Question: I’m outside the U.S. and lost my green card. How do I replace my green card outside the U.S.?

Answer: If you are a permanent resident (green card holder) and your green card has expired or has been lost while you are outside the U.S., you must submit Form I-131A to obtain a travel document. You must file this form in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate. 

What is the process for obtaining a travel document outside the U.S.?

If you are outside the U.S. and your green card is expired or lost, you should follow these steps:

1. You should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to confirm if they can process the Form I-131A.

2. Submit the filing fee on the USCIS’s website.

3. Fill out Form I-131A and collect the necessary documents

4.  Submit your Form I-131A and the supporting documents in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

If your Form I-131A is approved, the embassy or consulate will give you a stamp in your passport that allows you to travel to the U.S. 

What documents are required to submit Form I-131A?

When you go to a U.S. embassy or consulate to file Form I-131A, you must bring the following documents: 

• Your original passport;
• One copy of your passport’s biographic page;
• Evidence demonstrating you are a lawful permanent resident;
• A copy of your itinerary, tickets, and any other evidence demonstrating your most recent date of departure from the U.S. and the day you intend to return to the U.S.;
• One passport-style photograph of yourself taken within 30 days; and
• A payment receipt showing you paid the filing fee for Form I-131A.

What is the filing fee for Form I-131A?

You must pay a filing fee before you submit Form I-131A. The filing fee for Form I-131A is currently $575. Anyone may pay this fee from anywhere in the world on the USCIS’s website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-131a. If someone is paying this fee on your behalf, they will need to provide your full name, date of birth, and you A number. A fee waiver is not available for Form I-131A. 

If my green card has expired, am I still a permanent resident?

The fact that your green card is expired or lost does not mean that you have lost your permanent resident status. But to enter the U.S., you must provide proof that you have a status that allows entry into the U.S. If your green card is lost or expired, you need to file Form I-131A to obtain a travel document.