My wife and I have become naturalized citizens. However no body took the Green Card from us. We did our interviews on separate occasions and took the oath on separate occasions. However we never remember anyone asking for our green card. They even looked at it right before the OATH. We have got our Naturalization Certificate and everything. Is it common ?
Green Card
- Thread starter sjn2003
- Start date
That's not common. They messed up by not requesting the GC at oath.
I would make an INFOPASS at your local office and relinquish it to avoid any problems. If you do this, don't forget to get a receipt.
When do they collect the Green Card. I did not see them collecting it from anybody who attended the oath on that day. Who is supposed to collect it and what do they do with it?, Do you get anything signed or do they give you a receipt or anything back?.
It is about 6 hours to the nearest DO and I am not in a position to be able to make that trip. How do you think t may be detramental, if I am not sending it but just decide to destroy it myself?.
It is about 6 hours to the nearest DO and I am not in a position to be able to make that trip. How do you think t may be detramental, if I am not sending it but just decide to destroy it myself?.
harvydonald
Registered Users (C)
Looks like somebody on the oath day ceremony did not do their job. The only reason (I can think of) they collect and destroy the Green Cards is to prevent fraud and misuse.
Like WHB suggested...keep them as souvioners and never use them ever....
Like WHB suggested...keep them as souvioners and never use them ever....
You could put them on eBay!!!
No, just kidding. If you want to keep them as souvenirs, make sure you keep them in a safe place. Else you could cut them up and destroy them.
I was going to shred it anyway, after all the USCIS system will show it is being invalidated. But my worry was that, if they have to keep the card in my file. Are you sure they simply destroy it ?. If that is the case, going to the shredder now
Last edited by a moderator:
Actually I would advise you surrender it to USCIS and ask that they document this. I have known one person in your situation - that was allowed to keep his GC. Apparently it will show in the system that you never surrendered your GC. This person was asked on his first trip back to the US - when they scanned his passport - whether or not he surrendered his GC. So the information is available somewhere. (This was about 3 years ago...)
Regardless it is invalidated since you are no longer a permanent resident. But why keep lose ends?
Regardless it is invalidated since you are no longer a permanent resident. But why keep lose ends?
Last edited by a moderator:
See, It is not that I do not want to return it. I will destroy it if I am not returning it the next minute. However the closest DO is about 6 hours drive and I already took 4 full days between our interviews and oaths.
It is understood that they collect the GC before they issue the Naturalization Certificate, and nobody is supposed to carry a document stating that they surrendered the GC. It is their responsibility and not mine. Now I would've ran to the DO and gave it back to them if it was close, but I cannot afford another day in this month or the next for an infopass.
If all that they are doing is destroying it right in front of the candidate during th eceremony , then where do they get a chance to record who they collected and who not. If they somehow foundout that later on they should send me a letter stating it before they close the file.
I checked the infopass and guess what, They don't have an appointment available and asking me to keep checking back!!!. I am so frustrated that I have to spend my time,energy and money AGAIN for their mistake.
However I guess will try again
Last edited by a moderator:
Answering that you have destroyed it should be sufficient for them to update their system.
I am planning to play safe. Do you think it would be suffcient If it mail it to them. However I have th efollowing questions.
LolaLi:
Someone in the forum says, they have seen them destroying the GC right in front of them. If they update the system, that would be a mass update based on the assumption that the USCIS collected the GC before they issued the Certificate. I do not think they do account for each GC and update the system. Correct me if I am wrong.
If they miss a document while trying to close the file, they MUST notify the applicant and will wait to receive it. It is their responsibility too. Most people are not aware as the process, protocol and events on the day of oath are orchastrated by USCIS. I was told not to move from my seat and act only as they instruct, when I tried to approach the lady who was greeting at the door to clarify something else.
When minors become automatic citizens, how does the USCIS gets the GC back and update in the system. Also even if someone applies for N600 for minors under 16, teh certificate is mailed to them and USCIS does not get the GC back. Most people I know have the GC for the minor with them or shread them to avoid getting in to the hands of fradulent individuals, they never sent it to USCIS nor did USCIS bothered to ask for it.
Also what happens if someone lost their GC or What if the person at USCIS misplaced the GC after I gave it to them. Afterall this is just a document and in itself is not the STATUS. I DONT think, an individual who have kept up with the tedious Immigration Process so far abiding by all the law and procedures would be so reckless to invite trouble otherwise.
The bottom line is I don't think it is a big deal, if the individual destroys it themselves rather than spend all the extra energy, money and time. What do you think?.
Last edited by a moderator:
He did say that but I believe the person in question was told send in a notarized statement that no longer is in possession of the GC. I believe they also supplied him with an address to mail the letter in so he can get that "warning" removed. I'll have to track him down and see if he still has to go to secondary inspection now that he has sent in the letter.
LolaLi:
Thank you for a very detailed information, all of that really make sense.
I had showed my GC to the person who confirmed info on the back of the letter. He gave it back afterwards. Then I waited another hour in the waiting room along with people who were carefully seated in a specific order in rows. We were called in from the waiting room one row at a time, first to hand over the letter and I saw them checking the list and moved on to verify the info on the certificate. as soon as we verified the info, they handed out a number card and asked us to sit exactly in a chair with that number and wait. The oath ceremony began and among several thing, we were asked to standup and take the oath. Then the officer announced that we are now pronounced to be Citizens of the US and kep talking about using passports etc.
I don't think they ever asked me for the GC. After the event was over they asked all of us to go around the room and there was a lady collecting the Number-card and then we moved on to receive the Certificate from another lady near the door. I even waited for another 45 minutes talking with an officer about spelling of the name in the certificate and by the time, the staff who were arranging all these found auditing and finishing up the days work. They did not even mention about it then. If they found this error then they could have approached me right then. Again, if they later found this out, they could have called me on the number listed in the N400 or send me a letter. After 2 months now, nothing has happened. I realized this mistake as I was talking with a friend who naturalized recently.
What a hassle now
Last edited by a moderator:
cafeconleche
Registered Users (C)
Which DO is this, by the way?
Geez, it's USCIS' mistake for not collecting it and they expect you to go out of your way and send it a notarized letter?