Lost Green Card and Travel outside the US?

[echoota 0]

So my wife has misplaced her green card. It could be LOST lost, or it could be just buried in the house somewhere. We're going through things in the house to see if we can track it down because from what I read it's going to cost another chunk of money to get it replaced.

Nonetheless... we've been kind of asleep at the wheel for awhile with status issues. We're waiting for 90 day time zone for the adjustment of status after the two year probationary period and everything has been fine so far. Now however with the green card lost somewhere we're having to confront the border again with anxiety.

She's Canadian and we've gone up twice so far without the green card to visit family and friends. She's using this green passport-like "travel document" thing. The first time upon entering back into the US it was just fine and we zipped through border crossing. However this last weekend the border guard was scrutinizing her and it was getting stressful. We got through, but I was shaken out of my slumber and want to figure out what to do next as we had more travel plans back into Canada in the next couple of months.

Obviously the first thing is to make a concerted effort to find the green card. This weekend I'm going to comb the house for it and if it isn't found we'll go through the expensive and tedious process to replace it. Isn't all of this stuff in the computer? Can't they just crank another one out?

But what of travel up to Canada? This green passport looking "travel document" kinda works, but I suppose we need more paperwork with us to prove residency to smooth things over. However what is more important to find out is whether these trips without the green card are somehow screwing up the transition between the probationary period and the permanent green card we were aiming for in the next year?

[Mags 112]

I know this is a greencard question, but I reckon you'll get more answers in the Canadian forum as they're an incredibly helpful lot. So, I'm going to move this for you and you should get some pretty good advice. Especially about that green paper thingy.

[raymaga 25]

I'm Canadian, and I'm not sure what document (green passport-like travel document) you are talking about. Are you talking about the AP document?

Did your wife get the I-551 stamp in her passport at her AOS interview? If so, and it has not expired, she can also use that to re-enter the U.S.

If you will be applying for the 10-yr GC, you will receive an NOA which extends the validity of the 2-yr GC for up to a year for work and travel, but when entering the U.S., they usually request the NOA and the 2-yr GC.

I have my GC in my purse at all times, not only so that I don't misplace it, but also it is a requirement that all GC holders have their GC in their possession at all times.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Dont know anything about a green travel document but I do know your wife should have her Greencard with her at all times... if she can not find it she will need to file form I-90 and get a replacement... she will need it to lift the conditions when the time comes as you have to send a copy of the front and back of the Greencard along with the packet... and when she gets the NOA1 it will extend the Greencard for 12 month but it has to be used along with the expired Greencard, not on its own....

Kez

[echoota 0]

My wife got home so I could finally look at the "green thing". It looks like a passport, but is green, has "travel document" on the outside along with the US Seal. Inside I found "Permit to Re-enter, Form I-327".

She normally had her green card on her all the time. It was in her wallet that went missing. She does misplace a lot of things though so I'm keeping my hopes up that it is somewhere in the house.

[thetreble 19]

My wife got home so I could finally look at the "green thing". It looks like a passport, but is green, has "travel document" on the outside along with the US Seal. Inside I found "Permit to Re-enter, Form I-327".

327? I have never even heard of that form. How old is this form? If it's an old style advanced parole document, it should have expired ages ago

[Jasman0717 9]

Dont know anything about a green travel document but I do know your wife should have her Greencard with her at all times... if she can not find it she will need to file form I-90 and get a replacement... she will need it to lift the conditions when the time comes as you have to send a copy of the front and back of the Greencard along with the packet... and when she gets the NOA1 it will extend the Greencard for 12 month but it has to be used along with the expired Greencard, not on its own....

Kez

[Reba 2]

By law if she is stopped by any immigration, customs or police officer and she does not have her green card on her person, she can be detained indefinitely until they can confirm her status. This includes putting her in one of those "border houses" or a holding cell until she gets lost and forgotten.

Find that green card! Make an INFOPASS appointment to find out if there is some sort of document she can get to carry with her that will confirm her status, and confirm that she has applied for a replacement card.

[warlord 73]

By law if she is stopped by any immigration, customs or police officer and she does not have her green card on her person, she can be detained indefinitely until they can confirm her status. This includes putting her in one of those "border houses" or a holding cell until she gets lost and forgotten.

Find that green card! Make an INFOPASS appointment to find out if there is some sort of document she can get to carry with her that will confirm her status, and confirm that she has applied for a replacement card.

Yep you MUST have it at all times or she could be in trouble. You need to get that card before you do anymore travelling anywhere. This means cancelling a trip if you have to because all you need is one border guard to say no, and then you're in trouble. So you would be taking a big risk of deinal each time you leave the country. She needs a replacement ASAP...

[Mags 112]

Found this about the I-327:

Who Uses the Forms I-327 and I-571?

Form I-327, Permit to Reenter the United States. The Form I-327

allows a lawful permanent or conditional permanent resident of the

United States to apply for admission into the United States upon

returning from abroad without having to obtain a returning resident

visa.

Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document. A refugee travel document is

issued pursuant to Article 28 of the United Nations Convention of July

29, 1951, for the purpose of travel. It may be issued to a person who

is in the United States as a refugee pursuant to section 207 of the

Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), as an asylee pursuant to section

208 of the Act, or as a permanent resident who received such status as

a direct result of refugee or asylee status. A lawfully obtained,

currently valid Form I-571, shall be accepted in lieu of any travel

document which otherwise would be required from such person under the

Act.

How Can a Person Apply for Forms I-327 or I-571?

An application for a Form I-327 or Form I-571 must be filed on Form

I-131, Application for Travel Document, with the fee as required in 8

CFR 103.7(b.)(1) and with the initial evidence required on the

application form. The applicant must state the length of intended

absence or absences, and the reasons for travel. Except as provided in

8 CFR 223.2(b.)(2)(ii), the application may be approved if filed by an

eligible person who is within the United States at the time of

submission.

Full article

[thetreble 19]

Thanks Mags. I read it but don't understand how an 327 is different from a 131. Do you file for 327 is you feel you may forget or loose your green card? Why would you otherwise need an advance parole document as a permanent or conditional resident?

[Mags 112]

Thanks Mags. I read it but don't understand how an 327 is different from a 131. Do you file for 327 is you feel you may forget or loose your green card? Why would you otherwise need an advance parole document as a permanent or conditional resident?

There were quite a few links when I googled it, however none of them dated past 2003. There was also a lot of talk about it being issued to those on refugee status too.

*shrugs*

I really have no idea!

[misa 2]

I'd make an infopass appointment and see if she can get an I-551 stamp in her passport. Getting into Canada isn't a problem since she's a Canadian citizen, it's getting back into the U.S. that could be problematic without proof that she's a permanent resident.

I'd also file to get a replacement and bring that Notice of Action with her when she crosses the border if she's not able to get an I-551 stamp in her passport.

Edited October 4, 2007 by misa

[Reba 2]

Thanks Mags. I read it but don't understand how an 327 is different from a 131. Do you file for 327 is you feel you may forget or loose your green card? Why would you otherwise need an advance parole document as a permanent or conditional resident?

I believe that the 327 re-entry permit is for permanent residents who have left the US for an extended period (6 months or longer) and would otherwise have been considered to have abandoned the US for residence elsewhere. I don't think it is intended for use in the case of someone having misplaced their Green Card to allow them to travel outside the US for a short vacation.