British Expatriate Network

It's more of an off white, almost with a shade of very light pink. It has several holograms on the front and an embedded negative image on the back...It is..of course...a premanent resident card! Yup, I got it today...at least. It took forever (really - I was PR in 1998)...4 years of waiting...but it was worth it!

This brings to close an INS saga that has lasted almost 6 years.

Regards
Nigel

Congratulations Nigel..

Now put it in a safe place (you don't have to carry around with you - even though they say you do).

Just don't lose it - that is a nightmare.

Andrew

Congrats Nigel! You now have somethingg many people around the world covet.

Thank you. I have no intention of losing it. I'm going to put it in the fire proof safe along with my passport. Hopefully I'll never again have to visit the INS Office in Dallas.

I'm sure I will end up there somehow tho.

Regards
Nigel

This new green card is an amazing piece of...well, artwork is all I can call it!

On the front is my mugshot and thumb print along with the US DOJ seal. There are several layers of holograms.

Over the thumb print is an INS seal, there is a Statue of Liberty with a beam of light that forms another hologram, the letters U.S.A. and on top of all that, "United States of America" holographs are all over the top 2/3 of the card. The bottom 1/3 contains 3 lines of data.

Now, the impressive thing is on the back.

There is a strip which contains a negative mugshot, my name, A number, my SRC recipt number DOB and Expire date.
Now comes the amazing things...minature portraits of all the presidents from Washington to Clinton..42 of 'em, used the magnifying glass. Not only that but 50 minute state flags.

All I can say is...if you dont have one, you should get one! Anyone with a card over 10 years old would benifit from getting one since it proves your status.

Regards
Nigel

Congratulations.

Now I just have to remember who I was telling that I thought it wasn't green to let them know I was right (as usual) grin

Sounds like mine Nigel, but mine does have some Green Trim (sounds like a football kit), maybe it's different because it's Conditional. You're right though, the holograms are a piece of work - did you notice the beams from the light become state borders for a map of the US?

Yes it is rather pretty...Congratulations, Nigel. I got mine last November after a five year wait. It was all work permits before that.
I do carry it in my purse but am removing it as we speak. Maczip's right, it should be left safely at home. I can only imagine all of the rigmarolla involved in replacing it. roll

UKM grin

Holy, holy! That is amazing. I saw the eastern edge when I was looking at it last night, but I wasn't sure what it was so didn't look any closer. I'd never have noticed if you hadn't have pointed it out. What an amazing card.

Regards
Nigel

Congrats Nigel! I get to hang out at INS Seattle on Friday to renew my (pink)green-card now it's 10-year lifespan has come to an end. I can think of better ways to spend the day, like earning a living or something!

My friend had her green card after 10 months from application. Not the physical card, but the approval thing. Is this a record? Her husband is on an L1 visa. We are having our fingerprints taken tomorrow in Detroit. How much longer does it take?

At last Nigel. Good for you, I feel your Dallas INS pain so I'm really happy for you.

I just hope that mine comes through quicker than yours did as I just don't want to have to go there again.

Oh and by the way, we will not be Plano neighbours much longer as I just put an offer on a house in Lakewood!!!

I filed I-751 on 28th Jan and got approval notice back within a month - no interview required. Just took a while to get the actual item.

Regards
Nigel

At least they have portapotties and someone serving food. I basically waited a year and a half for the card until my I-551 ran out and I needed a stamp for a trip to England.

So, Jan 1998 Filed I-751. Feb 1998 got approval notice. Feb 2000 Filed G-731 (Inquiry About Status of I-551 Alien Registration Card). I got a reply to tell me to go to the INS office and apply for a new card. Did that in May 2001. Got a stamp.
Oh and by the way, we will not be Plano neighbours much longer as I just put an offer on a house in Lakewood!!! About a month ago I filed another G-731 and included a note to say it was the 2nd time I'd filed the form and lo and behold...here it is.

The funny thing is, I had taken a half day on Friday. Went out to check if there was some mail. There wasn't but I looked down the street and the mailman (postman whatever!) was 2 houses away so I waited for him. First time I had ever waited for mail in the 2 1/2 years we've lived here.

I looked the top envelope and it was from Mesquete. It wasn't flimsy so I knew what it was straight away! I said "If only I got a big cheque, my day would be complete" and...would you believe it...my paystub with extra pager pay!

Congrats. We'll have to meet for a beer before you leave.

Regards
Nigel

Congratulations Nigel!
The cards are pretty amazing aren't they? I had to do my ten year renewal in 2000, and went from a plainish boring pink card to this latest snazzy one.
I think they were green once though, back in the days when you had renew annually I think.
I do carry mine with me, and have been glad I did. We were in Texas, Del Rio area, just visiting friends, when we were stopped by police and had to prove we were not illegal aliens!
smile

_________________
Mel

The earth is a canvas on which we paint portraits of humanity.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by Melhug on 2002-03-01 0331 ]</font>