You do not have to use the online portal to fix this. Because you provided a foreign address, your card was likely returned to USCIS as undeliverable. You can update your address by mail and call the USCIS Contact Center to ask them to mail the card again, but you must do this before they destroy the returned card.
“I didn't receive my green card because I originally provided an address in Mexico. How can I request it again with a US address when the USCIS website isn't letting me do it?”
Summary
You can cross this worry off your list: the website error does not trap you. You have an official paper backup to update your address, and a phone number to request redelivery.
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The 60-day destruction window
When a green card is returned to USCIS as undeliverable, they do not keep it forever. USCIS holds returned secure identity documents for 60 business days (about 12 weeks).
If they do not get a corrected address in that time, they destroy the card.
Because providing a foreign address is considered a requestor error, if USCIS destroys the card before you update your address, you will have to file a new Form I-90 and pay the filing fee to get a replacement.
Next steps
Follow these steps to bypass the website error and ask USCIS to send your card to a valid US address before the 60-day window closes.
Mail a paper Form AR-11
Since the online portal is not working for you, you can file a paper Form AR-11 by mail to change your address to a valid US address. This meets the legal requirement to notify USCIS.
Call the USCIS Contact Center
Mailing the paper form does not automatically update your address in the USCIS computer systems. To make sure the unit holding your card sees your new address before they destroy the card, you must contact the USCIS Contact Center to report the new address and ask them to mail the card again.
File Form I-90 if the card was already destroyed
If more than 60 business days have passed and USCIS has already destroyed your returned card, you must submit a new Form I-90 with the required fee to request a replacement green card.
Legal sources
These are the exact rules from USCIS that govern undeliverable green cards and address changes.
USCIS — Change of Address
You can use a paper Form AR-11 sent by mail to change your address instead of the online system.
You also may file a paper Form AR-11 by mail to change your address.
Chapter 3 - Reissuance of Secure Identity Documents
If your card was returned as undeliverable, you can call the USCIS Contact Center to request redelivery.
Benefit requestors who believe their secure identity documents have been returned to USCIS as non-deliverable may contact the USCIS Contact Center .
Chapter 3 - Reissuance of Secure Identity Documents
USCIS keeps returned cards for 60 business days before destroying them.
In 2018, USCIS began retaining non-deliverable secure identity documents returned to USCIS for 60 business days, or 12 weeks, before destroying them.
Chapter 3 - Reissuance of Secure Identity Documents
If the card was undeliverable because of your own error and gets destroyed, you must submit a new application and pay the fee to replace it.
Generally, if USCIS-issued secure identity documents were non-deliverable due to requestor error, USCIS reissues the secure identity document only upon receiving a new application and fee.
SettleKit is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with a licensed immigration attorney.
SettleKit is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with a licensed immigration attorney.
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