Wow, I am SO happy to have found this community! Have been feeling very alone and in the dark. Nice to meet you all.
The question: I finally got a service item created for a Tier 2 immigration officer to call or email me. What magic words should I be saying in order to ensure I am appropriately phrasing my request for a duplicate copy of the receipt notice (other than "please", hah)? For example, I've read on these forums that there are three notices: one with the two-year extension, one with an Online Access Code, and I guess just a generic overall notice? Should I make sure to request all three? It's a situation where I don't know what I don't know, and I really don't want to squander my one shot at talking to someone who might be able to help.
The messy details:
My two-year GC expired June 16, 2024. I was ready to go with my package back in Feb, before my window opened mid-March, and then my baby daughter decided to arrive early in March! After we went through an ordeal to get her birth certificate, I finally filed my I-751 on March 29, still well within the window. I received a text on April 11 with receipt number stating that an official receipt notice would follow in the mail, plus they charged my credit card. Well, it is now 3 months later and no receipt notice has arrived. I've done the calls multiple times, the chats multiple times, submitted two eRequests, got a response on June 11 from National Benefits Center stating that they couldn't issue me a copy because the receipt notice is handled by the lockbox, emailed Lockbox and received only the auto-reply stating that they will not respond because the receipt notices are handled by NBC. Getting the good, ol' fashioned runaround!
I am able to see through my online USCIS account that there are no copies of USCIS notices, even though the NBC response states that every notice is available online. I do see that part of my packet has been scanned into the file under "Your Uploads" by USCIS. Oddly, although I received text notification on April 11, my online account says the receipt notice was sent on April 1. USPS tracking shows that my package only arrived on April 1. So my theory is that they backdated the receipt notice date to game their internal metrics and KPIs to make it look like they're processing more expeditiously than they actually are.
I obtained an ADIT/I-551 stamp on an I-94 to tide me over for work authorization evidence purposes. I was absorbed in getting work authorization during the call with an immigration officer about the ADIT and I foolishly didn't press the missing notice with the officer, but I did mention it and was told to email the Lockbox. So I'm a little worried that my upcoming Tier 2 call might be similarly unhelpful. Sigh.
I have an immigration attorney with whom I'm meeting on Monday. In preliminary discussion she mentioned possibly going through the Ombudsman. I have documentation of all my interactions, so I may be pursuing that option if Tier 2 fails. She also advised me that not having my I-751 receipt notice will prevent me from filing my N-400 to become a naturalized citizen.
I'm at the point where I question whether USCIS ever really sent the notice! Any tips or advice for my upcoming Tier 2 call or for the process overall would be much appreciated.