I'm new to the site, but I looked around a bit before I registered to see if this has happened to others, and didn't see any other posts, so I wondered if anyone could help!

I submitted my I-751 to Vermont in June or July 2003. Yes, 2003! I got a receipt but then nothing happened. I'd read here and elsewhere that Vermont is sometimes slow, so didn't think too much about it and got on with life. A couple of years later, when there was no further action I called my Senator's office and was eventually told that Vermont had lost my file, it had been mistakenly archived or something, and that they were now going to dig it out and deal with it.

Fast forward to earlier this year and still nothing, so I called my Senator's office again. Unfortunately the woman there who I dealt with and did the immigration stuff had gone, and there was no-one on staff to really deal with it, but they said they'd look into it and let me know.

Last week I got a photocopied sheet from the Senator's office which appears to be a letter to me. It's not dated, but says 'Date of Decision: 06/01/2004' and says my request for removal of conditions has been approved. So I'm delighted, except this doesn't have any letter head or anything and isn't at all official looking. It says I have to get a new alien registration card by going to my district office with three recent photos and my passport - I can't do the passport since it expired years ago!.

The Senator's office said this was what the CIS had faxed to them in reply to their query, so I guess I'm approved, but is this letter all I need, and do I now just make an appointment at the office (which is Washington DC by the way) and take the photos along? Does it matter that the letter is now years old?

I guess it all sounds pretty obvious, but having dealt with the CIS for so long, I don't expect anything to be simple!

Thanks for any suggestions.

CIS constantly loses or misplaces applications. I always wonder if officers throw things away maliciously. A horrid accusation, but it sure feels like that sometimes.

Make an InfoPass appointment, take the letter with you and any other documentation you have, and hope that they will give you your new card. Or not. Or at least tell you what to do.

If you applied for your I-751 that long ago, you should be more than eligible for N-400 by now. I would just file the N-400 and give them the info on the I-751 - and not worry about it. The I-751 does not have to be approved for the N-400 to be filed or processed or adjudicated.

Thank you - making an infopass appointment was pretty much what I was thinking, since that's what the letter says. I think that's how green cards got issued in those days anyway, though apparently they get done automatically now after an approval?

I'm certainly eligible for citizenship, I've been married to a US citizen for almost 9 years! The form says I have to send them proof of legal status, and I can't do that because I never had a green card to send, even an unexpired one. I don't imagine they'll accept a copy of this faxed letter I got from the Senator's office, it could have been typed on a typewriter in my office.

To top it all, my drivers license is going to need renewing in a few months, and Virginia where I live say they require me to prove my legal status too, so I guess I probably do need to get my green card sorted out anyway.

It's my fault really for not chasing it up sooner.

Just to round this off, as if anything to do with the CIS is ever really done, I got an email from them today confirming that my I-751 was approved in June 2004 and saying I should file an I-90, marking it that I had never received my green card, and mailing it to Vermont.

Somehow I am not entirely confident that'll do the trick, but it's better than nothing at this stage!

Wow.......that took way too long. I'm so sorry.

What did you do all along? Infopass appointments every year?

OMG!!!! I am glad at least you have same kind of answer.. but yes, make an infopass app. and explain your problem, you want to make sure about everything since first of all they told you that your case was lost and then miraculously you are approve!!!! which I believe but go ahead and talk to them in person... You have lots of patience.... I am impressed and I respect you.

Oh dear, well I do admit it's my fault really for not keeping on top if it, but because I was already working and haven't changed jobs or anything, nothing happened to remind me that I hadn't heard back with an approval or denial of the I-751. Nor have I been out of the country or even really thought about travel because I've been too busy.

It was only a few weeks ago when I noticed my drivers license will expire next year that I began to think about it, because when I first got the license, and last time I renewed it, the there was no paperwork necessary to prove legal status. This time there will be, so I thought I'd best get it fixed!

There's a guy in my office who used to be a regular poster here and did loads of casework in what he calls the old days, and he suggested I post here in case anyone had any ideas. He talked to someone he knows in the local office and they are the ones who said I would probably best file an I-90 since one of the options on it to to apply for a green card because the original wasn't received.

Since I've got a while to go before I need the card, or something to confirm my status, I reckon it may be the best way to try and get it sorted out. But over the years since I filed the I-751, and aside from the initial receipt, I've had nothing that shows I have status. Lucky I've not had to look for a job!

You lucky that your employer has never asked you to show proof of anew status (which is very common know). Good luck to you. Have you considered to just send N-400 instead of I-90 (since your DL will expire next year, you might have time to complete plus avoid I-90 fee (if there any, not sure)?