Green Card approved 5 years ago, but didn't recieve Physical GC at time: Citizenship Question

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hopefulcitizen

Registered Users (C)
Hi everyone again.
I have a unique situation. I was granted asylum in 1999. I had an interview for green card in 2004, the officer told me that I was approved but a different INS office would have to send me the physical GC. She didn't give me anything in paper in regards to my approval.I waited and waited but no GC.
In 2008, I had another interview and I was approved again. This time I recieved my GC. The GC says, Permanent resident since Feb/2007.During my second interview, I asked the officer about my approval in 2004, she said she didn't know what happened in 2004. I was happy that I got approved for the second time, so I didn't ask further questions.
Now my question is should I make an infopass appointment and try to backdate my green card to 2003/2004? That way I will be eligible for citizenship now instead of waiting 2.5 more years. Thanks everyone in advance.
 
unfortunatly I don't have any evidence of approval in 2004. In fact I asked the officer at that time about approval notice, but she said that she didn't have anything for me, and I should just wait to get my GC in the mail.
 
Resident Since 2007 doesn't make any sense if you were interviewed in 2008. Unless it's because they backdated it by one year because you're an asylee.

If you don't have any paper evidence of the 2004 approval, maybe the officer didn't enter it into the system after giving you the verbal approval, or had to send the case to a supervisor for the actual ultimate final approval, and the supervisor let it sit collecting dust. Too bad you didn't aggressively follow up in 2004 and get a passport stamp.
 
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hopefulcitizen said:
unfortunatly I don't have any evidence of approval in 2004. In fact I asked the officer at that time about approval notice, but she said that she didn't have anything for me, and I should just wait to get my GC in the mail.
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Do you have any old notices with a different A# on them for your asylum case? If you have another A#, you can try doing an inquiry based on it.
 
You should ask for a copy of the A file as soon as possible to see if any earlier approval is reflected in the file.

Did you submit two I-485s?
 
Jack, they do backdate asylee's greencard by 1 year.
Back to the main point. I have only one A# and I submitted only one I-485. So do most of you guys agree with thankful?
How do I request copy or inquiry of my A-file? Do I make infopass appointment?
 
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Thanks guys for advice.
I submitted request for FOIA last week. But as you guys said it might take a year to get my A-file.
I was thinking about making an infopass apointment with a local USCIS office and explaining the situation in person. They might be able to look into my A-file, and backdate my GC sooner.
I know it is not 100% sure thing but there is a small chance that I might succeed. What do you guys think? Am I too naive?
 
They might be able to tell you since when they think you are a permanent resident. They'll only be able to look in the computer system, not on the A-file itself. I think in the future they are going to digitize all files, then it might be possible for them to look at your actual A-file. I think it's a good idea to go for an Infopass.
 
Final question.
Do you guys think that it will be a good idea to involve my congressman? Someone told me that making infopass appointment now will not hurt, but in the same time it is unlikely that it will help me because the officers at infopass do not have much authority when it comes to backdating my GC. My friend told me that congressman can push things faster by making USCIS to find my file (from 2004) sooner, and might pressure USCIS to backdate my GC. Should I contact the congressman before making infopass appointment?
Appreciate everyone's input.
 
hopefulcitizen said:
Final question.
Do you guys think that it will be a good idea to involve my congressman? Someone told me that making infopass appointment now will not hurt, but in the same time it is unlikely that it will help me because the officers at infopass do not have much authority when it comes to backdating my GC. My friend told me that congressman can push things faster by making USCIS to find my file (from 2004) sooner, and might pressure USCIS to backdate my GC. Should I contact the congressman before making infopass appointment?
Appreciate everyone's input.
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Contacting congressman and/or USCIS ombudsman is worth a try..you have nothing to loose.
 
Make the Infopass appointment first before contacting the Ombudsman or Senator. At the Infopass they may be able to look up important records and dates and associated info, and then you can tell that info to the Ombudsman or Congressman. In particular, ask them to check for any record of mailing out an approval notice or physical green card in 2004/2005.
 
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