Green card returned with no delivery attempt

[otta 7]

Hi all,

After an RFE, my green card was finally mailed to me last week. Since I applied through VSC, it's been almost 11 months now, so I was relieved that this process was finally nearing the end.

Problem? USPS tracking number indicates that although the card arrived in my city yesterday, it has been returned to sender. I use a PO Box, under both my and my husband's name, and have received mail from USCIS there (e.g. my approval notice just last week). The card is now on its way from a sorting facility in Ohio back to KY.

I called USPS and got a nice customer service rep. He said that since the envelope is still "showing in their system," they may be able to intercept it and have it sent back to me. I hope this works, because I've read horror stories about green cards being returned to sender but USCIS claiming their office had not received them back, resulting in the applicant having to pay another $450 and waiting more time to replace the card (by filing an I-90).

Has anyone had this problem recently? I found a thread from 03/2012 where the applicant ended up involving their senator's office (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/355491-green-card-never-received/), but I'd certainly hope to avoid that. This is a really tough time for us (RFE took over a month to put together just because of multiple jobs and school on top of that). When I noticed online that the card was returned, I burst into tears at the thought of having to deal with more waiting on hold and going around in bureaucratic circles...

Also, has anyone had a green card delivered to a PO Box? It's my mailing address on file with USCIS and I got the approval notice there just last week, but I'm wondering if that could somehow be a problem... I'll go to my post office to investigate, but that office is truly godawful and I doubt I'll get anywhere.

Thanks for any advice. Sorry about such a long post. I've been trying to be patient over the last year, but this caught me by surprise just as I thought I could cross ROC off my list of things to worry about.

Edited March 2, 2013 by otta

[bigdog 376]

Get a PMB personal mail box, and use it as a mailing, we do no issues. PMB usually accepts other packages, fed ex / ups etc. Also secure.

[mobob 0]

Call USCIS Monday after 7pm EST - usually only a 30-40 minute wait by then. When you get through, ask to speak to a supervisor - usually second level. The call takers can only access limited information. The supervisor should be able to tell you what's going on - where your green card is or isn't, or what's happened so far. They can also make address corrections. I, too, use a PO box. The green cards were sent to our physical address where we don't get mail due to theft, so they were returned undeliverable. The cards arrived the week after I made the phone call correcting the address. Udachi.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Also, has anyone had a green card delivered to a PO Box? It's my mailing address on file with USCIS and I got the approval notice there just last week, but I'm wondering if that could somehow be a problem... I'll go to my post office to investigate, but that office is truly godawful and I doubt I'll get anywhere.

Yes that's where all of my ROC stuff went just last year. The PO Box is not a problem. USCIS could have addressed the envelope wrong, that's happened before.

They added the tracking because so many people claimed cards weren't delivered and they wanted proof. This tracking has actually helped a lot of people and would in your case too because as you said, it SAYS "returned". You would simply make an infopass and get an I-551 (GC) stamp in your passport until they finally got the card back to you. You are still an LPR.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Call USCIS Monday after 7pm EST - usually only a 30-40 minute wait by then. When you get through, ask to speak to a supervisor - usually second level. The call takers can only access limited information. The supervisor should be able to tell you what's going on - where your green card is or isn't, or what's happened so far. They can also make address corrections. I, :blush:too, use a PO box. The green cards were sent to our physical address where we don't get mail due to theft, so they were returned undeliverable. The cards arrived the week after I made the phone call correcting the address. Udachi.

The other good news is that you CAN cross the ROC off your list of things to worry about. Your status is approved and has been updated in the system.

Now just to run down the cards....seems like something do-able.

Word of warning...when the ROC was approved your extension letter was cancelled, I know of one case where the person was out of the country at the time and the initial CBP officer was going to deny him entry! However a supervisor interveened and noted that the system DID show him as a permanent resident. He was admitted with a "stern warning" to "Always keep your green card with you!"

So you are kind of in "limbo" regarding proving your status...not the status itself

[otta 7]

Card is here! After my phone call to the USPS hotline, they did manage to intercept the envelope and send it back to NYC. Apparently, the reason it was originally returned by the sorting facility here is that, for some reason, USCIS added '-0000' to my zip code, although all previous mail came with just the standard 5-digit zip I entered on my application. Weird.

Lesson: track your card frequently in case your address got screwed up in the process. Had I not called USPS first thing Saturday morning, I would have had to file an I-90 for the card to be resent, which would have taken more time and stress. Also, e-mail status updates from USPS didn't work for me, so I had to go back and refresh the website every now and then. USPS staff were very helpful when I called.

Thanks for everyone's comments! See (some of) you in the N-400 forum!

[Darnell 8,478]

yay ! whatcha cooking, to celebrate?