green card lost in accident, traveling next month

[cainBrain 6]

We had an unfortunate accident and lost my wife's green card. I have all of the petition letters from changing status from CR-1. The USCIS site says 4-6months to process a new card. Problem is, she has a plane ticket for next month. Can we do this any other way? Can she cary any other form of documentation into customs to show that she in fact does have permanent resident status? Don't they have instant access on computer systems? Anyway we can expedite the processing of a new green card, if all else fails.

thank you for any and all replies.

[thepizzadude 26]

I am sure you will need the Resident Card to reenter the country. Better find it or get on the phone pronto on Monday.

[milimelo 4,498]

If lost/stolen, get a police report and file I-90 online. That will get her a receipt notice and she can do an infopass to get a stamp in her passport.

[Darnell 8,478]

I have all of the petition letters from changing status from CR-1.

Sure - take those , get into a USCIS local office via infopass appointment (or beg the guards to let her in because of emergency need)

and

show the police report of the theft/loss and ask for I-551 stamp in the passport.

errata - since yer back at VJ asking a real, life-changing question -

would you be a dear, a sport, a stand-up righteous fella,

and fill in yer official VJ timeline over at

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=80947

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=80947

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=80947

??

Edited November 24, 2013 by Darnell

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Adjustment of Status from Family Based Visas to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

[Dave&Roza 748]

We had an unfortunate accident and lost my wife's green card. I have all of the petition letters from changing status from CR-1. The USCIS site says 4-6months to process a new card. Problem is, she has a plane ticket for next month. Can we do this any other way? Can she cary any other form of documentation into customs to show that she in fact does have permanent resident status? Don't they have instant access on computer systems? Anyway we can expedite the processing of a new green card, if all else fails.

thank you for any and all replies.

Do as the others have said. It is not the CBP you will have problems with, it is the airlines. They will not let anybody board an aircraft bound for the US unless that person has the proper documentation to be allowed entry. They do not want to have to take you back to your point of origin on their dime, plus they get into trouble with the US. So you need to have something the airlines will accept so they will let you on the airplane. The I-551 stamp is the best way given the time frame you are up against. Make the infopass appointment and take the completed I-90 form to give them and show that your wife has to travel internationally within a month and you would like to receive the I-551 stamp and/or expedite the GC replacement.

Good luck,

Dave

[Darnell 8,478]

cainBrain !

So, what did you decide to do ? and why ?

[cainBrain 6]

I found the original letter that came before the GreenCard. The greencard was lost in the unfortunate accident. Do I need to file a police report still? I suppose it is up to the USCIS examiner? What would boost our case?

Darnell, thanks for pointing out that I need to fill my timeline etc.. out. I will as soon as I get some more time. I also hope to contribute to this really great site that has saved us so much money and time. Thanks

[Shiobhan 235]

Get infopass go to the office they will stamp

LPR with a date, U will use as a GC until replaced

[Aztec&Taino 144]

You could file to obtain AP (Advance Parole), but I don't think it would be ready that soon. Sounds to me like she will have to cancel her travel plans...

[Darnell 8,478]

You could file to obtain AP (Advance Parole), but I don't think it would be ready that soon. Sounds to me like she will have to cancel her travel plans...

Not needed, based on what's what.

I-551 stamp suffices, instead.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

The I90 for a lost green card is expensive .

[cainBrain 6]

I would like use this as an opportunity to get her naturalized. On a separate thread, I posted the question, it is related to whether or no we need the actual physical card to do it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/467432-lost-green-card-can-i-go-the-us-citizen-route-instead-of/

Can't we do this without the card, document?

A separate issue is whether she can travel. For this we (she) plan on meeting with USCIS and having a police report in hand during the interview. I pray that she gets the "stamp" to travel on her passport.

Many thanks for all replies.

Edited November 25, 2013 by cainBrain

[NickD 203]

Wife didn't lose her green card, but it was expired, and her one year extension notice was about to expire, we had to make an infopass appointment and bring what evidence we had, like her expired green card and about to expire one year extension to get that I-551 in her current valid foreign passport book. This worked for her.

I would think you would have to provide proof you already applied for a new green card. Did you ever make a photo copy of it?

Women and their purses, not really knocking this, but highly risky. When we traveled, I carried her passport and her green card in my wallet in my shirt pocket and under my zipped up jacket.

Maybe I shouldn't say this, my stepdaughter left her purse in her car for just a few minutes, someone broke her window and stole her purse. While they did get her drivers's license all they got was a copy of her green card. Those things are worth more than their weight in gold. Good reason to apply for US citizenship as early as possible. Then you are finally free of that card.