Massive headache getting replacement - now travelling

[expatMike 0]

Hi all,

 

Lost my GC. Applied for a replacement about 14 months ago. 3 months ago I'm thinking "Wow, its been a year and still no card?" so I log in and see it says "Card was processed Feb 7 2018".

 

Its now end of April and no sign of it. I have a I-551 in my passport but my issue is I am going to Russia in the summer, and my STAMP expires *2 days* before I can come back. So I won't have a GC or a valid stamp upon return to LAX.

 

Clearly I'm concerned, but can't cancel the trip.. I've lodged a "Wheres my GC" with USCIS to which they replied "Not our fault, hasnt been returned" and a lost package request with USPS (which is taking longer to respond than the USCIS). I don't expect to magically have the card before June. What are my options?

 

I am trying to get an appt to redo my I551 stamp but theres only a 14 day rolling appt window online for InfoPass and anytime, everyday I try to set an appt its "Not available" / booked up. Hopefully I can merely get a fresh stamp and all is well...

 

What are my options? Just print all my proof and receipts (thankfully I have a photocopy of previous GC) and hope for the best? 

 

Cheers

Edited April 22, 2018 by expatMike

[expatMike 0]

**Update**

 

I called USCIS to complain / try to make an appointment and the nice lady said "You can try walking in to the office" even though the website says "Walk ins not accepted". So last Friday I drive downtown at 8am and pleaded with the security to let me see the Emergency Supervisor as I was leaving soon on a trip without proof of residency. Thankfully he said "OK, wait here".

 

2 hours later I get called in. I was "next " the whole time, but there was literally 2 people working in the ENTIRE USCIS office. I kid you not.

 

Lady at the office said that USCIS is saying my card is properly lost (even though I never had it to begin with) so I need to simply apply for a new one, again.. She even crossed out my valid I551 which was good until June 22nd! So now I was really screwed, even if I wanted to go to Mexico this week or something.

 

She says that if I apply for another greencard then she can give me a fresh I-551 the same day. Its now 12, they close at 2:30. 

 

Long story shorter, I go home and fill out a new I-90 but this time saying "DHS issued but never received card" which thankfully automatically waives my $540 fee which was a big concern. It gives me a IOE / receipt confirmation number, of which the USCIS lady double checked on her computer was valid and in the system, then LONG minutes later she gives me a new I-551 stamp.

 

TL;DR: I applied for a new i-90 and didn't pay fee because "DHS issued and never received greencard". **Had to make a new USCIS.gov account with a separate email because system won't allow this to happen twice on one profile**. Got I-551 same day at the office.

 

Note, she did say if I didnt make it back the same day for the new I-551, that I'd have to come back 10 days before I fly out and do an Emergency Request and show proof of travel plans.

[Villanelle 4,122]

Glad it all worked out!