You might be exterior the US. Maybe you’re visiting household or touring on enterprise, and also you understand that your inexperienced card is expiring, already expired and even lacking. You already know that having legitimate, unexpired proof of everlasting resident standing is crucial for reentry at a U.S. port of entry. What to do? First, it’s necessary to grasp that inexperienced card renewal from exterior the U.S. shouldn’t be an choice. You’ll should be bodily inside the US to resume a inexperienced card.
Nonetheless, there are answers to get you dwelling. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers USCIS) doesn’t assist inexperienced card renewal from exterior the U.S., however there are numerous methods to return to the US after momentary journey overseas. Every depends upon your particular state of affairs.
My inexperienced card is expiring, however I’m abroad.
In case you understand that your inexperienced card is expiring whereas touring exterior the US (and you’ll return inside one yr of your departure from the US and earlier than the cardboard expires), it is best to renew your inexperienced card upon returning to the US. The inexperienced card continues to be legitimate for entry by means of a U.S. port of entry up till the day it expires.
In case you intend to maintain your everlasting resident standing within the U.S., it’s necessary to return to the U.S. earlier than your journey extends past one yr. After a one yr absence from the US (even with a legitimate inexperienced card), you will have deserted your inexperienced card.
As soon as again in the US, you need to file Type I-90, Utility to Change Everlasting Resident Card, to resume your inexperienced card. It’s possible you’ll depart the nation once more, however additionally, you will be required to attend a USCIS biometrics appointment throughout the U.S. Finishing this appointment is necessary to finish the renewal course of.
My inexperienced card expired, and I’m exterior the U.S. on a brief journey.
In case you’ve been exterior of the US for lower than one yr and have an expired inexperienced card, you’ll almost certainly be capable of return to the U.S. as scheduled. However the expired inexperienced card will probably create some issues.
Boarding a Transportation Service
Transportation carriers corresponding to airways and ships should test passengers for passports and a visa earlier than bringing them to the US. As a everlasting resident touring abroad quickly, you should utilize a inexperienced card or reentry allow instead of a visa. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) coverage permits a transportation provider sure for the US to board a everlasting resident with an expired inexperienced card if the passenger has:
- An expired inexperienced card with a 10-year expiration date; or
- An expired inexperienced card with a 2-year expiration date AND a Type I-797, Discover of Motion, displaying that they’ve filed a Type I-751 or Type I-829 to take away the situations on their everlasting resident standing. The Discover of Motion extends the validity of the cardboard for a specified size of time.
In case you meet both of the above necessities, you’ll almost certainly be capable of board your provider. Nonetheless, we encourage you to test along with your airline or vessel first. In some instances, the transportation provider could select to demand legitimate, unexpired inexperienced playing cards. (In case your provider doesn’t settle for an expired inexperienced card, it’s possible you’ll have to file Type I-131A — see beneath.) We additionally encourage you to contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate. Further localized info could also be accessible in that nation.
U.S. Port of Entry
Whereas you’ll most likely be capable of board your transportation provider with an expired inexperienced card, it is best to nonetheless anticipate problems when reentering on the U.S. port of entry. Reentering the US is at all times on the discretion of the CBP officer. It’s probably that CBP would require you to pay a reentry payment. Along with the reentry payment, you’ll have to file Type I-90 to resume the cardboard.
My inexperienced card expired, and I’ve been exterior the U.S. for greater than a yr.
On this state of affairs, an absence from the US of 1 yr or extra is the true drawback. A everlasting resident who has been exterior the US for one yr or extra has probably deserted his or her everlasting resident standing. There are probably exceptions for sure people that qualify:
- Reentry Allow
You probably have beforehand filed for and obtained a reentry allow, it’s possible you’ll stay exterior the US for a interval of as much as two years. If that doc continues to be legitimate and unexpired, it’s possible you’ll reenter the U.S. with a reentry allow. - Returning Resident Visa
If the explanation for you staying exterior the U.S. was on account of extraordinary circumstances exterior your management, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for a returning resident (SB-1) visa. Examples of causes could embrace a medical drawback or a pandemic journey shut-down. We encourage you to contact an immigration attorney if this is your situation.
RECOMMENDED: Benefits of a Reentry Permit for Permanent Residents
Individuals that have been absent from the U.S. for more than a year but don’t qualify for the above exceptions will most likely need to apply for a green card once again. If you have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member, he or she may be able to petition you for a green card. The process begins with the U.S. citizen or permanent resident filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
My Green Card Was Lost or Stolen Outside the U.S.
If your green card was lost, stolen or destroyed while traveling abroad, you have a more serious problem. You need documentation to board a transportation carrier and support your admission at the U.S. port of entry.
Generally, you should only use Form I-131A to request a carrier documentation if you are:
- Returning from temporary overseas travel of less than one year, and your green card has been lost, stolen or destroyed; or
- Returning from temporary overseas travel of less than two years, and your reentry permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Unlike most other USCIS forms, you must file Form I-131A at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate nearest you. The entire process may take about two weeks before you can return to the United States.
RECOMMENDED: Lost Green Card Abroad and Returning to the U.S.
Renewing or Replacing a Green Card
As previously mentioned, USCIS does not permit green card renewal from outside the United States. However, once you return to the U.S., you will need to renew or replace your green card using Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Replacing a green card can be a lengthy process, so get started right away.
About CitizenPath
CitizenPath provides simple, affordable, step-by-step guidance through USCIS immigration applications. Individuals, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or mobile device to prepare immigration forms accurately, avoiding costly delays. CitizenPath allows users to try the service for free and provides a 100% money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve the application or petition. We provide support for the Application for Carrier Document (Form I-131A), Green Card Renewal (Form I-90), the Citizenship Application (Form N-400), and several other USCIS forms.
Note to Reader: This post was originally published on December 26, 2017, and has been modified with improvements.