If you have been approved for a green card, you are most likely eagerly awaiting its arrival. However, if you have experienced a green card delay after approval, you may not know what steps to take next. Although not incredibly common, it is possible for you to be approved for a green card but to experience some kind of issue during delivery. Keep reading to find out what to do if your green card is not received even after you have been approved.
How Long Does It Typically Take to Receive a Green Card
If you have applied for a green card, you are probably already aware of the average green card processing times. Depending on the type of green card you have applied for, this can range between 8 and 35 months, depending on your immigration case and how busy the USCIS is. However, you may not know what the green card approval waiting time is when it comes to actually getting your green card in the mail.
On average, it should take a few days for your green card to be processed before it is mailed to your address. So, between the production time and the mail time, you can expect to receive your green card in one to three weeks.
Keep in mind that you may experience a green card delay after approval for mail-related reasons if your post office is busy.
Common Reasons for Delays After Approval
If you have been approved for a green card but you haven’t received it in one to three weeks, you may need to start investigating. A lot of things can happen during the delivery process that can result in your green card being delayed or never received.
Here are some common examples of why you may experience delays or may need to request that a new green card be sent to you:
- Change of address: When you are approved for a green card, the USCIS will send the finished green card to the address that you have listed on your green card application. However, as you are settling into your new home in the U.S., you may have changed your address since submitting your application. This is a common problem that could result in your green card being sent to your old address if you forgot to update it.
- Mailed to representative: Some immigrants choose to have the USCIS send their finished green card to their representative instead of themselves for a variety of reasons. Although this can be a good idea in some cases, it will result in you getting your green card a bit later since your representative will then have to forward it to your address.
- Lost or stolen in the mail: Once the USCIS has mailed your green card, what happens to it is out of their hands. Because of this, your green card could be susceptible to any type of mail issues, such as having your green card stolen or lost during transit.
No matter the reason for the green card delay after approval, it is important to get legal representation. Having an immigration attorney on your side throughout this process will help you navigate any issues that arise. Not only can an attorney help you get approved for a green card, but they can also ensure everything goes smoothly when it comes to receiving your green card and moving forward with your new life in the United States.
How to Track Your Green Card Delivery
Tracking your green card status will be essential for knowing when to expect your green card and whether or not it has experienced any delays. This will be especially useful since the USCIS green card delivery time can fluctuate quite dramatically on a case-by-case basis.
The best way to track your green card delivery is through your USCIS online account, which has all the information regarding documents that are being mailed to you. Once the USCIS has mailed your green card, you will have access to a USPS tracking number on your USCIS account, which you can use to track its progress.
What to Do If Your Green Card Is Lost, Stolen, or Never Arrives
If you experience some type of delay or issue with your green card and it is lost, stolen, or never arrives, you still have options. One of the first things you should do is call the National Customer Service Center, where a representative can answer questions about the status of your green card as well as track it for you.
If you don’t have any luck with the National Customer Service Center, you can contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Ombudsman office. Additionally, you can schedule an Infopass appointment at a local USCIS office where you can discuss the non-delivery of your green card with an immigration service officer.
Two other options available to immigrants who haven’t found a solution to the non-delivery of the green card are to use the USCIS electronic immigration system to track the status of your case. You can also submit an e-request online, which allows you to inquire about green card non-deliveries.
Your immigration attorney can help you find the right solution for resolving this issue as quickly as possible.
Hire an Immigration Attorney Today
Are you wondering what you should do if your green card never arrived? Contact us today at U.S. Immigration Law Counsel at 800-666-4996 to speak with an immigration attorney about your situation. We will deal with the government, so you don’t have to!
FAQ:
How long after approval should I receive my green card?
It should take between one and three weeks for you to receive your physical green card in the mail.
Can I work while waiting for the physical green card?
Yes, you will receive authorization to work in the United States even before you receive your physical green card.
What if I never receive my green card?
If you do not receive your green card, you will need to use one of the contact methods to get in touch with the USCIS to have the situation resolved and a new green card sent.
