Applying for Naturalization with no Permanent Resident Card

[Mr_Bridge 21]

We are starting the Naturalization Process and we just noticed that my wife never received her Permanent Resident Card. And in the application it says we need a copy of front and back of card. 

 

Post office says they need never got it. USCIS say they sent it so we need to declare it lost and request a copy (Form I-90 at $465). Imagine that. 

 

My question is has a yone applied for Naturalization successfully without having a physical copy of the Perm Res Card? 

 

Thank you.

Edited July 5 by Mr_Bridge
Typo

[OldUser 9,832]

1) How long was your wife resident for?

2) Are you saying she lived in the US for 3+ years without green card?

3) Why didn't you apply for I-90 within a 90-120 days of not receiving the card? If it's USCIS fault, it would have been free.

4) How did wife come to the US? On K-1 / CR-1 or IR-1? Or did she adjust status in the US?

5) Did she need to file for I-751?

 

Too many questions, I know, but without it's hard to tell whether your wife is indeed a resident and whether she's eligible to apply for N-400.

 

In general, it's possible to apply without GC (again, if eligible, we need to establish all facts).

Edited July 5 by OldUser

[Mr_Bridge 21]

19 hours ago, OldUser said:

1) How long was your wife resident for?

2) Are you saying she lived in the US for 3+ years without green card?

3) Why didn't you apply for I-90 within a 90-120 days of not receiving the card? If it's USCIS fault, it would have been free.

4) How did wife come to the US? On K-1 / CR-1 or IR-1? Or did she adjust status in the US?

5) Did she need to file for I-751?

 

Too many questions, I know, but without it's hard to tell whether your wife is indeed a resident and whether she's eligible to apply for N-400.

 

In general, it's possible to apply without GC (again, if eligible, we need to establish all facts).

Thank you OldUser. Here is our situation. 

 

We married in 2018 and filed I-485 AOS which was approved on 10/25/18. Here she got her Temporary Green Card. 

 

In Dec 2020 we filed I-751 Removal of conditions and it was finally approved on 5/1/2023. 

 

The problem we had was that after I-751 was approved we never got the new Permanent Resident Green card. Uscis.gov time line says they mailed the card and that it was picked up by USPS. However, we noticed we never got it just now in 2025. It was our oversight where we assumed we got it. Big failure on our part I know. 

 

The USPS website it says they never got it. 

 

When inquiring online with USCIS they say I need to fill out I-90 and say it was lost to request a new one. But its $465!! Tried to tell them "hey it was lost between you and the post office" but they keep giving me the same automated response to fill out I-90.

 

So here we are ready to fill out Naturalization Process N-400 so she can become a US Citizen but it asks for a photocopy of new GC which we dont have. 

 

So Im curious if anyone has filled it out without having the GC physically in hand. If there's anything I can do. 

 

Plan on calling USCIS on Monday but was interested in any input from others here. 

 

Thank you in advance for anyone's assistance. 

 

 

Edited July 6 by Mr_Bridge

[Crazy Cat 44,402]

9 minutes ago, Mr_Bridge said:

In Dec 2020 we filed I-751 Removal of conditions and it was finally approved on 5/1/2023.

Where is the 2 year card?  If you have it, use a copy of it.

 

Don't expect an accurate answer from USCIS tier 1 rep.

Edited July 6 by Crazy Cat

[Mr_Bridge 21]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Where is the 2 year card?  If you have it, use a copy of it.

 

Don't expect an accurate answer from USCIS tier 1 rep.

Oh yes we have it. But expired in 2023.

 

Perhaps, make a copy of that card with a letter explaining our situation. 

 

Thank you Crazy Cat.

Edited July 6 by Mr_Bridge

[Crazy Cat 44,402]

8 minutes ago, Mr_Bridge said:

Oh yes we have it. 

 

Perhaps, make a copy of that card with a letter explaining our situation. 

 

Thank you Crazy Cat.

I would just use a copy of the 2 year card. You can explain at the interview, if asked.  Plenty of people (such as my wife) used a copy of their 2 year card for the N-400 since our I-751 was still pending.  The 2 year card (residence since" date) will establish when the Green Card holder became a legal resident. 

Edited July 6 by Crazy Cat

[Mr_Bridge 21]

Thank you so much Crazy Cat. I suppose we can try that. Fingers crossed. 

[Crazy Cat 44,402]

Just now, Mr_Bridge said:

Thank you so much Crazy Cat. I suppose we can try that. Fingers crossed. 

I don't think there will be an issue.  Good luck.  Hopefully, this last leg of the journey will be over soon.