Expired green card-Pakistan

[Mumtaz Shaikh 0]

Hello,

My husband recently traveled to Karachi, Pakistan on an expired 10 year green card without realizing it. When he tried returning after 3 week trip-he was denied boarding. We contacted US Consulate in Karachi. Were told to apply for "Transportation Boarding Foil" which we did through their website and paid the $575 Dollar fee to USCIS website After a lot of emails we were told to make an appointment online and someone will call us. We weren't able to make the appointment , No one picks up the phone at Consulate. Everthing is done via email.  So were being told it could take up to a year for this process and were better off just applying for a visa instead. Once he's in US then he can apply for green card renewal. Does anyone know if this would be the correct way to go about this situation? Should we hire a immigration lawyer? Were getting conflicted information. I am a US citizen. He's in dire situation as he has his job to return to&support his family.

[milimelo 4,475]

I think you may want to file I-90 online as well before they’ll issue the foil. 

[Boiler 45,434]

Contact your congress person

[MOKAHN 33]

Oh you gotta be perpare to fight this. 

 

Steps you can take.

 

You can still come to the US with an expired Green Card, given it was issued for 10 years, and your stay in Pakistan was less than a year.

But the airlines are  being a #######. You can refer to the CBP guide for carriers, in that guide o page 22 it says "A Lawful Permanent Resident may travel to the United States without a passport with a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Cards with expired I-551s may be boarded
without penalty if the card was issued with a 10-year expiration date."

 

While you are fighting with the airlines, I would say you better start the green card renewal process. Its online, you can do it from Pakistan too. In case you can not convince the airlines or your foil is delayed or in any worst case, you can use get your renewed green card to Karachi, aslo USCIS is not asking people to do fingerprints for renewals due to covid, they are using the old ones in their system.  

 

Another option, which I just think of, may work or may not. Get to Abu Dhabi, from there book a flight to US, the difference Abu Dhabi will make is that CBP has a pre-clearance facility there, if the airline don't let you board, you can ask them to take them to CBP, airline won't be able to bullshit with CBP and CBP will decide your fate right over there. If you take Etihad airlines, people coming to US are stamped in Abu Dhabi.  

 

According to you, consulate in Karachi told you to file a FOIL, however, it is not required. According to US embassy in Islamabad, their website says you can present an expired Permanent Resident Card with a 10-year expiration date at the airport rather than applying for a boarding foil. 

https://pk.usembassy.gov/visas-immigrant-visas-lost-or-stolen-greencard/

 

I'm just a student, not a lawyer, but I think this is a fightable case without the need of a lawyer. Please share how this goes. I hope you can pull this off.

  

[aaron2020 11,651]

1 hour ago, MOKAHN said:

Oh you gotta be perpare to fight this. 

 

Steps you can take.

 

You can still come to the US with an expired Green Card, given it was issued for 10 years, and your stay in Pakistan was less than a year.

But the airlines are  being a #######. You can refer to the CBP guide for carriers, in that guide o page 22 it says "A Lawful Permanent Resident may travel to the United States without a passport with a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Cards with expired I-551s may be boarded
without penalty if the card was issued with a 10-year expiration date."

 

While you are fighting with the airlines, I would say you better start the green card renewal process. Its online, you can do it from Pakistan too. In case you can not convince the airlines or your foil is delayed or in any worst case, you can use get your renewed green card to Karachi, aslo USCIS is not asking people to do fingerprints for renewals due to covid, they are using the old ones in their system.  

 

Another option, which I just think of, may work or may not. Get to Abu Dhabi, from there book a flight to US, the difference Abu Dhabi will make is that CBP has a pre-clearance facility there, if the airline don't let you board, you can ask them to take them to CBP, airline won't be able to bullshit with CBP and CBP will decide your fate right over there. If you take Etihad airlines, people coming to US are stamped in Abu Dhabi.  

 

According to you, consulate in Karachi told you to file a FOIL, however, it is not required. According to US embassy in Islamabad, their website says you can present an expired Permanent Resident Card with a 10-year expiration date at the airport rather than applying for a boarding foil. 

https://pk.usembassy.gov/visas-immigrant-visas-lost-or-stolen-greencard/

 

I'm just a student, not a lawyer, but I think this is a fightable case without the need of a lawyer. Please share how this goes. I hope you can pull this off.

  

You can't force an airline to let a person with an expired green card fly.  They are within their rights to refuse to fly him.

Whatever US laws are, they do not apply in other countries.  

OP needs to get the proper documents to satisfy the airline he wants to fly with.  Getting help obtaining those documents is the right path.  Fighting the airlines to force them to fly him is a losing battle.  

[MOKAHN 33]

1 hour ago, aaron2020 said:

You can't force an airline to let a person with an expired green card fly.  They are within their rights to refuse to fly him.

Whatever US laws are, they do not apply in other countries.  

OP needs to get the proper documents to satisfy the airline he wants to fly with.  Getting help obtaining those documents is the right path.  Fighting the airlines to force them to fly him is a losing battle.  

Yeah I think fighting was a wrong choice of word, convincing is the right word. It is at the desecration of the airline crew to let someone board, but if you present your case and satisfy them, I think exceptions can be made. Now its up to the airline how they look to resolve your case, weather it involves contacting the US authorities, making passenger purchasing a return flight or whatever.  

 

    

[Mumtaz Shaikh 0]

Thank you for your replies. At the present moment I'm consulting with an immigration attorney. When my husband was denied boarding it was by immigration@airport. When I called the airline that day, they didn't give any information just put his ticket on hold. So I don't  know if airline is responsible or can do anything. There's just not one concrete answer. We've applied for boarding foil online&paid fees. But there's nothing on website as to how to make an appointment. Or are we going to be contacted by USCIS for the appt.?  That's were the confusion is starting. My husband did go to Consulate in Karachi but they  told him to go apply for visa and no other information. So were being bounced around.🥴

[Mohamed youssef 0]

Hi what happened ? Did you fly back now I have the same situation 

[Mumtaz Shaikh 0]

Hello-My husband just came back on Jan.11th!

If the airline is not letting you board with an expired green card then the only way is to apply for a "boarding foil". First apply for it online-it's form- I-131A&pay the fee $575 online. Right after that you have to make an appointment with US Consulate in Karachi which was very tricky for an average person. Go to US Consulate website-try "cgi.federal.secure. Once you make the appt.you'll receive a confirmation in your email. Then you have to take all necessary documents on their list. On your appt. The Consulate will take your passport&call you back pick it up&then you can fly back to US. Are you in Karachi? Hope that helps. 

[Mohamed youssef 0]

7 hours ago, Mumtaz Shaikh said:

Hello-My husband just came back on Jan.11th!

If the airline is not letting you board with an expired green card then the only way is to apply for a "boarding foil". First apply for it online-it's form- I-131A&pay the fee $575 online. Right after that you have to make an appointment with US Consulate in Karachi which was very tricky for an average person. Go to US Consulate website-try "cgi.federal.secure. Once you make the appt.you'll receive a confirmation in your email. Then you have to take all necessary documents on their list. On your appt. The Consulate will take your passport&call you back pick it up&then you can fly back to US. Are you in Karachi? Hope that helps. 

Thank you very much I'm in cairo egypt I already paid the fee 575 $ but I'm also having hard time to get appointment with us embassy in cairo but etihad airlines confirm they will board me 

So I'm gonna try this what you think ? 

[Mumtaz Shaikh 0]

I would say to book the ticket and try to board. But if they refuse then you can put the ticket on hold till your ready to fly. Or if you have something in writing from the airline that you can take to airport as proof. Are you flying directly to US or do you  have to change flights? Do you have a 10 year green card&when did it expire?

[Mohamed youssef 0]

5 minutes ago, Mumtaz Shaikh said:

I would say to book the ticket and try to board. But if they refuse then you can put the ticket on hold till your ready to fly. Or if you have something in writing from the airline that you can take to airport as proof. Are you flying directly to US or do you  have to change flights? Do you have a 10 year green card&when did it expire?

I have 10 years green card that expired 12/13/2020 I'm also have form 1-1797c notice of action show I applied for replacement before leaving the usa  . I have change flight in Abu Dhabi they have CBP office there . I appreciate you help 

[Mumtaz Shaikh 0]

If you have form I- 797 Notice of Action then should be ok and you had applied for renewal before leaving US. My husband had traveled with expired green card already without realizing it. Good luck👍!

[Mohamed youssef 0]

9 minutes ago, Mumtaz Shaikh said:

If you have form I- 797 Notice of Action then should be ok and you had applied for renewal before leaving US. My husband had traveled with expired green card already without realizing it. Good luck👍!

Thank you جزاك الله خير 

[Mohamed youssef 0]

On 1/13/2021 at 12:57 AM, Mumtaz Shaikh said:

If you have form I- 797 Notice of Action then should be ok and you had applied for renewal before leaving US. My husband had traveled with expired green card already without realizing it. Good luck👍!

Hello mumtaz. The airline didn't let me board 

How do you get the us embassy to give you appointment .they didn't answer any emails did you hire lawyer .