Lost greencard

[Mhyles30]

Hello! I am in a real dilemma right now. I petitioned my mom and she stayed in the U.S for 6 months last year. She left the U.S on April 4 2008. She did not get reentry permit because we know she is coming back here in the U.S before a year. Unfortunately she left her green card here which I sent in the mail to the Philippines on Feb 9, 2009 thru United Postal Service Priority Mail. I purchased her ticket to come back in the U.S for March 30th. The problem is, the mail has not arrived yet, I now realized I should have sent it FEDEX but I guess I was ignorantly thinking I can trust the mail since it's sent PRIORITY. I was told by my post office here that it should be there in a week but it's been three weeks since I sent it. Assuming the card was lost or stolen, how do a I proceed since I have very little time to get a replacement? Also, I don't even know the process on how I can get it replaced. Please help. She needs to be back here on April 4, 2009 as she doesn't have a reentry permit.

I appreciate your response.

Thank you,
Mhyles

[Dedo]

I am sure there is a better answer on this board, but if I was in her situation, I would go to the US embassy in the Philipines and tell them that her GC got stolen (along with her bag or something), and let them figure it out. That will likely be the fastest way. Atleast they will verify her and stamp her passport so she can get back to the states

[Jackolantern]

Originally Posted by Dedo

I am sure there is a better answer on this board, but if I was in her situation, I would go to the US embassy in the Philipines and tell them that her GC got stolen (along with her bag or something), and let them figure it out.

Not a good idea. If you say it was stolen they will expect a police report.

[Jackolantern]

Originally Posted by Mhyles30

The problem is, the mail has not arrived yet, I now realized I should have sent it FEDEX but I guess I was ignorantly thinking I can trust the mail since it's sent PRIORITY.

You could trust it to reach if it was being sent via Priority Mail within the US. But in this case it also has to go through another country's mail service, so if and when it reaches becomes more doubtful. Maybe she can go to the post office that serves the area where she is staying and ask if they have a priority mail envelope with her name and address (and give the tracking number, if known). It may be sitting at the post office waiting for her to pick it up.

If that doesn't work, she should go to the US embassy, explain that she left the card back in the US and doesn't know where it is now, and apply for a Transportation Letter which if granted would enable her to fly back to the US. If you have a copy of the green card, send that to her via Fedex or DHL to take to the embassy.

[Mhyles30]

Sad to say, I didn't even make a copy of her visa card. I just didn't expect this to happen. My mother checked in the post office a few times already and all they tell her is they don't have it. I will advise my mom to check with the consulate.

Thanks for your advise...I really appreciate it.

[LolaLi]

Originally Posted by Mhyles30

Sad to say, I didn't even make a copy of her visa card. I just didn't expect this to happen. My mother checked in the post office a few times already and all they tell her is they don't have it. I will advise my mom to check with the consulate.

Thanks for your advise...I really appreciate it.

Do you have any other proof of her permanent residency? Like her approval notice? Welcome letter?

You should be gathering such evidence for your mother - make copies - and keep them handy to send. The U.S. Embassy/Consulate will most likely require some proof of residency in order to issue her a visa to return with.

In hindsight...the best way might have been to contact the nearest embassy/consulate and see if you could have sent it there... They have APO address which is like sending local mail and she could have easily gone to pick it up with proof of identity.

Let's just hope some one hasn't "discovered" the card and that it isn't used for fraudulent purposes... But reporting it to the embassy/consulate will take care of that.

[Jackolantern]

Does her passport have an immigrant visa stamp/I-551 in it? It would be expired by now, but it would be excellent proof for obtaining the Transportation Letter.

Do you have a tracking number for the package you sent? If yes, that may give a clue regarding what happened to it.