Original I-140 lost by USCIS, New auto created and approved. I-485 got NOID.

[dkupadhyay]

Hi,
I am from India. My previous attorney paper filed my I-140 in Nov. 2006. My new attorney filed I-485 in July 2007. My new attorney has received only the copy of I-140 application and receipt from the previous attorney.
In late 2008, with the help of a congressman, my new attorney was able to figure out that USCIS has lost my original I-140 application (filed at Nebraska center) and USCIS has issued the same I-140 receipt no. to somebody else. Then USCIS auto-created a new I-140 and gave me SRC receipt no. with filing date as Jan 2008 and as electronically filed by my previous attorney.

The new I-140 (SRC one) got approved in March 2009.

Got RFE in August 2009 for my I-485 application asking for the approval notice of my original I-140. My new attorney responded with all the history and the new I-140 approval notice.
Now I have received NOID for my I-485 threatening that if I don't submit the original receipt for the original I-140 then USCIS will deny my application. The USCIS is saying that auto-created I-140 has been filed more than 6 months later than filing I-485 case and can't be the base for filing I-485.
The previous attorney has not provided the original receipt of the original I-140 application and is not reachable via any means (doesn't respond to e-mail or phone calls. Office remains locked whenever I tried to visit him). So getting the original receipt from him is almost impossible. USCIS is not happy with the copy of the receipt.
Right now I don't have any proof (other than copy of the receipt of the original I-140 filing) to support that my I-140 was filed before I-485 filing.
What should I do in this case? Any suggestion will be appreciated.

[apt29]

Checkout this form. You can request duplicate approval. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-824.pdf. But probably your employer should file for it.

[dkupadhyay]

Thanks for your response.


The problem is that I don't have any support (other than copy of the receipt notice) for the first I-140. I have approval notice for the second one. But the application date on the second I-140 is more than 6 months later than the application date on I-485. And because of that USCIS thinks that my I-485 is not valid based on the seconf I-140. So they are asking for more proof (specifically the original receipt notice) for the first I-140 which was filed before I-485. The first I-140 was filed by a different attorney and he is not reachable through any means.
What should I do in this case? Is there anything can be done to convince USCIS? is there anything legal can be done against the previous attorney (who filed the first I-140) to provide the original receipt of the first I-140?

[cinqsit]

I have seen people get a copy of their approved I-140 using FOIA Freedom of Information Act Request, where the employer was giving them a hard time and not sharing their I-140 info. So there are ways you can get a copy of the approved I-140 provided of course everything is in order. (previous poster has also posted information of getting duplicate I-140)

This is kind of similar - you should contact a good lawyer and try and get that I-140 copy
if you current lawyer is unhelpful just get advice and help from some other immigration lawyer - you are in the home stretch dont give up - try and provide USCIS whatever they want. (though technically they should have information about the approved I-140 - so I dont get why they are requesting a original copy from you!)

Also you mention
"In late 2008, with the help of a congressman, my new attorney was able to figure out that USCIS has lost my original I-140 application (filed at Nebraska center) and USCIS has issued the same I-140 receipt no. to somebody else. Then USCIS auto-created a new I-140 and gave me SRC receipt no. with filing date as Jan 2008 and as electronically filed by my previous attorney."

Do you have any documentation abou this ? a letter from Congressman etc? This is really weird never heard anything like this before.

You should collect all such documents (contact the congressman again if need be to get a letter or something in writing) then contact
a good immigration lawyer.

Good luck!

[dkupadhyay]

Thanks for all your replies.

My new attorney has all the e-mail communication to the congressman's office and he has replied to USCIS NOID for my I-1485 with all the details. But he believes that our case is not strong enough because we have no proof about the first I-140 filing date (the first I-140 was filed by previous attorney who is not reachable any more). We just have a copy of the first I-140 receipt. Even the first I-140 application (filed by previous attorney) has no date anywhere. My new attorney tried to get the original receipt for first I-140 or even copy of the canceled check for the application fees from the previous attorney. But previous attorney is not responding. I went to the previous attorney's office several times and found his office locked all the time.
Don't know what to do. Hopefully USCIS will pay attention to the e-mail communication with congressman and will find out some way.
Is there any legal step I can take against the previous attorney for not providing me the document? Can I file any consume complaint against him?

[dkupadhyay]

My I-485 application finally got denied on 02/02/10. I just got e-mail update. Don't have any details as of now.

[krishmunn]

If you have maintained all your communications with the old attorney, file a Legal Malpractice lawsuit against him. You can check yellow pages and contact a malpractice lawyer. Usually such cases are on contingency basis.
It will not save your 485 but you can recover significant amount of money as compensation from that attorney.

For your 485, check with your attorney if an appeal can be filed. I feel you have a strong ground since it was CIS fault.

[sdrblr]

Sorry to hear about the issue. I dont think how you can file a legal malpractice against the attorney when he has rights not to give the details of 140.

140 as we all know is an employer application and the attorney is answerable to the employer who paid for it and who signed for it (forget about whether the beneficiary paid or not).

I say appeal the denial open an MTR

[hoolahoous]

since it was USCIS who lost the documents, shouldn't they give YOU benifit of doubt ? Specially considering that they KNOW that there was an AUTO created I-140 in their system. Technically you can't file I485 without I140. If their system indicates that they have created an I-140 that itself indicates that they accepted the error on their part first.
If you challenge USCIS decision in court, I think you have a good chance of getting the decision reverted.



PS: I am not an attorney so consult an attorney first.