What to do if you lost your Green Card

By Atty. Chris Caday Lozano

Green cards are important especially when traveling abroad and applying for citizenship.   There are certain issues about replacing green card which we will discuss.

1.       Lost green card.  The person who lost his green card may file to renew their USCIS-issued green card that have expired or replace ones that have been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or that contain an error.  If you need to apply for naturalization and you believe you qualify except you lost your green card you may discuss this matter with an immigration attorney.

The person who lost green card may complete and properly file an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90) with USCIS, with appropriate fees (if required), in accordance with the Form I-90 instructions. 

What happen if the green card is lost while outside the U.S.?

A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)  who is temporarily outside the United States for less than 1 year and who is not in possession of a valid green card  (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) (Form I-131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States.  This transportation letter does not replace the green card. LPRs must still complete and properly file Form I-90 to obtain a replacement of the green card upon arrival to the U.S.

2.       What happen if the Reentry permit is lost?

If inside the United States, complete and properly file an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) with USCIS, with appropriate fees.

An LPR who is temporarily outside the United States for less than 2 years and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) (Form I-131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. The transportation letter does not replace the reentry permit. LPRs must complete and properly file Form I-131 upon reentry into the United States to obtain a replacement reentry permit.

3.       What happen if the Advance Parole document is lost?

If inside the United States, complete and properly file an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) with USCIS, with appropriate fees.

 There is no process to seek a replacement advance parole document, including a combo card (employment and travel authorization documented on a single card), outside the United States. In cases where an advance parole document was lost, stolen, or destroyed while overseas, requestors should contact the closest USCIS international office or U.S. embassy or consulate.

Please note that in general, if a requestor applies for advance parole while in the United States, and departs the United States before the advance parole document is issued, the requestor may be found inadmissible to the United States upon return, or even if admitted, may be found to have abandoned his or her application.

Note:  This is not a legal advice and presented for information only.

Immigration News update

Immigrant Visa (IV): The Embassy continues to have a significant backlog of all categories of immigrant visas.  We are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications, based on the category of immigrant visa, as we resume and expand processing.  While we schedule limited appointments within all four priority tiers every month, the following lists the main categories of immigrant visas in priority order:

  • Tier One:  Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), and certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI for Afghan and Iraqi nationals working with the U.S. government)
  • Tier Two:  Immediate relative visas; fiancé(e) visas; and returning resident visas
  • Tier Three:  Family preference immigrant visas and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S. government abroad
  • Tier Four:  All other immigrant visas, including employment preference and Diversity Visas

Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV):  The Embassy continues to prioritize travelers with urgent (i.e., matter of life and death) travel needs, foreign diplomats, and certain mission-critical categories of travelers, such as students and exchange visitors (F-1, M-1, and J-1) and temporary employment visas (H-1B, H-2B, and L nonimmigrants).  Visa appointments and processing for B1/B2 (Business/Tourist) remain suspended, with the exception of interview waiver renewals.

The DHS issued a new guideline for the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.  The guidelines focused on national security. crimes and border security as the government priority.

Success Stories

For the month of September 2021, we received approvals from USCIS four naturalization applications, two Fiancée visa petitions, three removals of condition on residence and four adjustment of status applications.

Philippine Stories

  1. This election will determine if the Philippines will keep its independence or we will be taken over by China and become slaves to communist regime.  We need to unite in order to defeat the current administration or we will lose our country.  There are about 3.6 million Chinese in the Philippines working on POGO.  Chinese are registered military personnel of China.   Chinese are allowed to enter the Philippines without visa restrictions.

Listen to Percy Lapid (or Lapid Fire) and Waldy Carbonell on You Tube and Facebook for details and more corruption in the government.

If you have immigration problems the Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation. 

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers.  He practices immigration law, bankruptcy and income tax preparation since June 1999.  His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website:  www.crispinlozanolaw.com/



Toll Free 1-877-4LOZANO for free consultation or Schedule an Appointment