Lost EAD/AP Card While in the Philippines

[doggieandsam 765]

21 minutes ago, snowcat said:

Yes, this is only the 4th day after my mother's death, and today is her burial. It sucks that I can't just focus on grieving over my mom, because the intense stress over this matter is taking over my thoughts. Why would anyone take the wallet of the person who JUST lost their mother?! It happened in the memorial chapel where my mom's ashes are, and my ID is inside the wallet, so they must know who I am.

 

Anyway, trying my best to remain calm over all this and just find solutions. Have been asking my mom for help, maybe she can pull some strings in heaven and ask angels to bring me my wallet back haha. Sigh.

For now focus on the burial, maybe once everything settles down you will find your wallet somewhere. Sending you big hugs!

[Hank_ 9,174]

Well that $ucks that the embassy will be of no help.   

 

Hope you get a kind ear at the airlines.

 

Sorry for your loss ______________________________________________ .

[snowcat 58]

For reference, here are the responses user marc941 gave me, as they were placed in a similar situation as me:

 

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Yes, my husband was stuck in Dominican Republic for 3 weeks when his wallet was stolen.  Luckily, he still had his passport for identification purposes.

 

The US government (customs) isn't really an issue, as they can look you up in the computer when you get here and see that you had an approved advance parole status.

 

The problem is the airline, because they are fined $4300 by customs & border patrol for bringing someone to the US without proper documents.

 

There is a "carrier information guide"from CBP for airlines that describes exactly what rules they have to follow and what documents they can accept.  

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

Page 5 of this guide includes information about RCLG, which is a special 24 hour hotline run by CBP officers for the airlines to call to verify that you're okay to board.  

 

Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy or simple.  No one could give us a verbal approval in advance.  So my suggestion is to show up several hours early for your flight home and be prepared to fight with the airlines to get them to make the call to RCLG.  It seems most airline staff either aren't aware of it or don't want to be bothered with it, so you'll probably need to get supervisors involved.

 

Again, this method is only if you have your passport for identification. If you don't have that, CBP won't be able to let you in as they can't verify your identity.

 

I learned a lot during this process.  The US embassy insisted that they can only help with lost US passport or green card, not EAD/AP.  The USCIS field office in Dominican Republic insisted that it was out of their jurisdiction as EAD/AP can only be issued inside the USA.  I managed to get in touch with my local USCIS field office director, and she checked with her regional director, and advised that they can't issue a replacement EAD/AP without the beneficiary being inside the US.

 

It was a truly horrific experience.  My husband is home, but still has no EAD/AP card, because it's necessary to pay full price for those two applications for replacement.  So we're just waiting for his green card and he won't be traveling out of the US until he has it.

 

 

[snowcat 58]

Just updating this thread as I navigate the confusing waters of having lost an Advance Parole card while abroad... As expected, this is the US Embassy's response yesterday to my email regarding my lost EAD/AP card:

 

Quote

 

Thank you for contacting USCIS Manila. Please note that our office does not replace lost EAD card/AP combo card but only domestic USCIS office in the United States. We understand you have pending K-1 adjustment of status (I-485) in the U.S.  If you are to travel outside the U.S. while under adjustment of status, you should apply for Form I-131, Advance Parole, which would allow you to board an airline and travel back to the United States. Our office cannot issue travel document if you have no US immigration status yet. In accordance to CBP carrier guidelines, you must present her local passport and valid advance parole card to board an airline. You may also wish to contact the domestic USCIS office handling the I-485 case if they can re-issue advance parole card for you.

 

Kind regards,

 

USCIS Manila Field Office

 

I tried calling again this morning to speak to someone on the phone about it, and they asked me to send scans of my EAD/AP card as well as other supporting documents. They said they will check if they can issue me a travel document, but again warned me that they might not be able to because I'm not a LPR... so we shall see. I'm hoping I get to resolve this soon