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Lost Green Cards
 

LOST/STOLEN GREEN CARDS – BOARDING FOILS

NOTE: The U.S. Embassy cannot issue replace a lost/stolen green card.

A lawful permanent resident of the United States is required to present a valid unexpired I-551 Form (Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a “green card”) if seeking readmission to the United States after a temporary absence of less than one year.

If you are a lawful permanent resident wishing to return to the United States soon and you don't have an I-551 (green card) for one of the following reasons:

  • Lost;
  • Stolen;
  • Expired conditional green card;
  • Expired 10-year green card;
  • Not yet received, and the stamp affixed in your passport "Processed for I-551" has expired;

then, you may apply for a boarding foil, which may be considered by an airline as evidence of permanent resident status.  You will be required to provide the following:

  1. Two photographs (2” x 2”/5cm x 5cm), full face forward, white background.
  2. A valid passport
  3. Identification (passport, driver’s license, etc.)
  4. Convincing evidence of Legal Permanent Residence status (copy of the Green Card, DHS stamps in the passport, etc.)
  5. Convincing evidence that you have been outside the United States for less than one year (entry/exit stamps in your passport, airline ticket stubs, etc.)
  1. A report from the local police about your lost/stolen green card.
  2. Pages 1-3 of Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card

Appointments for application for a boarding foil may be made via e-mail at RiyadhIV@state.gov.  There is currently no fee for a boarding foil.

If you do not provide convincing evidence of identification, current Legal Permanent Residence status or evidence that your absence outside the United States was less than one year, a boarding foil cannot be issued.  Instead, you would need to make an application for Returning Resident Visa (http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/returning-resident.html) and demonstrate that the absence of more than a year was beyond your control.  Alternatively, a new Immigrant Visa petition (http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/petition-riyadh.html) would need to be filed on your behalf.