mail box and green card

[Silke 1]

We have our names on our mail box ...just to be safe. I wouldn't want my green card to be send back as undeliverable.

[SirLancelot 1]

This is a debate that happens once in a while on VJ. Usually lots of people will post that they didn't put their names on their mailbox, and everything works out great for them. The trouble is for the small number of people who didn't put their name on their mailbox and did have a problem, your reassurances are meaningless.

The fact is putting your name on your mailbox is recommended by USCIS and is extremely easy and quick thing to do.

Both USPS and USCIS are inconsistent with the way they enforce rules, its good to remove as many variables in process.

OH MY GOD! Absolutely ridiculous. Next thing you'll read from the honorable doc is that everyone needs to put their extracted tooth into a matchbox and place it underneath their pillow just in case.

What a bunch of BS. This is COMPLETELY up to your local postal carrier. There is ABSOLUTELY no requirement that your names be placed on your mailbox for the mail to be delivered. Your own local postal delivery person may have his or her own little policies for his or her given route, but there's not a system wide policy.

It's complete BS to intimidate and scare people into thinking they have to disclose their names on their mailbox. For people who care for their privacy and don't want to advertise who lives in the house, there's no need to list your names on the mailbox unless you know for a fact that your local carrier has this policy.

The ONLY caveat to this is if you live in a multi-unit complex, such as an apartment with many units, then it would be wise to place a little tag/label on the inside of your little box just to help prevent any mis-directing of someone else's mail into your box.

[Dr_LHA 3]

SirLancelot, let me quote from USCIS's own PDF document here, on how to "change your address":

Key information

Any notices or documents USCIS may send you are considered official government mail. If your name is not on the mailbox and/or registered with the local U.S. Postal Service Office, the Postal Service may not deliver official government mail to you. Please remember to register your name and address with the local post office and to put your name on your mailbox.

Your ridiculous personal attack was unwarranted. I'm just trying to give people advice that will maximize their probability of not having problems with getting their greencards.

Edited July 30, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[Kez/JWolf 6]

This is a debate that happens once in a while on VJ. Usually lots of people will post that they didn't put their names on their mailbox, and everything works out great for them. The trouble is for the small number of people who didn't put their name on their mailbox and did have a problem, your reassurances are meaningless.

The fact is putting your name on your mailbox is recommended by USCIS and is extremely easy and quick thing to do.

Both USPS and USCIS are inconsistent with the way they enforce rules, its good to remove as many variables in process.

OH MY GOD! Absolutely ridiculous. Next thing you'll read from the honorable doc is that everyone needs to put their extracted tooth into a matchbox and place it underneath their pillow just in case.

What a bunch of BS. This is COMPLETELY up to your local postal carrier. There is ABSOLUTELY no requirement that your names be placed on your mailbox for the mail to be delivered. Your own local postal delivery person may have his or her own little policies for his or her given route, but there's not a system wide policy.

It's complete BS to intimidate and scare people into thinking they have to disclose their names on their mailbox. For people who care for their privacy and don't want to advertise who lives in the house, there's no need to list your names on the mailbox unless you know for a fact that your local carrier has this policy.

The ONLY caveat to this is if you live in a multi-unit complex, such as an apartment with many units, then it would be wise to place a little tag/label on the inside of your little box just to help prevent any mis-directing of someone else's mail into your box.

This is not BS.... if you have USCIS mail go missing and you go to infopass appointment they will tell you that your name should be on the inside of your mailbox.... there has been many many people on VJ who have not got their Cards because it was returned.... so the best all round solution is to put your name inside your mailbox they they can use that excuss for it not being delived....

SirLancelot will you tale full blame if people follow you advice and they then dont get there card.... I dont think so....

Kez

[Mags 112]

I can't see any scaring or intimidation going here in this thread; just some practical advice answering the OPs question.

I ask that we please keep this topic polite and cordial.

Thanks.

[no name 1]

SirLancelot, let me quote from USCIS's own PDF document here, on how to "change your address":

Key information

Any notices or documents USCIS may send you are considered official government mail. If your name is not on the mailbox and/or registered with the local U.S. Postal Service Office, the Postal Service may not deliver official government mail to you. Please remember to register your name and address with the local post office and to put your name on your mailbox.

Your ridiculous personal attack was unwarranted. I'm just trying to give people advice that will maximize their probability of not having problems with getting their greencards.

[Cécy 44]

So it's obviously not a requirement but a recommendation.

Better be safe than sorry.

Silly question but where in your mailbox do you put your name (we're renting and I'm not going to stick our name on the outside).

Do you simple do a sheet of paper and tape it to the bottom or the inside of the opening part?

[Dr_LHA 3]

Do you simple do a sheet of paper and tape it to the bottom or the inside of the opening part?

Correct!

[SirLancelot 1]

SirLancelot, let me quote from USCIS's own PDF document here, on how to "change your address":

Key information

Any notices or documents USCIS may send you are considered official government mail. If your name is not on the mailbox and/or registered with the local U.S. Postal Service Office, the Postal Service may not deliver official government mail to you. Please remember to register your name and address with the local post office and to put your name on your mailbox.

Your ridiculous personal attack was unwarranted. I'm just trying to give people advice that will maximize their probability of not having problems with getting their greencards.

It's quite clear there's a "MAY" in the statement you quoted. This is a standard disclaimer which doesn't mean much. It means as much as the USCIS telling you to wait 6 months before contacting them about delays. It's standard, it's generic.

As I've already said, this policy is completely at the discretion of your local postal delivery person. If you know your local postal carrier delivers your mail no matter if you put your name or not on the box, then there's no need to be stuffing your tooth in the matchbox "just in case". In my location, I know for a fact you don't need to put your name on/in your mailbox so I would never have to put my name on the box "just in case".

[Dr_LHA 3]

Hands up who wants to take a chance that USPS may not deliver their green card?

[no name 1]

Hands up who wants to take a chance that USPS may not deliver their green card?

no kidding!

[Caladan 19]

Is there a shortage of little sticky labels or note cards that I hadn't heard about? Staples only carries them in the tooth extraction aisle?

Just an anecdote, I never received my NOA1 and when I called VSC to inquire, the FIRST thing the nice officer lady asked me was whether I had my name on my mailbox (I did.) Given the sensitivity of a green card, some postal people err on the side of caution if there's no name on the box. This is probably less of a worry in a house than in an apartment.

But for the love of little apples, it's not like this is a hard request. Note card. Pen. Scotch tape. Put it on the inside of the box. Voila.

[Dr_LHA 3]

But for the love of little apples, it's not like this is a hard request. Note card. Pen. Scotch tape. Put it on the inside of the box. Voila.

Exactly, I never really understand why this issue causes so much debate around here.

[SirLancelot 1]

But for the love of little apples, it's not like this is a hard request. Note card. Pen. Scotch tape. Put it on the inside of the box. Voila.

Exactly, I never really understand why this issue causes so much debate around here.

And I never understood why you take such personal offense when anyone does anything contrary to your way of thinking?

It's quite simple. The USPS does not have a system wide requirement for everyone to post their names on/in their mailboxes. If no such requirement exists, then state it as such. Don't be telling people they have to do this. They do NOT. It's NOT a requirement. Don't try to scare people into believing it's a requirement when it's not.

[no name 1]

But for the love of little apples, it's not like this is a hard request. Note card. Pen. Scotch tape. Put it on the inside of the box. Voila.

Exactly, I never really understand why this issue causes so much debate around here.

And I never understood why you take such personal offense when anyone does anything contrary to your way of thinking?

It's quite simple. The USPS does not have a system wide requirement for everyone to post their names on/in their mailboxes. If no such requirement exists, then state it as such. Don't be telling people they have to do this. They do NOT. It's NOT a requirement. Don't try to scare people into believing it's a requirement when it's not.

Dr_LHA is only stating that the govt agency responsible for your green card says to do it.