Dad's case stuck on "Card is Being Produced"

[MSP2022]

My dad (DV2022 selectee) and my mom interviewed in August, got their DV visas stamped and were admitted as immigrants in September (USCIS fees paid). Mom got her DV2 Green Card in the mail first week of October. My dad's USCIS Case Status has been saying "Card is Being Produced" since Sep 29, but still nothing in the mail (address they left at the Consulate is correct since my mom already got hers). Couple quick questions we need help with:

1. Is this normal?
2. What should he do if he still doesn't get his Green Card soon?
3. How long is it reasonable to wait, given status says "Card is Being Produced"?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[SusieQQQ]

My dad (DV2022 selectee) and my mom interviewed in August, got their DV visas stamped and were admitted as immigrants in September (USCIS fees paid). Mom got her DV2 Green Card in the mail first week of October. My dad's USCIS Case Status has been saying "Card is Being Produced" since Sep 29, but still nothing in the mail (address they left at the Consulate is correct since my mom already got hers). Couple quick questions we need help with:

1. Is this normal?
2. What should he do if he still doesn't get his Green Card soon?
3. How long is it reasonable to wait, given status says "Card is Being Produced"?

Thanks so much in advance.

You’ll have to submit an inquiry but they might not allow you to submit one until the normal time to for Inquiries (not sure what it is now, either 60 or 90 days). (This happened to me years ago, it had somehow got lost inside the production center which is why “produced” never moved on to mailed etc). Anyway….may as well try and see if it lets you submit, choose the “did not receive card by mail” option https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do

 

[MSP2022]

Thanks @SusieQQQ!

He actually got a letter in the mail today saying "To process your application, petition, or request, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must collect your biometrics. Please appear at the below Application Support Center (ASC) at the date and time specified." and was given an appointment date later next month.

Now we were wondering:
- They've both been to the U.S. on B-1 visas multiple times so they most certainly have their biometrics. And they probably took them when they were admitted as immigrants earlier in Sept, so why is this appointment needed at all?
- How come my mom already got her Green Card but for my dad they need biometrics?
- It says in the USCIS notice if he doesnt go to his appointment, his petition will be considered abandoned. What does this mean?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thanks @SusieQQQ!

He actually got a letter in the mail today saying "To process your application, petition, or request, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must collect your biometrics. Please appear at the below Application Support Center (ASC) at the date and time specified." and was given an appointment date later next month.

Now we were wondering:
- They've both been to the U.S. on B-1 visas multiple times so they most certainly have their biometrics. And they probably took them when they were admitted as immigrants earlier in Sept, so why is this appointment needed at all?
- How come my mom already got her Green Card but for my dad they need biometrics?
- It says in the USCIS notice if he doesnt go to his appointment, his petition will be considered abandoned. What does this mean?

We’ve seen this a few times recently, where the biometrics for the green card for a family member or two have not been adequate and it needs to be redone. The B visa biometrics are not relevant, they need ones done specifically for green card purposes. Obviously the ones they took for your mom were fine. So just have him go to the appointment and get everything done.

 

[MSP2022]

We’ve seen this a few times recently, where the biometrics for the green card for a family member or two have not been adequate and it needs to be redone. The B visa biometrics are not relevant, they need ones done specifically for green card purposes. Obviously the ones they took for your mom were fine. So just have him go to the appointment and get everything done.

Thanks for your response. Say there's someone that entered as an immigrant, stayed for a month or so, and returned to their home country to take care of some business, before moving to the U.S. (in a year or so). Say also they wouldn't be able to afford a last minute round trip ticket so wouldn't realistically be able to make it to the interview or any reschedules. What does it mean for the "petition to be considered abandoned" from a USCIS perspective? The endorsed stamp is valid for re-entry for a year isn't it? Would my dad be denied entry by the CBP at the airport and/or have his status rescinded if he skipped the interview and tried to come next year?

Basically, what's the worst case scenario he's dealing with? If it's "Oh yeah, he'll have to repay USCIS fees next time he's admitted", we'd obviously rather do that than pay for a last minute roundtrip ticket, which can be pretty expensive (+ he's already maxed out on his PTO for the year, etc.). But if it's "No, he can actually lose his immigrant status if he doesn't have GC in hand before XYZ date", then that's obviously a very different scenario.

@Britsimon - Tagging you for visibility and in case you care to provide your thoughts.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thanks for your response. Say there's someone that entered as an immigrant, stayed for a month or so, and returned to their home country to take care of some business, before moving to the U.S. (in a year or so). Say also they wouldn't be able to afford a last minute round trip ticket so wouldn't realistically be able to make it to the interview or any reschedules. What does it mean for the "petition to be considered abandoned" from a USCIS perspective? The endorsed stamp is valid for re-entry for a year isn't it? Would my dad be denied entry by the CBP at the airport and/or have his status rescinded if he skipped the interview and tried to come next year?

Basically, what's the worst case scenario he's dealing with? If it's "Oh yeah, he'll have to repay USCIS fees next time he's admitted", we'd obviously rather do that than pay for a last minute roundtrip ticket, which can be pretty expensive (+ he's already maxed out on his PTO for the year, etc.). But if it's "No, he can actually lose his immigrant status if he doesn't have GC in hand before XYZ date", then that's obviously a very different scenario.

@Britsimon - Tagging you for visibility and in case you care to provide your thoughts.

Your dad’s endorsed visa is valid as a temporary green card for one year from the day he entered the US. If he is outside the US beyond that date, he has no valid proof of his LPR status and will not be allowed to board a flight to or enter the US as a LPR. He can get back into the US if he enters before then, that’s not a problem. But the problem comes when he tries to restart the process for a plastic green card. There is another thread with someone in a similar situation. @Sm1smom and I don’t know for sure the outcome, if the bio is abandoned it’s possible he will have to apply for another plastic green card under an i90 application. (The uscis fee is no longer apppicable, that’s a once off). An i90 application costs $540 but possibly of more concern is that the current processing time for that is 16 months, and he can’t start the process until he comes back because of course that requires biometrics too. The only real recommendation we can make is to suck up the cost and get him back for the bio appointment.

 

[MSP2022]

Thanks @SusieQQQ. As a friendly update, he ended up paying for a round trip flight, came, did his fingerprinting (literally took 2 minutes) and flew back. His GC came in the mail after two weeks. Sucks that he had to pay for a roundtrip flight but I guess it happens. Appreciate your comments and suggestions!