Lost my GC, filed an I-90, found the GC, what now?

[potatowaves 0]

Hi there

 

I could not find my green card in July of last year so I filed an I-90 to replace it. I just found it (yay), but I don't know what to do. I am due to travel in July of this year. When I applied the website said my application would take 4 months but now processing time is 7 to 14 months. I cannot take the chance to wait for it to arrive in the mail as it could very well be too late. I quickly chatted with a representative who said that I could withdraw my application and use my GC since I have it. But I am terrified of removing my application and finding out that my card won"t allow me to travel or come back. 

Has anyone been in this situation?

Thank you in advance for any advice on the matter... I don't know how I could have been so careless 

 

Stephanie

[Mike E 11,730]

7 minutes ago, potatowaves said:

Hi there

 

I could not find my green card in July of last year so I filed an I-90 to replace it. I just found it (yay), but I don't know what to do. I am due to travel in July of this year. When I applied the website said my application would take 4 months but now processing time is 7 to 14 months. I cannot take the chance to wait for it to arrive in the mail as it could very well be too late. I quickly chatted with a representative who said that I could withdraw my application and use my GC since I have it. But I am terrified of removing my application and finding out that my card won"t allow me to travel or come back. 

Has anyone been in this situation?

Thank you in advance for any advice on the matter... I don't know how I could have been so careless 

 

Stephanie

Write USCIS to cancel your I-90.  Include a copy of the green card.  
 

Also buy a safe, bolt it to a piece of heavy furniture and put your green card inside it.  

Edited February 8, 2022 by Mike E

[potatowaves 0]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

Write USCIS to cancel your I-90.  Include a copy of the green card.  
 

Also buy a safe, bolt to a piece of heavy furniture and put your green card inside it.  

Haha I should do that, although it could be heavy on the plane. 

Alright, so it is safe to assume my GC would still be valid to travel. I will do that. Thank you.

 

 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Also buy a safe, bolt it to a piece of heavy furniture and put your green card inside it.  

Not the best advice though. Remember than an LPR not carrying their GC is a misdemeanor that carries a fine and jail time. 

[igoyougoduke 1,622]

12 minutes ago, potatowaves said:

Hi there

 

I could not find my green card in July of last year so I filed an I-90 to replace it. I just found it (yay), but I don't know what to do. I am due to travel in July of this year. When I applied the website said my application would take 4 months but now processing time is 7 to 14 months. I cannot take the chance to wait for it to arrive in the mail as it could very well be too late. I quickly chatted with a representative who said that I could withdraw my application and use my GC since I have it. But I am terrified of removing my application and finding out that my card won"t allow me to travel or come back. 

Has anyone been in this situation?

Thank you in advance for any advice on the matter... I don't know how I could have been so careless 

 

Stephanie

they dont cancel old green card until they print the new one which can be months away 

[potatowaves 0]

Just now, igoyougoduke said:

they dont cancel old green card until they print the new one which can be months away 

Oh perfect then, that is what I need to hear  

 

2 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Not the best advice though. Remember than an LPR not carrying their GC is a misdemeanor that carries a fine and jail time. 

Wow ok, I did not even know that. I stopped carrying it to avoid losing it as soon as I got my state ID. Joke's on me.

[Mike E 11,730]

5 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Not the best advice though. Remember than an LPR not carrying their GC is a misdemeanor that carries a fine and jail time. 

 

Indeed.  Which means LPRs are reminded that legally  they must have their green cards while:

 

* bathing / showering / procreating / swimming - put your green card in a plastic water  proof pouch and wear it on a lanyard 

 

* sleeping. Make sure those PJs have a pocket. If not then sleep in your day clothes.  

 

* giving birth, undergoing surgery or medical examination: make sure those hospital gowns have a pocket. If they don’t, skip the professional medical services.  
 

* pat downs at the airport.  Since you aren’t allowed to have anything in your packets when going through a millimeter wave scanner, your only option is a pat down. If the TSA officer demands you remove your green card and that you set it aside, best to not fly I reckon.  
 

Also of you have a temporary I-551 in your passport in lieu of a green card, you won’t be able to legally mail your passport off for renewal or a visa.  

I withdraw my advice to buy a safe for a green card

 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

48 minutes ago, Mike E said:

 

Indeed.  Which means LPRs are reminded that legally  they must have their green cards while:

 

* bathing / showering / procreating / swimming - put your green card in a plastic water  proof pouch and wear it on a lanyard 

 

* sleeping. Make sure those PJs have a pocket. If not then sleep in your day clothes.  

 

* giving birth, undergoing surgery or medical examination: make sure those hospital gowns have a pocket. If they don’t, skip the professional medical services.  
 

* pat downs at the airport.  Since you aren’t allowed to have anything in your packets when going through a millimeter wave scanner, your only option is a pat down. If the TSA officer demands you remove your green card and that you set it aside, best to not fly I reckon.  
 

Also of you have a temporary I-551 in your passport in lieu of a green card, you won’t be able to legally mail your passport off for renewal or a visa.  

I withdraw my advice to buy a safe for a green card

 

Kudos for owning your unforgivable mistakes, knowing how things actually work and giving proper useful advice. 

[arken 4,197]

2 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Not the best advice though. Remember than an LPR not carrying their GC is a misdemeanor that carries a fine and jail time. 

There is a policy and there is practicality. My opinion is not worth it risking losing the GC. Never carried the GC with me unless traveling abroad. May be makes sense to carry if living or traveling close to border or for those who don't carry a DL or State ID. 

[Timona 3,977]

18 hours ago, Mike E said:

Write USCIS to cancel your I-90.  Include a copy of the green card.  
 

Also buy a safe, bolt it to a piece of heavy furniture and put your green card inside it.  

 

Just to piggy ride, there will be no refunds.

 

[Rocio0010 5,577]

18 hours ago, Mike E said:

procreating

I’m sorry, I just carried away in the spur of the moment and I never realized I never have it while doing the deed. Please don’t report me to DHS; as I believe they have more pressing issues to take care of. I will do it from now on. Thanks!

[Appy 38]

19 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Not the best advice though. Remember than an LPR not carrying their GC is a misdemeanor that carries a fine and jail time. 

Oh gosh, really? I lost mine a couple of weeks ago (Jan 2022). I did file a police report. Before losing it I had already applied for a replacement one for a name change (Jan 2021). Still waiting on that one so I have no GC on me. 

[Rocio0010 5,577]

Jokes aside, yes, in theory you have to have it with you all the time. I do. But I have known of people never carrying it, and never having any issues. But maybe they were simply not caught. 

[P055UM 261]

29 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Jokes aside, yes, in theory you have to have it with you all the time. I do. But I have known of people never carrying it, and never having any issues. But maybe they were simply not caught. 

Would be interesting if there are any stories on here of people getting in trouble for not carrying.

[millefleur 5,039]

13 minutes ago, AW1704 said:

Would be interesting if there are any stories on here of people getting in trouble for not carrying.

I'm skeptical that it gets enforced. Green cards are federal documents, so it's really something only USCIS and the federal government would care about. For state and local related matters, one's ID or DL should be more than enough. I just can't imagine a situation where local police would pull someone over and demand to see their GC? Why? They're not federal and they don't have power to enforce immigration. Only ICE and CBP do. The only non-immigration/federal situation where I've heard of GC's being ask for is when employers need work authorization proof, that's it. Maybe there are some other rare instances but it's certainly not every day that people will ask to see it.

 

My husband never carried his GC on his person when he was an LPR, only a copy. It just seems like way too big of a risk to me and could easily be lost or stolen. He's a citizen now and had no issues naturalizing, thus him never carrying his GC on his person never caused any issues at all.