StuBear65

I entered the US through Dublin on an IR1 visa at the beginning of October 2018, my social security card came through within days of arriving, but I still haven't received my green card.

I have contacted USCIS as I am now out of the 120 day timeline they state as the normal turnaround, and got an automated reply stating I should hear back from them by Feb 23 2019.

I really want to renew my UK passport, but I am reluctant to send my old passport to the UK without my green card in hand!

Is anyone else out there in the same situation, or am I just unlucky on this one?

Pulaski

I thought I had heard that the processing of green cards was currently measured in months, not weeks, and in any case the recent month-long shutdown of the federal government almost certainly added directly to the time taken to process your green card.

If you need to renew your passport you will, based on current reports, only be without it for about ten days if you use a courier to send the application and receive the return of your new passport, so personally, I would go ahead and do it as you could be waiting for another couple of months for your green card.

StuBear65

Thanks, I'm not necessarily worried about being without the passport as much as it getting lost in transit, I've had a few things go astray in the mail (USPS and UPS) since I've been here. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet.

Thanks again.

Pulaski

I agree, I am also skeptical about the mail service, especially the handoff between national carriers, as that is where things seem to "disappear" some times, but I am fairly confident with the likes of UPS and FedEx and their end-to-end tracking. I certainly like that I can follow the package's progress on line, and I may be being naïve, but that gives me a lot of comfort.

Noorah101

If you do send off your passport, be sure to make a photocopy of your IR-1 visa page that states that it serves as an I-551 for 1 year, as that is your only proof of PR status at this time.

Rene

StuBear65

I will do, thanks.

Pulaski

If you're worried, you could pay a few bucks to a notary to give you a notarized copy, which if it ever came to a crunch would carry a lot more credibility than a copy that you made on your home printer-scanner.

StuBear65

I will look into that thanks

Rete

It would just need the magic words: This document is a true copy of the original which has been shown to me.

Pulaski

Which only have any value if added by a lawyer or notary, and stamped accordingly.

Noorah101

And the notary needs to see the original and photocopy, both.

Rene

Pulaski

Which is what Rete said.

StuBear65

Thank you

StuBear65

Three service requests later and I have finally received my green card, yay!!

Pulaski

Woo hoo! Congratulations!