ROC package before and it is immigration documents, the manager called the USPS in california to track it down for me. A day after, I got confirmation of delivery.

[NickD 202]

I also love to rant, was planning a trip four months in advanced and paid the DOS an expedient charge to get my new passport back. This is when Bush decided you need a passport to visit Canada. After many calls to the DOS, they finally sent my passport on a Wednesday, should have received it on the following day. Somehow it ended up in Tennessee, got hold of our post office manager, she came in on her own time to expedite that package. It came in a 6:30 AM that Friday morning, just a few hours before we had to leave.

Ordered a used automotive shop manual from ebay, paying something like $2.50 bookrate, a very heavy manual from Texas. Was in no hurry, it came in the next day to Wisconsin.

We had extensive delays during our ROC stages, also sent those overnight requiring a signed receipt. That got lost for months.

After a bit of thinking, any important documents we received from the USCIS were sent to us via first class mail. So both for my wife and stepdaughter, said the heck with it, and sent off the N-400 applications first class mail. Was around two bucks for my wife, 86 cents for my stepdaughter for the five year.

In both cases, the USCIS service center received our packages in three days. I sent in a personal check and could check my online banking account to learn when the checks were cashed. Also hand wrote the case numbers on my checks, so I could check the processing dates.

I have this strange idea that if you send something overnight USPS with a returned receipt required, if they do manage to deliver it, will tee off some government agent to sign for it, and he will toss it in a corner someplace.

I use MS Word to type out that barcode on the envelope so computers do the thinking.

[Grashoppr 14]

Certified mail actually slows it down for some reason. Give it a few more days. The busy season for the post office is well under way and that can bog things down. Our residential carrier delivered our mail at 6:15 last evening (usually comes at 1:00 or so) and they had 2 trucks instead of 1. One for letters, the other for parcels. First time I've ever seen that in 12+ years.

The online tracking can be hit and miss too. Especially with the holiday volume, each piece might not be scanned. I ship a lot of stuff Priority Mail for my business, and sometimes things don't update, but the stuff gets there.

I'd give it a few more days, at least. You may be surprised and get a receipt letter from USCIS.

Edited November 30, 2012 by Grashoppr

[dwheels76 5,468]

So I assembled my wife's packet last month, made three copies, got everything ready, and waited until November 21st to send it off.

I sent it on Nov. 21st via Certified First Class Mail. And USPS promptly lost my package. I have opened an investigation but as of now their tracking information hasn't updated since the day I sent it, and they cannot locate the package. Which is awesome. I'm just freaking thrilled.

So here's my question: when can I send another copy? Can I do so at all, or do I need to wait for USPS to locate the package? I don't want to mess up anything with USCIS, but I want to get this naturalization process started ASAP so I can be done with immigration *forever.*

I feel your pain. I to am trying to locate my package from Nigeria to me of my husbands documents to go further.

Can I ask where did u mail this from? And the USPS says nothing I mean the locale should be somewhere right? And you don't want to send off another package (You said naturalization).

So I assume there's money order, check something in there. Keep your eye on that also see if that has been cashed. Maybe they forgot to log it and its delivereed. This is immigration anything is possible.

[spectheintro 18]

Thanks everyone for your responses--I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with USPS insanity!

After opening the investigation, I called back and they said they'd found the package and it was going to be delivered. I just got electronic notification from USCIS confirming receipt of the naturalization packet. Thank God; the end is in sight!

[nwctzn 55]

Thanks everyone for your responses--I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with USPS insanity!

After opening the investigation, I called back and they said they'd found the package and it was going to be delivered. I just got electronic notification from USCIS confirming receipt of the naturalization packet. Thank God; the end is in sight!

It actually turns out that the USPS is pretty reliable. I cannot say the same about the postal service in my original country.

[NickD 202]

It actually turns out that the USPS is pretty reliable. I cannot say the same about the postal service in my original country.

Wife and stepdaughter are still very happy in receiving mail living here, even junk mail. Venezuela doesn't even have a mail service. We still have to deal with her consulate and needs proof that she is still alive. Couldn't believe my ears when they demanded a utility bill from the US mail addressed to her. Why can't you show your drivers' license as proof of living here and being alive? They won't take that, want a utility bill with her name on it.

Thought the USCIS were idiots in wanting that kind of proof, idiosyncrasy must be contagious.