Permanent Resident can't find green card

[bnhinica 0]

Canadian citizen that is green card holder cannot find my green card for travelling back to U.S. Can I just travel showing my passport or is the green card also required? I am planning to apply for my naturalization very soon. Can I do this without actually having my green card with me, as it seems to have been misplaced?

Thank you.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your green card is what gives you permission to enter the US as a resident. Your passport will only allow you to enter as a visitor. It is unlikely they will allow you re-entry with just the passport unless it contains an I-551 stamp. The greater likelihood is that they will not because you will have no proof that you are allowed to enter the US to live. Regardless, you will get a stern lecture because you are supposed to carry your green card with you at all times - it is against the law not to have it on you so claiming you have lost it will definitely get a talking to and probably get you turned away at the border until you order and obtain a new green card - not a fast process.

At the very least, you will need to go to a USCIS office (make an Infopass) before you leave the US, and explain to them that your green card is missing then ask them to put the I-551 stamp in your passport. You should bring proof of your travel plans to show you need the proof to return to the US. The stamp will act as a temporary green card. You will also need to carry your stamped passport with you at all times until you get a new green card. The USCIS office may require you to fill out an application to replace your green card before they stamp your passport.

You do need your green card for your citizenship application - you need to provide a copy of both front and back of the card with the application, then you are supposed to hand over your green card in exchange for your citizenship document at your oath ceremony.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Kathryn41

[NickD 203]

If you lost your green card or if it was stolen, file a police report to avoid any possibility of misuse.

[MoroccanInTexas 24]

Ok I got this from The US consulate in Casablanca Morocco web site. I believe it will apply to your situation as well.

Good luck

http://casablanca.usconsulate.gov/lost_gre...on_letters.html

Lost Green Card and Transportation Letters

Permanent resident alien registration cards (commonly known as Form I-551 "green cards") can be issued or replaced only by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in the United States. The U.S. Consulate General is unable to issue a replacement green card. If you left your alien registration card in the United States, you should ask friends or relatives there to send you the card by express mail.

If you have lost your green card, the U.S. Consulate General may be able to issue you a transportation letter that will permit you to return to the United States. We must also obtain confirmation of your resident alien status. Knowing your alien registration number will expedite the process. There is a $165 processing fee for the transportation letter. This fee must be paid whether or not the transportation letter is issued. At your interview, you should submit the declaration of loss, declaration de perte, from the police station in the city where the loss or theft occurred. In order to apply for such a letter, you must appear at the U.S. Consulate General and sumbit an I-90 form.

To apply for a transportation letter you must apply at the U.S. Consulate General between 8 and 11:00 a.m. on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, excluding U.S. and Moroccan holidays. Be sure to bring your Alien Registration ("A") Number and passport with you, the police record of loss of the green card (with an English translation of the record if it is not in English), as well as proof of your presence in the United States within the last 12 months. Upon verification of legal permanent resident status, the traveler will be given a temporary document for return to the U.S.

[Anh map 2,098]

If you are in Canada then you will need to go to the nearest consulate for the Transportation letter. And filing a police report will be needed when you go to the consulate as well as when you replace the card.

Hope it turns up.

[payxibka 10,045]

Not a US citizenship general discussion topic...

moving thread

[Sc0tt28 26]

Canadian citizen that is green card holder cannot find my green card for travelling back to U.S. Can I just travel showing my passport or is the green card also required? I am planning to apply for my naturalization very soon. Can I do this without actually having my green card with me, as it seems to have been misplaced?

Thank you.

Putting the drama aside for a moment:

-Yes, you are required to carry your I-551 (Green Card) with you at all times and so it is beyond me how a person could "lose" it. I've never lost my drivers license and I've had it for quite some time now. In case you were wondering, thats why they make the green card the same size as a drivers license. Not the size of a postage stamp so that people could reasonably say they "lost" it. And not the size of a sheet of notebook paper so that people could say "I keep it in a safe at home". Its wallet sized - thats where it should be. I'm going to get off my soap-box now.

-Yes, you may run into some delay at the border.

-You should present yourself as a Lawful Permanent Resident of the US...it would be helpful if you know your A#, if not they can look it up.

-Do present your Canadian passport [so that you are in compliance with the WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) requirements that went into effect June 2009] to the inspecting officer but inform him/her that you are a permanent resident that lost your Green card.

-They will likely refer you to secondary (nothing to worry about, they just need to look up your A#) and shake their finger at you...they just want to stress to you the importance of not losing this important document.

[Dakine10 5,452]

-They will likely refer you to secondary (nothing to worry about, they just need to look up your A#) and shake their finger at you...they just want to stress to you the importance of not losing this important document.

That part about carrying your I-551 at all times is a law.

"The Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, is issued to all Permanent Residents as evidence of alien registration and their Permanent status in the US. The card must be in your possession at all times."

They may or may not shake a finger at the border, but if they follow the law, they won't let you back in without the card or the transportation letter. Ten years ago maybe they would, but not now.

[Sc0tt28 26]

That part about carrying your I-551 at all times is a law.

"The Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, is issued to all Permanent Residents as evidence of alien registration and their Permanent status in the US. The card must be in your possession at all times."

They may or may not shake a finger at the border, but if they follow the law, they won't let you back in without the card or the transportation letter. Ten years ago maybe they would, but not now.

Yeah thanks, its called an I-193, look it up. They will look up your A# in the CIS database, see that the person is in fact an LPR, and issue an I-193 with a warning that if it happens again they will be charged the $545.00. The first time, the fee is usually waived.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Yeah thanks, its called an I-193, look it up. They will look up your A# in the CIS database, see that the person is in fact an LPR, and issue an I-193 with a warning that if it happens again they will be charged the $545.00. The first time, the fee is usually waived.

Thanks for what? I know what an I -193 is but I didn't bring it up. IMO it won't work.

An I-193 is an application for waiver for passport a or visa. A green card is neither of those things.

USCIS is a law enforcement agency. It is a law to be in possession of your green card at all times. If they do their job they shouldn't let someone enter without it. I'm not saying it has never happened or that it couldn't happen, but if they follow the law it shouldn't happen.

Really, I'm just saying, you advised the OP that he SHOULD do this and there is no guarantee that it would work. That's why they have the transportation letter.

[Sc0tt28 26]

Thanks for what? I know what an I -193 is but I didn't bring it up. IMO it won't work.

An I-193 is an application for waiver for passport a or visa. A green card is neither of those things.

USCIS is a law enforcement agency. It is a law to be in possession of your green card at all times. If they do their job they shouldn't let someone enter without it. I'm not saying it has never happened or that it couldn't happen, but if they follow the law it shouldn't happen.

Really, I'm just saying, you advised the OP that he SHOULD do this and there is no guarantee that it would work. That's why they have the transportation letter.

Depending on where the OP crosses the border (land or air...sea very unlikely) I can nearly guarantee it will work, I've seen it happen many times, I'm sure I'll see it many more. Its a little thing called "officer discretion" and CBP officers are not always the hard a**es that everyone makes them out to be.

Consider the speeder--you are breaking the law by speeding, the officer has the discretion whether or not to write you a ticket (refused entry) or let you go with a warning (I-193). Especially the OP being Canadian.

Edited January 19, 2010 by Sc0tt28

[Dakine10 5,452]

Depending on where the OP crosses the border (land or air...sea very unlikely) I can nearly guarantee it will work, I've seen it happen many times, I'm sure I'll see it many more. Its a little thing called "officer discretion" and CBP officers are not always the hard a**es that everyone makes them out to be.

Consider the speeder--you are breaking the law by speeding, the officer has the discretion whether or not to write you a ticket (refused entry) or let you go with a warning (I-193). Especially the OP being Canadian

Ok if you say so. I can't say I've ever seen anyone try to get back in without their green card this way. I know it happens with visa's, passports, I-94's etc.

I've been crossing back and forth across the border for almost 20 years now and it's rare I even hear of someone losing their greencard, let alone trying to get back to the US without it at the border this way.

Bnhinica, not sure if your still checking this thread, but please post if you decide to try this. I'm curious to hear a firsthand account.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Depending on where the OP crosses the border (land or air...sea very unlikely) I can nearly guarantee it will work, I've seen it happen many times, I'm sure I'll see it many more. Its a little thing called "officer discretion" and CBP officers are not always the hard a**es that everyone makes them out to be.

Consider the speeder--you are breaking the law by speeding, the officer has the discretion whether or not to write you a ticket (refused entry) or let you go with a warning (I-193). Especially the OP being Canadian.

I would like to know the nature of your evidence that makes you feel this is a safe avenue to recommend. How many green card holders do you know who have crossed back into the US without using their green card? Border officials are very unpredictable. They are charged with protecting US security and ensuring everyone who enters the US has the right to do so. To say that they will turn a blind eye to the law is highly unlikely, especially in the current security conscious environment. I very much doubt officer discretion extends to allowing someone into the country who does not have the proper authorization to show they are allowed to live there. Being a Canadian is no special protection, as many of those Canadians who have been turned away at the border will tell you. Some of them are members of VJ who were turned away during their immigration process until they did have the proper documentation to show they were allowed to enter the country.

Be very careful what you advise. You are not the one who has to bear the consequences of bad advice if the OP choses to follow it.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Kathryn41