A lost green card abroad can be a travel headache. A permanent resident must have valid proof of status to board an airline or other transportation carrier which is bound for the United States. But if you’ve lost your green card or reentry permit while traveling abroad, there is a process to obtain temporary travel documentation and get you back to the United States.
Table of ContentsU.S. laws require transportation carriers such as airlines to check passengers for passports and visa before bringing them to the United States. In fact, these laws impose penalties if passengers are not in possession of the required documents.
As a permanent resident traveling overseas temporarily, you can generally use your permanent resident card (green card) or reentry permit to reenter the United States. You can use either document to board a transportation carrier and return to a U.S. port of entry. Either are proof that you have an immigrant visa. But you will most likely experience problems if you attempt to return to the U.S after the document is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Permanent residents who have lost a green card or reentry permit while traveling abroad must file Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publishes the application, but you'll need to submit the form at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The form allows permanent residents to apply for a temporary travel document (carrier documentation). You're likely eligible if you:
If you need help preparing this application quickly and accurately, CitizenPath can help. Our online service is an extremely affordable option designed by immigration attorneys. Prepare the form in just a few minutes with a guarantee of USCIS approval. You'll also receive a checklist of supporting documents necessary for your specific situation. Learn more about Carrier Documentation Package.
The length of the absence will be measured from the time you departed the U.S. to the time you pay the Form I-131A fee. If you exceed these limits, you may have abandoned your permanent resident status. A Returning Resident (SB-1) visa may be an appropriate solution in these situations. Please consult with an immigration attorney if this applies to you.
Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation, allows eligible individuals to apply for a travel document. The travel document may be a foil placed in the applicant’s passport (known as a boarding foil) or a transportation letter. Passengers can present the travel document to the transportation carrier. It’s generally valid for 30 days.
If you have an expired green card, you likely do not need to file Form I-131A. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy permits a transportation carrier bound for the United States to board a permanent resident without carrier documentation if the passenger has:
If you have an expired green card (with a 10-year expiration date) or a green card (with a two-year expiration date) and valid Form I-797C, Notice of Action, indicating that status is extended, you may use these documents to return to the United States in most cases. However, USCIS encourages you to check with your airline or vessel before determining whether to file Form I-131A. In some cases, despite the CBP waiver, a transportation carrier may choose to enforce the requirement.
You won’t lose your permanent resident status due to an expired card, it but it will create some major problems.…
Before submitting an application for the carrier documentation, you must pay the Form I-131A filing fee on the USCIS website. Pay the filing fee via the USCIS online filing system. You can also reach the USCIS online filing system by going to:
You (or anyone in the world) can pay the fee via credit card, debit card or a U.S. bank account via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment system. Access the USCIS online payment system from virtually any desktop or mobile device with Internet access.
You will need proof of payment when submitting your application. Upon making payment, you will be presented with a confirmation page. Print this page immediately; you will not be able to return to the confirmation page. You should also receive an email with your payment confirmation. Print either the confirmation page or confirmation email.
Unlike most other USCIS forms, you must file Form I-131A at a U.S. embassy or consulate. There is no reason to file Form I-131A, nor can it be filed, from within the United States. First, we recommend that you contact the office to see if an appointment is necessary. Locate the nearest U.S. embassy or consular office and check their website.
When you appear at the U.S. embassy or consulate, you will submit several supporting documents with your application. Your complete Form I-131A application package should generally include the following items:
The embassy or consulate will generally issue the carrier documentation within two weeks. If your travel needs are more urgent, attend your embassy meeting with evidence in hand. Examples of evidence may be a doctor’s note indicating that your relative is ill in the United States or a letter from an employer indicating your necessary attendance at a business function. USCIS will review these situations on a case-by-case status and may expedite your case at their discretion.
The carrier documentation provided through an approved Form I-131A application will enable you to prove to a transportation carrier only that you are authorized to travel to a United States port of entry to apply for admission to the United States. Be advised, it is not a guarantee of admission or parole into the United States. A CBP officer will conduct all required inspections when you arrive at a U.S. port of entry and will make the final determination of whether to admit or parole you to the United States.
Filing a Form I-131A does not give you a new green card. Upon returning to the United States, you must replace your green card by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, and pay the filing fee. Likewise, if your green card is expired, you’ll need to file the same application to renew your green card.
Generally, it’s not necessary to replace your reentry permit unless you plan to leave the United States for another trip of one year (but less than two years). To replace a lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated reentry permit, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, and pay the filing fee.
If you have a child who was born outside the United States and is coming to the U.S. for the first time, you likely need to request carrier documentation if the following three conditions are true:
Check with your airline or transportation carrier first to ensure they will board your child in these circumstances without documentation. If the airline or transportation carrier refuses to board your child without carrier documentation, you will need to pay for and submit a separate Form I-131A for your child.
As always, do not file Form I-131A if you have ever abandoned your permanent resident status, have an arrest history, or have been in any type of removal or deportation proceedings. Your situation requires additional attention from an experienced immigration attorney.
Upon determining that you have a lost green card abroad and an intended return date to the U.S., it’s important to prepare and file the Form I-131A application in a timely manner. It will take approximately two weeks to receive the carrier documentation, and the documentation will generally be valid for a period of 30 days.
