lost green card and applying for naturalization
Misplaced my card somewhere between the airport and home.
I qualify to apply for naturalization.
Can I apply for Citizenship without the physical green card or do I need
to replace it before applying for Naturalization.
Misplaced my card somewhere between the airport and home.
I qualify to apply for naturalization.
Can I apply for Citizenship without the physical green card or do I need
to replace it before applying for Naturalization.
That situation is probably worthy of making an Infopass appointment. TECHNICALLY, upon loss, you should file an I-90 and get a replacement card. However, since you are eligible to file for naturalization, if you file an I-90 at the same time, you would cause an internal tug of war for the physical A-file and create processing delays for both. If you have alternate proof of LPR status, like your original I-551 stamp in your passport or a fresh stamp via an Infopass appointment, you could file the N-400. Its really a matter of how big of a jerk you will be dealing with in pursuing your N-400 as to whether they will make an issue out of it.
If you have a copy of your GC somewhere you can use that and file N-400, there are reports from folks on this forum where they are refused a I-551 stamp info pass unless they have proof of a filed I-90 or proof of travel.
I did an Infopass appointment regarding this question. The answer was inconclusive. But it sounded like he was trying to tell me to take my chance and apply for the naturalization first and hope for the best (meaning that it would depend on what the interviewer ate for breakfast!)
Luckily, I have a photocopy of the GC.
The question remains - once I apply for Naturalization, how do I travel without the GC?