Lost green card before Oath in Houston

[kkhouston 2]

Dear all,

I have an oath ceremony on march 30, 2016 in Houston, but my wallet was lost, my green card inside

I reported to a police officer, she said I have to wait 10-15 business days to get the report, is there anyone know about this situation in Houston? Do I have to make an info pass with the local office before the oath? Or I just go to the oath ceremony with the police report?

I tried to make an info pass, but every time the system said not available:( can I just walk in?

Thanks for the kindly help!

Edited March 15, 2016 by kkhouston

[boy15 23]

It's good to know that you already filed a police report. And NO, I don't think that you can just walk-in USCIS Office without the appointment. From what I researched, you should be OK if you bring a police report to the Oath Ceremony. Keep checking with police station where you filed the police report. Hope links below may help. Good luck to you!

http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/green-card-lost-just-after-citizenship-interview-a-1987764.html

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/242782-lost-green-card-before-oath-ceremony/

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/naturalization-ceremonies

[kkhouston 2]

thank you very much !

It's good to know that you already filed a police report. And NO, I don't think that you can just walk-in USCIS Office without the appointment. From what I researched, you should be OK if you bring a police report to the Oath Ceremony. Keep checking with police station where you filed the police report. Hope links below may help. Good luck to you!

http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/green-card-lost-just-after-citizenship-interview-a-1987764.html

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/242782-lost-green-card-before-oath-ceremony/

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/naturalization-ceremonies

[ibocan 1]

Dear all,

I have an oath ceremony on march 30, 2016 in Houston, but my wallet was lost, my green card inside

I reported to a police officer, she said I have to wait 10-15 business days to get the report, is there anyone know about this situation in Houston? Do I have to make an info pass with the local office before the oath? Or I just go to the oath ceremony with the police report?

I tried to make an info pass, but every time the system said not available:( can I just walk in?

Thanks for the kindly help!

I applied from Houston as well. Can you tell me how long your process took? i have been in line for scheduling 1/15/2016. i am just wondering when might get a interview schedule

[kkhouston 2]

Different applicants get different waiting period, sometimes 1 month to 6

I applied from Houston as well. Can you tell me how long your process took? i have been in line for scheduling 1/15/2016. i am just wondering when might get a interview schedule

[kkhouston 2]

Do @JimmyHou and @TBoneTX have any good advices? Thanks!

[TBoneTX 44,010]

All that I can suggest is that you either set an InfoPass appointment (if you can get one) or phone USCIS. If you phone, fight through the clueless Customer Disservice people and escalate your matter to an actual Immigration Officer.

Whichever process you pursue, let us know what you learn. Looking forward to what JimmyHou has to say.

[kkhouston 2]

LOL

All that I can suggest is that you either set an InfoPass appointment (if you can get one) or phone USCIS. If you phone, fight through the clueless Customer Disservice people and escalate your matter to an actual Immigration Officer.

Whichever process you pursue, let us know what you learn. Looking forward to what JimmyHou has to say.

[JimmyHou 611]

It's good to know that you already filed a police report. And NO, I don't think that you can just walk-in USCIS Office without the appointment. From what I researched, you should be OK if you bring a police report to the Oath Ceremony. Keep checking with police station where you filed the police report. Hope links below may help. Good luck to you!

http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/green-card-lost-just-after-citizenship-interview-a-1987764.html

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/242782-lost-green-card-before-oath-ceremony/

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/naturalization-ceremonies

I agree with this.

There's a chance that they'll try to delay your ceremony, but I don't think it's a big chance.

They may ask you to mail in your green card if it turns up.

Take the police report with you.

[kris_hetfield 11]

Fill out the I-90 form, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, ASAP and take a photocopy of the receipt with you to the Oath Ceremony along with the police report. But it'll cost you $450 to do so based on your card being stolen/lost.

Refer to page 9 of the following:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

And try to get through to USCIS customer service and see if you can get some kind of exemption from the $450 as you won't require your GC in less than 2 weeks.

Edited March 18, 2016 by kris_hetfield

[JimmyHou 611]

I'll respectfully advise against the suggestion that you should apply for a replacement card. A replacement card would take months to receive and I don't see why a replacement receipt would make any difference if you already have a police report. They want the card itself (if you have it) not proof that you're going to get one in the mail. In fact, if you do show them a receipt for a new card, they'll just tell you to send it back to them if it ever shows up in the mail.

I'm sure this suggestion was made out of a desire to err on the side of caution, but I don't think you gain anything for your money by doing this. Just my opinion.

The rules only state that you need to get a replacement card if your card expires more than 6 months prior to applying.

No where does it say that you have to have a valid card at the time of the oath. Yes, you are supposed to surrender your green card and any other cards in your procession at the time of the oath, but if you don't have one, you can't surrender it.

Many applicants have passed the interview and taken the oath without a green card.

Not having one may cause a delay (although I think this is unlikely), but will not cause a denial.

The purpose of the police report is to show them that you legitimately lost the card and didn't just forget it at home on the morning of the ceremony. They won't insist on getting the card back if you've actually lost it, but they don't want you hanging on to it just for sentimental or illicit reasons.

Edited March 18, 2016 by JimmyHou

[kkhouston 2]

I will ask the immigration officer in person, then I will update

Thanks all of you guys!

I'll respectfully advise against the suggestion that you should apply for a replacement card. A replacement card would take months to receive and I don't see why a replacement receipt would make any difference if you already have a police report. They want the card itself (if you have it) not proof that you're going to get one in the mail. In fact, if you do show them a receipt for a new card, they'll just tell you to send it back to them if it ever shows up in the mail.

I'm sure this suggestion was made out of a desire to err on the side of caution, but I don't think you gain anything for your money by doing this. Just my opinion.

The rules only state that you need to get a replacement card if your card expires more than 6 months prior to applying.

No where does it say that you have to have a valid card at the time of the oath. Yes, you are supposed to surrender your green card and any other cards in your procession at the time of the oath, but if you don't have one, you can't surrender it.

Many applicants have passed the interview and taken the oath without a green card.

Not having one may cause a delay (although I think this is unlikely), but will not cause a denial.

The purpose of the police report is to show them that you legitimately lost the card and didn't just forget it at home on the morning of the ceremony. They won't insist on getting the card back if you've actually lost it, but they don't want you hanging on to it just for sentimental or illicit reasons.

[kkhouston 2]

Hi all!

I made one info pass to USCIS Houston Local Office, by the way, it seems like that Houston Office accept walk in enquiry without an info pass

talked to an office that I lost my green card, they don't have to see your police report so he gave me a form, and I completed it, then he sign, so I brought the form with my Oath Notic to the ceremony, they just accept my case without hand in my green card, and I gotten my Naturalization Certification same day.

Edited March 31, 2016 by kkhouston

[TBoneTX 44,010]

Thanks for the update with the great news!

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