Green Card # not found - Applying for I-131a

[eric_and_teresa 10]

I am posting this on behalf of a friend, who is a green card holder but got their I-551 expired in March and needs to return to the US. The Embassy in Guatemala advised he must file a I-131a and pay the fee online, when he tries entering the Green Card # from his card, he keeps getting a message that says "Green Card # and DOB" do not match our records. He is entering the info exactly as it is in his green card, the number is under the USCIS #, and it does start with ZERO, and it has 9 digits. I tried helping him and I am getting the same message. Has anyone encounter this issue before? He tried calling the 800 number and it is impossible to talk to a live person. He called the embassy and was told to keep trying until it works. He has tried over 50 times and still gets the same message. Are looking at the wrong number maybe? Or is there a way to see if his number is valid. The green card is expired but his number should still be valid right?

Edited April 28, 2022 by eric_and_teresa

[Verrou 1,962]

green number usually = alien number. he should check if its the same or not?

uscis number (800) say "info pass" and or "live agent" to speak with real human

Edited April 28, 2022 by Misscloud

[powerpuff 6,697]

Alien number (USCIS number on GC) is not the same as the green card number 

 

Per several websites below, it is a 13 digit number at the back of the card, also known as receipt number or permanent resident number:

https://citizenpath.com/faq/green-card-number-explained/

 

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/green-card-number-explained/
 

https://www.immigrationhelp.org/learning-center/what-is-the-green-card-number
 

 

[eric_and_teresa 10]

2 hours ago, Misscloud said:

green number usually = alien number. he should check if its the same or not?

uscis number (800) say "info pass" and or "live agent" to speak with real human

 

1 hour ago, powerpuff said:

Alien number (USCIS number on GC) is not the same as the green card number 

 

Per several websites below, it is a 13 digit number at the back of the card, also known as receipt number or permanent resident number:

https://citizenpath.com/faq/green-card-number-explained/

 

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/green-card-number-explained/
 

https://www.immigrationhelp.org/learning-center/what-is-the-green-card-number
 

 

Thank you both! So he did the live agent chat, and the agent said "the system is down" and I cannot corroborate your information... he will try again tomorrow. I advised him to cross reference the green card number/alien # in the card and other notices he has and it is the same number but the system keeps rejecting it.  I feel sorry for the poor guy but also don't understand why he allowed his green card to expire if he knew he had to travel. 

[Mike E 11,739]

5 hours ago, eric_and_teresa said:

I am posting this on behalf of a friend, who is a green card holder but got their I-551 expired in March and needs to return to the US.

Is the expiration date minus the “resident since” date equal to 10 or more years?

[Mike E 11,739]

4 hours ago, powerpuff said:

Alien number (USCIS number on GC) is not the same as the green card number 

 

Per several websites below, it is a 13 digit number at the back of the card, also known as receipt number or permanent resident number:

https://citizenpath.com/faq/green-card-number-explained/

 

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/green-card-number-explained/
 

https://www.immigrationhelp.org/learning-center/what-is-the-green-card-number
 

 

The I-131A online payment page asks for an alien number 

 

 

 

[powerpuff 6,697]

8 minutes ago, Mike E said:

The I-131A online payment page asks for an alien number 

 

 

 

It was more of a response to an above statement that GC number = Alien number. It’s not 

[eric_and_teresa 10]

50 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Is the expiration date minus the “resident since” date equal to 10 or more years?

Yes, it shows resident since 3/21/ 2011. 

[eric_and_teresa 10]

37 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

It was more of a response to an above statement that GC number = Alien number. It’s not 

Yeah, we are entering the USCIS # on the front of the card that is also listed as an alien # on a NOA he had from before, but it keeps saying the A# and DOB dont match. I was just wondering if we are missing something really obvious, we’ve tried many times     

[Mike E 11,739]

21 minutes ago, eric_and_teresa said:

Yes, it shows resident since 3/21/ 2011. 

I-131A is not appropriate and will likely be rejected.  
 

The LPR can fly home to the USA with the expired green card.  
 

See:  https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Dec/Reminder- LPR Boarding 20210305.pdf

 

“Expired Permanent Resident Cards: Ten-year validity

• LPRs with an expired I-551 may be boarded without penalty, provided the card was issued with a 10-year
expiration date.”

 

 

How long has the LPR been outside the USA?

 

 

Edited April 28, 2022 by Mike E

[Family 3,988]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

The LPR can fly home to the USA with the expired green card.  

@Mike Ethat is an amazing resource for this OP! Would be of immense help to gentleman w Alzheimer’s visiting brother in Columbia…

[eric_and_teresa 10]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

I-131A is not appropriate and will likely be rejected.  
 

The LPR can fly home to the USA with the expired green card.  
 

See:  https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Dec/Reminder- LPR Boarding 20210305.pdf

 

“Expired Permanent Resident Cards: Ten-year validity

• LPRs with an expired I-551 may be boarded without penalty, provided the card was issued with a 10-year
expiration date.”

 

 

How long has the LPR been outside the USA?

 

 

The airline would not let him board last week and in the section of special instructions of the form, it said carrier can deny boarding him and then he'd have to file I-131a.  The local Embassy is really of no use, they are the ones who told him to file I-131a in the first place and we he called and said the number is not being accepted to pay the fee, their solution was "keep trying until it does." He is definitely out of lock. He already did the live chat which was of no use either, and tried calling the 800 number but it is impossible to get a live human there.  Should he try to stand his ground with the airline?

 

 

He has been out of the US.  8 months I believe, but for sure less than a year, so in theory he should be able to return with expired GC but the airline did not allow it. I wonder if another airline would... 

Edited April 29, 2022 by eric_and_teresa

[Timona 4,207]

1. Ask another airline if they'll let him fly. Then book.

2. Land entry.

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, eric_and_teresa said:

The airline would not let him board last week and in the section of special instructions of the form,

The memo I linked is a pointed reminder from CBP to airlines to board pax with expired 10 year green cards.  Airlines that don’t comply with CBP policy, and attempt to be the gate keepers for citizens and aliens with a right to board risk their privilege to fly to the USA. 
 

Quote

it said carrier can deny boarding him and then he'd have to file I-131a.

I-131a is for people who have lost their green cards as https://www.uscis.gov/i-131a  says.  I consider this a waste of time.  
 

Once he is gone 12 months he can file for SB-1 with the embassy but that too is imho a waste of time since he doesn’t have a valid reason for being absent for 12 months or more. The embassy will likely deny SB-1.  

 

Quote

The local Embassy is really of no use, they are the ones who told him to file I-131a in the first place and we he called and said the number is not being accepted to pay the fee, their solution was "keep trying until it does." He is definitely out of lock. He already did the live chat which was of no use either, and tried calling the 800 number but it is impossible to get a live human there.  Should he try to stand his ground with the airline?

He should bring the memo I linked and insist the airline call the phone number that CBP has on its memo.  
 

Quote

 

 

He has been out of the US.  8 months I believe, but for sure less than a year, so in theory he should be able to return with expired GC but the airline did not allow it. I wonder if another airline would... 

Possibly.  
 

What is his country of citizenship? 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Mike E

[Scandi 4,166]

This person had an issue as well, but it seemed to have been a name issue.