Green card lost by US postal mail

[baduk 0]

I applied a CR1 spouse visa last year. My wife finally receive a green card stamp and entered the US this Feb, 2013. This is all good, but we never received the green card. Basically, the USCIS mailed it out by "Priority Mail (USPS)", and according to USPS records it was 'delivered'. It turns out the mail man during that period was a temp, but the post office insists it was delivered (that is what their computer system says).

I contacted USCIS to get the card re-issued. They forwarded me to their website which says I need to pay $450 processing fee because the card was not returned as 'undeliverable' by the USPS. My case falls under "lost, stolen, or damaged" category. How convenient... I think this is BS. I paid $480 processing fee already to USCIS and the onus is on USCIS to make sure the green card is delivered in my hands. There are "receiver signature required" delivery methods; why use a method that is not 100% and when something happens the customer takes the blame ??

Any thoughts ? Can I sue the US government for process fee ?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion; topic is not about the spousal visa process itself.

**Organizer hat off**

Can I sue the US government for process fee ?

No

[MedRoni 161]

Agreed, unfortunately not.

I found out from the social security office that many times new immigrants have issues getting mail because their spouse/fiance did not include their names at the post office as people living at the address. I checked in at my post office and they agreed. What happens to the mail? I don't know....

This happened to us with his social security card. We had to have one resent. Luckily there was no fee.

Edited May 21, 2013 by MedRoni

[hmh33 117]

This is total BS and unreasonable, but I think you may not be able to do anything about it. Sorry.

[Nimaan 27]

We are even lucky nowadays they send it where it can be tracked; a year ago, they used to send it regular first class mail!! Just like the junk mail we receive in our mailboxes!! How dumb was that?!

But anyway, I suggest you follow up with the USPS to find out exactly where it was delivered.

[Berty 74]

Can I sue the US government for process fee ?

You'll find them completely unaccountable in this (and pretty much every) area. It sucks but hey, such is life!

[SBB 74]

The mailman stuck my wife's green card in the wrong mailbox. We didn't get it until five months later after we had already paid the $450 for a new one. It was a pain in the ###. I really wish they would send the cards by certified mail.

[baduk 0]

Thanks for all the mail...

I guess I could kiss good bye to my $450 check...

I am thinking of reporting to the local police for 'stolen federal mail'. We lost not only the green card, but the SSC once also... I wonder if the mailman is messing with us...

[hmh33 117]

If you prefer, I think you can have USCIS send your mail to a P.O. box... you still have to give them your physical address as well, in case they want to come knock on your door.