The green card (officially known as a permanent resident card) is proof of your right to live and work in the United States. So if your green card is ever lost or stolen, the experience can be extremely nerve racking.
don’t panic. you are not the first person to lose your green card. Losing your card does not mean you have lost your permanent resident status. But not having a green card can be a major problem when traveling, applying for a job, or other daily activities.
This is what to do when your green card is lost or stolen:
if your green card is lost or stolen within the us. uu.
if you are within the united states when your green card is lost or stolen, the process to replace it is simple. You will need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, as soon as possible. it can take more than six months to get your new card. this can be problematic if you need to start a new job or travel abroad.
If you need to travel abroad before receiving your replacement green card, you can make an appointment with your local uscis office by calling 1-800-375-5283. At the appointment, request an i-551 stamp in your passport (similar to the sample image to the right). the stamp is a temporary proof of your permanent residence. Generally, the temporary stamp will be valid for one year. don’t you have a passport? Try contacting the local consulate here in the United States to apply for a passport. For example, a Mexican citizen would contact the Mexican consulate in the United States. to apply for a passport.)
You can also use the i-551 stamp for other purposes. an employee must show documentation to her employer to show her identity and authorization to work. The i-551 stamp is valid proof of permanent residence for employment purposes. A foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 stamp or a temporary I-551 printout on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV) is an acceptable “A-List” document. Most states also require proof of permanent residence to obtain or renew a driver’s license. although each state has its own requirements, most will accept the i-551 stamp as proof.
Note: Bring your Form I-797c, Notice of Action, to your InfoPass appointment for your temporary stamp. the notice of action is a receipt letter showing that you correctly filled out the i-90 form to replace your card. You will receive Form I-797c, Notice of Action approximately 2-3 weeks after you file Form I-90.
if your green card is lost or stolen outside the us. uu.
If you are outside the United States when your green card is lost or stolen, you can notify the police department in the jurisdiction in which your card was stolen to obtain a police report. More importantly, you will need to obtain a travel document (carrier documentation) to board a transportation carrier (e.g. airline) if you are outside the United States and your green card has been lost or stolen. To obtain the carrier documentation (boarding foil in your passport or a transportation letter), prepare Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation), and file it at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
recommended: loss of green card abroad and return to the us. uu.
Upon returning to the United States, you must also file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, to replace the missing green card.
have you been outside the united states for a year or more without a re-entry permit? If so, contact an immigration attorney before attempting to re-enter the US. uu. Permanent residents who travel abroad frequently or for long periods of time should understand the complications of traveling abroad and consider a re-entry permit.
recommended: risks of traveling with the international green card
if your green card is lost in the mail
maybe you never received your green card from uscis. If your green card has been lost in the mail, you will need to apply for a replacement card using Form I-90. Depending on the circumstances, USCIS may replace it for free.
If you’ve been tracking your case online, you can check the status and see when USCIS mailed the card using the USCIS Case Status feature. Please allow at least 30 days from the date USCIS mailed the green card. The waiting period allows enough time for the card to be mailed and returned to USCIS if it cannot be delivered. Please check your initial application to make sure you provided the correct mailing address. When your green card is lost in the mail, USCIS will replace it at no cost if your situation meets all of the following criteria:
- card was mailed by uscis more than 30 days ago;
- it was returned to uscis because it was undeliverable; and
- you have not moved from the address you provided us.
Confirm these facts before filing Form I-90. If your situation does not meet these criteria, you will need to pay the full filing fee of $540 to replace the green card.
recommended: i-90 form processing time
appeal an i-90 form denial
If USCIS denies your application for a replacement green card (Form I-90), they will send you a letter explaining the reason for the denial. you cannot appeal a negative decision. (An appeal is a request to review a decision.) however, you may file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the same office that made the unfavorable decision. by filing such a motion, you may ask the office to re-examine or reconsider its decision. We recommend the help of an immigration attorney if USCIS denies your green card replacement application. An attorney can help establish that the decision to deny your application was based on the incorrect application of immigration law or policy, and further establish that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence on file at the time the decision was made. decision. citizenpath helps you avoid these problems from the start.
about citizenpath
When you want to avoid denials and delays, it’s critical that you prepare your i-90 application correctly and submit the correct supporting documents. That’s why individuals, attorneys, and non-profits use CitizenPath to accurately prepare immigration forms. CitizenPath provides simple, affordable, step-by-step guidance through USCIS immigration applications. You can try the service for free and you’ll get a 100% money back guarantee that USCIS will approve your application. We provide assistance with replacement Green Card (Form I-90), Application for Citizenship (Form N-400), and several other commonly used USCIS forms.
Note to reader: This post was originally published on July 15, 2014 and has been revised with improvements.