HELP! Green Card MIA - Need Advice

[dukeandduchess 141]

*Warning: Huge rant*

So as you all know my AOS was approved and my green card was mailed to me at the start of June. Apparently my green card arrived to its destination on June 6 at 4:00pm. Well, it didnt come here.

I moved at the end of March and mailed my "Change of Address" to USCIS within 10 days. I set up mail forwarding with USPS starting April 11. So first thing I did was contact USPS who basically told me that "it was delivered" but they would "open a claim and contact me within 1 business day". Apparently, they do not know what address it was delivered to. How ridiculous is that?

Next I contacted USCIS to report that my green card had NOT arrived and was missing. I asked the representative which address they had on file. Apparently they "do not have that information" and I could file a service request so I would "hear back within 30 days". I laughed and said "Nevermind, I'll keep trying with USPS". She was kind enough to tell me that she "Did not see an address change on my file" - so why the hell do we even send our address change in if they don't bother looking at it?

I called my old landlord and left a message begging to call me if they saw the letter. I also asked that she leave a note for the current resident to let them know that I would be extremely grateful for its return. Didn't hear anything.

(Insert weekend of stress eating and alcohol consumption here)

I heard back from USPS on Monday (10th) who again told me that "it shows it has been delivered" but still couldn't tell me where the hell they delivered it to. The lady told me she would contact the mail carrier at my old address and call me back. Never called me back. I called USPS again yesterday (12th) to let them know I hadn't heard back from anyone from USPS. I was forwarded to a "supervisor" who let me know that they closed my case because "the letter was delivered".

I asked, "So, there's nothing you can do because it says it has been delivered?"

His response: "Correct"

Me: "So you can't tell me what address it was delivered to?"

Him: "Correct"

Me: "So you don't know where it was delivered, it's not lost because apparently you delivered it to me, even though I never got it. There's nothing you can do?"

Him: "Correct. I can open a claim again for it..."

Me: "...so you can just tell me it was delivered again and that there's no problem, right?"

Him: "Correct.. Well I can refer you to the Regional level since this can't be resolved at the local office."

Me: "Seriously? So they will just tell me the same thing, that it shows it was delivered and therefore there's no problem with it, right?"

Him: "Yes."

At this point I was 2 seconds away from bawling and or screaming so I just said "Thanks." and got off the phone.

Well. Okay then. They can't tell me where the hell it is only that they show that I got it. That's freaking awesome.

So I called USCIS again to report that my green card is missing and that USPS doesn't have a freaking clue about anything (Okay, I said USPS said it's lost). This representative actually seemed to have half a brain and was decent to deal with. He told me that he could do an address change to ensure my new address was on file, but I would still need to "file a Change of Address form with USCIS" - I said, "What like the one I sent in March?"... Anyway, we get through the whole change of address ordeal and he says "is there anything else I can help you with?" so I say "Yeah well there's the whole issue about my missing green card... I need to get a new one I guess.." He responds:

"Well, Ma'am, I just submitted a service request on your behalf so I can't submit another service request for 30 days."

WHAT. THE. HELL. I'm pretty sure my stomach fell out of my butt at this point and I stammered and sputtered for a minute and then just said "so...my green card is lost and now I can't get a new one for 30+ days...?"

He told me he put in the comments section that my green card was lost, maybe sent to the old address, so "hopefully someone will look at that and get your green card going." I'm pretty sure he could sense I was about to have a heart attack so when I asked if there was anything else I could do he told me to call and ask to speak to a Tier 2 representative and they "might be able to get the green card sent to [my] new address." I didn't make it home from work today in time to call back but I am off of work tomorrow.

Also stopped and spoke to my landlord who said she was out of the office last week so she never got my voicemail but she hadn't see anything. She's going to ask the new tenant if he's seen anything and will call me if they find it.

So.. What the hell should I do? What do I say to the Tier 2 Representative when I call tomorrow?

Dealing with this ####### is so stressful I'm thisclose to having a nervous breakdown and I'm so frustrated that no one can help me (USPS, USCIS). Time to go back to Canada!?

Edited June 14, 2013 by dukeandduchess

[Darnell 8,478]

it's a bit soon, as it was delivered at the first part of this month, but

advanced search tool !

search terms = 'returned mail pieces'

User name = 'Darnell'

click on 'Display as Posts '

[dukeandduchess 141]

Well... This is embarassing. My old landlord just called and said the old tenant got it but held on to it. So... I'm about 20 minutes from getting my green card.

Now... Do I call USCIS and tell them I got it and not to cancel/send me a new one? I didn't call in and speak to a Tier 2 yet but there is that note in my service request...

Thanks for reading!

[NikLR 13,227]

I would contact them and tell them to update your case as you do not need the green card!

[hikergirl 277]

Well... This is embarassing. My old landlord just called and said the old tenant got it but held on to it. So... I'm about 20 minutes from getting my green card.

Now... Do I call USCIS and tell them I got it and not to cancel/send me a new one? I didn't call in and speak to a Tier 2 yet but there is that note in my service request...

Thanks for reading!

It’s completely understandable especially when the USPS people were being flakes!

Glad it’s coming together for you.

[Peachey 10]

Rule #1 about USPS... they know nothing about the mail they deliver, nor do they care. Same thing with Fedex. I got a package from Fedex, box open, and a video game missing. They did NOTHING, I talked to amazon and they gave me a refund thank goodness.

USPS has messed up a few pieces of mail i was supposed to receive. I got the same answer as you every time. Good thing the new tennant hung on to it tho! What were they going to do with it? Shouldn't they have returned it at least?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Glad you got your card - or I am assuming you have it by now. The tenant should have notified the landlord that they had received your mail or at least returned it to sender.

We had a problem with USPS delivering a package somewhere else instead of to our address as well. The service reps couldn't help us and I got very frustrated so wrote a long letter identifying each of the problem areas and hand delivered it to the Post Master at our local office. I got a phone call a few hours later. Since the package was 'tracked' they were supposed to know where it was - but guess what, it was tracked as being delivered at our address! That never happened.

We called the company that had shipped the item (it was computer related and expensive) and they said that they could put an insurance claim in for its loss but they couldn't guarantee it would be accepted since the PO said that they had delivered it. So, I called USPS again and spoke with the Post Master and said since they were the ones who had mis-delivered this package, were they going to make good on its cost? She had me to fax over a copy of the invoice and she would see what she could do. I did and a few hours later she called back and said she had submitted a loss claim.

Something the Post Master said when talking about the package being delivered got me thinking. She had said the package was identified as being delivered at 10:17 am. I realized that our mail is never delivered until between 3 and 5 pm. So, I called her back and asked if the delivery was on the regular route or a special route. She said it was the regular route, so I explained that our mail is never delivered in the morning and asked her to find out in what neighbourhood they were delivering at 10 am. About 2 hours later, I got a phone call back saying that they had recovered my package! Apparently, the driver had delivered it to an address with the same number that started with the same initial but was a totally different street in a totally different area. The recipient, of course, just kept the package. They hadn't contacted the post office nor tried to deliver it to our address which was listed on the package. That is the part I don't get - why don't people do something if they get a wrong delivery?! Anyway, she asked if I wanted it delivered or did I want to pick it up. I asked her what did she think I would want after they mis-delivered it the first time? So, I went and picked it up.

The moral of the story is to contact the Post Master in writing and then follow up in person - you might get some better service. If you can give them a dollar figure that you are out because of their actions you might get even more help. The service reps really are no help.

In your situation the worst part is that USCIS failed to update their records and the tenant at your former address behaved like a complete jerk.

Edited June 14, 2013 by Kathryn41

[Darnell 8,478]

must to update must to update must to update !

do you now have the green card in yer hand, or no ?

[dukeandduchess 141]

Green card is in hand! I did update my address back in March when I moved, but I guess USCIS didn't look at that.

I called this morning to cancel my service request and let them know that I had my green card safely in hand and I was told that:

"We can't even process an address change service request if a case is not pending so no one will even process it anyway"

and, if I do get a letter about how to replace a stolen card, which I won't because they won't change my address (lol) to

"Just ignore it"

Well okay then. I am pleased with government misinformation and inefficiency today.

[Darnell 8,478]

Yay GreenCard ! Go Greencard !!

How do you feel, now ?

FWIW, the data center that houses address changes is in Elizabethtown, KY. And they rarely share info with the other units of USCIS that need it. I know, it sucks, but it's been that way almost forever. If your USCitizen Spouse has any influence, contact yer 3 congressman and complain about it.

It's also 'known' that this data center doesn't share information. On top of that? SERCO has put in new software that makes it absolutely useless for any ISO to get any real inquiries done . It's all a boondoggle, IMO.

Glad you got yer greencard. Please go kick a brick wall and release yer frustration, USCIS just doesn't care.

[dukeandduchess 141]

I feel great! At least for 2 years that is but maybe ROC will be easier (I'll tell myself that for a while anyway lol).

Time for some wine! (it's 5'o'clock somewhere right?)

[canada_socks 97]

I feel great! At least for 2 years that is but maybe ROC will be easier (I'll tell myself that for a while anyway lol).

Time for some wine! (it's 5'o'clock somewhere right?)

Wine works any time of the day! It is just grape juice for adults after all! Enjoy it!

My husband and I are hoping to move before we file ROC...I am really hoping we don't have a similar problem! I will be filing a change off address for us both, but will also file the ROC from our new address (of course) so hopefully that will help. Did you move after filing AOS? Just wondering.

[Darnell 8,478]

Well okay then. I am pleased with government misinformation and inefficiency today.

You should write some letters of complaint. I smell about 4 offices involved.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I feel great! At least for 2 years that is but maybe ROC will be easier (I'll tell myself that for a while anyway lol).

Time for some wine! (it's 5'o'clock somewhere right?)

Photocopy your GC, BOTH sides, and if possible scanned copies as well.

I don't personally carry mine even though you're supposed to (I believe it's a misdemeanor not to), I just don't want to pay $450 for a replacement for my stupidity or someone elses theft.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Green card is in hand! I did update my address back in March when I moved, but I guess USCIS didn't look at that.

I called this morning to cancel my service request and let them know that I had my green card safely in hand and I was told that:

"We can't even process an address change service request if a case is not pending so no one will even process it anyway"

and, if I do get a letter about how to replace a stolen card, which I won't because they won't change my address (lol) to

"Just ignore it"

Well okay then. I am pleased with government misinformation and inefficiency today.

Well, one thing you can give them credit for . . . they are at least consistent!