Losing a green card abroad is stressful because airlines check documents before boarding, and a carrier that brings a passenger without proper documents can be penalized, so it may simply refuse to let you on the plane. The fix is Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation. USCIS says the form lets a permanent resident "apply for a travel document (carrier documentation) that allows you to board an airline or other transportation carrier without the airline or transportation carrier being penalized" (USCIS, Form I-131A).
As of October 26, 2026, the process is in person at a US consulate after paying the fee online. This guide explains who can use it, what to bring, and what happens after you are home.
- Form I-131A is for permanent residents abroad whose green card was lost, stolen or destroyed, returning from a trip of less than 1 year.
- It also covers a lost reentry permit, for trips of less than 2 years.
- USCIS measures the absence from your departure date to the date you pay the I-131A fee.
- You pay the fee online first, then file in person at a US embassy or consulate; no fee waiver is available.
- If you abandoned permanent resident status, or it was terminated, you should not file Form I-131A.
- An expired 10-year green card with an absence under 1 year may not require I-131A, under a CBP carrier policy.
Who can use Form I-131A?
Permanent residents whose travel document was lost, stolen or destroyed during a temporary trip. According to USCIS, you can apply if you are:
| Situation | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Green card lost, stolen or destroyed | "Returning from temporary travel outside the United States of less than 1 year" |
| Reentry permit lost, stolen or destroyed | Returning from temporary travel "of less than 2 years" |
| Advance parole or EAD with travel endorsement lost abroad | The document has not expired |
Two details matter. First, "We measure the length of your absence from the time you departed the United States to the time you pay the Form I-131A fee." Second, "you must have been an LPR when you left the United States and still be an LPR when you return," and "If you abandoned your LPR status or if we terminated it, do not file Form I-131A" (same).
The one-year limit mirrors the general rule that a green card works for reentry only "after a temporary absence of less than 1 year" (8 CFR 211.1(a)(2), eCFR). Our guide to maintaining permanent residence explains why long absences matter.
How do you file?
In two steps.
1. Pay online. "Before appearing in person, you must submit the filing fee through the online payment system on our website." Anyone can pay it for you, "as long as they enter the correct first and last names, date of birth, and A-Number because this information will appear on your boarding foil." There is no fee waiver, and fees are non-refundable (USCIS, Form I-131A). The current amount is on the USCIS fee schedule.
2. File in person. "You must file Form I-131A in person with a Consular Section at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate," and bring evidence that you paid. USCIS recommends contacting the nearest consular section first to "verify that they can process the Form I-131A" (same).
What should you bring?
USCIS lists the evidence to bring to the embassy or consulate (USCIS, Form I-131A):
- Your original passport.
- One copy of your passport's biographic page.
- Evidence that you are a lawful permanent resident.
- A copy of your tickets, itinerary or other evidence of your most recent departure date and intended return date.
- One passport-style photograph taken within 30 days.
Evidence of permanent residence can be hard to produce when the card itself is gone. A photocopy or photo of the card, your I-797 approval notice, or the immigrant visa stamp in an old passport may help; ask the consulate what it accepts. Keeping digital copies of these before any trip makes this step much easier.
What if your card is expired rather than lost?
You may not need Form I-131A at all. USCIS explains that a CBP policy allows a carrier to board "an LPR with an expired Green Card that was issued with a 10-year expiration date, and you have been outside the United States for less than 1 year," as well as a conditional resident with an expired 2-year card who has an I-797 receipt for Form I-751 or I-829, and certain government and military travelers (USCIS, Form I-131A).
The caveat: "Check with your airline or transportation carrier before you file Form I-131A. In some situations, they may refuse to let you board even if you are in one of the categories above" (same).
What about a baby born abroad?
USCIS says you may need carrier documentation for a child if you are a permanent resident or have an immigrant visa, "Your child is under 2 years old," and the child "is traveling with you to come to the United States for the first time." Check with the airline first; if it refuses to board the child, file Form I-131A for the child (USCIS, Form I-131A).
What happens after you return?
Carrier documentation gets you on the plane; it does not replace your card. Once back in the United States, replacing the card is not optional. The regulation says a permanent resident "shall apply for a replacement Permanent Resident Card" when "the previous card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed" (8 CFR 264.5(b)(1), eCFR). The form is Form I-90, and USCIS's page on replacing your green card lists a lost or stolen card among the reasons you must replace it.
While the I-90 is pending, USCIS "may issue temporary evidence of registration and lawful permanent resident status" to a resident who has properly filed for a replacement card (8 CFR 264.5(h)). That matters if you need to prove status for work or travel before the new card arrives. The process usually includes a biometrics appointment; our guide to the USCIS biometrics appointment explains it.
Conditional residents follow a slightly different rule. A conditional resident whose card is not expiring within 90 days "may apply for a replacement card" when it was "lost, stolen, or destroyed"; one whose card is expiring files to remove conditions instead (8 CFR 264.5(d), eCFR). EB-5 investors and people with two-year marriage-based cards should check which form fits before filing.
If your absence was longer than the I-131A limits, a different route applies: a returning resident (SB-1) visa, which requires showing the extended stay was caused by reasons beyond your control. For future long trips, a reentry permit avoids that problem; see our guide to reentry permits.
What this means for you
- Before any trip, save a copy of your green card, I-797 notice and passport pages somewhere you can reach from abroad.
- If the card is lost, pay the I-131A fee online and contact the nearest consulate to confirm it processes the form.
- Bring your passport, proof of permanent residence, itinerary and a recent photo.
- Allow extra time before your planned flight, since the consulate has to process the application first.
- If your card is only expired, check with the airline before filing.
- After you return, file Form I-90 for a replacement card; the regulation requires it.
- If you need proof of status before the new card arrives, ask about temporary evidence of permanent residence.
Where to start
If you are planning a green card through work or extraordinary ability, our free evaluation at /evaluate/ maps your record against the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW standards, and Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, finds real opportunities to strengthen it. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked October 26, 2026.
- USCIS, Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation (last updated June 3, 2026). Eligibility, time limits, filing in person, fee, evidence, expired cards, children under 2.
- 8 CFR 211.1 (eCFR, current text). Green card valid for reentry after an absence of less than one year.
- 8 CFR 264.5 (eCFR, current text). Duty to replace a lost card; temporary evidence of status.
- USCIS, Replace Your Green Card and Form I-90. Replacement process.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I lose my green card while traveling abroad?
If you have been abroad less than a year, file Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation. You pay the fee online through USCIS, then go in person to a US embassy or consulate consular section with your passport, evidence of permanent residence, travel itinerary and a recent photo. If approved, you receive carrier documentation that lets an airline board you. After returning, file Form I-90 to replace the card.
Where do I file Form I-131A?
In person, at a consular section of a US embassy or consulate. USCIS says to pay the filing fee through its online payment system first and bring proof of payment. It also recommends contacting the nearest consular section beforehand to confirm it can process Form I-131A, since not every post may handle it the same way.
Can I file Form I-131A if I have been abroad more than a year?
Not with a green card alone. Form I-131A covers trips of less than one year with a lost green card, or less than two years with a lost reentry permit. USCIS measures the absence from your departure to the date you pay the fee. If you are past those limits, the usual route is a returning resident (SB-1) visa, which requires showing the extended stay was beyond your control.
Do I need Form I-131A if my green card is expired, not lost?
Maybe not. USCIS says a CBP policy allows carriers to board a permanent resident with an expired 10-year green card who has been abroad less than a year, and certain conditional residents with an I-751 or I-829 receipt. Airlines can still refuse, so check with the carrier first. If they refuse, you would need to file Form I-131A.
My baby was born abroad while I was traveling. Does the child need Form I-131A?
Possibly. USCIS says a child born outside the United States may need carrier documentation if the parent is a permanent resident or has an immigrant visa, the child is under 2, and the child is coming to the United States for the first time with the parent. Check with the airline first; if it will not board the child, file Form I-131A for the child.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
