Secure Mail Initiative (SMI) From USCIS (For EAD, AP, GC, etc)

Secure Mail Initiative (SMI) is the improved USCIS customer service to use Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation to deliver certain immigration documents in a safe, secure and timely manner to the immigration customers. Priority mail assures not only quicker delivery of important original documents including green card, EAD card, and travel document, but also allow the USCIS tracking of delivery of such documents to the customers. 

USCIS first piloted the initiative in July 2008, delivering all re-entry permits and refugee travel documents using USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. USCIS has also used SMI processes since July 2009 for re-mailing all permanent residence cards, as well as employment authorization and travel documents returned by the USPS to USCIS as undeliverable. Now, the USCIS has just expanded this service not only for redelivery of returned cards but also newly issued green cards, EAD cards, and Travel Document to the customer.  

Customers who receive approval notices of these documents can contact USCIS’s Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 to request tracking information for their documents. USCIS customer service representatives will then provide customers with their USPS tracking number and current USPS delivery status. Customers should wait at least two weeks after getting their approval notices before calling for information regarding their cases. 

When requesting tracking information, customers must also provide information from the receipt notice they received when they submitted their initial application. After receiving the tracking number from the USCIS Customer Service Center, customers can track the delivery status by visiting the Postal Service website at www.usps.com and entering the USPS tracking number into the Track & Confirm field.

This service will be very helpful for those I-485 waiters who need assurances that the green cards or EAD cards or so-called Advance Parole (Travel Document) are delivered to them without failure by the USPS!

Also see: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=79ecdd8ae14af210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD