What to Do If You Lost Your Green Card

A green card is a very important document that you need to keep safe at all times, especially considering it’s not that easy to get one. But what happens when you discover you have a lost green card?

Losing a green card will make you panic because you won’t know whether this hinders your chances of staying in the U.S. So, can you replace a lost green card? Let’s find out!

Who Needs to Replace a Lost Green Card?

Green cards can be replaced in certain situations. That being said, people must replace their green card if:

• They never got their original green card to begin with
• The green card was offered before you became 14 years old, you are currently 14, and your card expires after you become 16.
• You have a green card with the wrong information on it, such as an incorrect birth date, last name, or anything of the sort
• Your green card was stolen, damaged, or lost

So, if you’ve lost your green card somehow, it is necessary to get a replacement, or else you may encounter issues.

How to Replace a Lost Green Card

To replace your lost green card, you will have to go through multiple steps. The first thing you need to do is file out Form I-90, aka the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. However, it is important to know that this form can only be filed if you are in the U.S. Otherwise, you will have to wait until you get back home to apply for a replacement.

Besides, even when you’re traveling, you need to take certain steps in order to reenter the U.S., especially if your card somehow gets lost while you’re away from the country.

The I-90 application can easily be filed online, but you can also send it by mail. In certain cases, sending the application by mail will be necessary. Overall, though, you will have to go through pretty much the same steps to apply for a green card replacement.

First, you need to complete Form I-90, and then you will have to review the form and sign it. Lastly, submit the form with a filing fee, if necessary, as well as supporting documents.

Bear in mind that the documents you need to submit with your application depend on the reason you are replacing the green card. Usually, you will need a photocopy of the original green card if you have any, or a copy of a different ID issued by the government, such as a driver’s license. You can also submit anything that serves as evidence of your biographical information and your status.

Meanwhile, if you are replacing a green card from outside the U.S., you will have to go through a process that is a little bit more difficult. If the green card gets stolen or lost while you’re in a different country, the first step is contacting the local police. Make a police report request and get in contact with the closest U.S. consulate or embassy. There, you will get instructions on what to do moving forward.

You may have to apply for a “boarding fall” in order to return to the U.S. This is a special document that tells transportation carriers that you can travel to the U.S. with no problems. This is possible by completing an I-131A form, aka the Application for a Travel Document. You may have to pay a filing fee for it, though. You can talk to consular officers for additional details.  

When you return to the U.S., you can proceed with filing your I-90 form.

Replacement Green Card Price

Generally, applying for a green card replacement may cost you $455. However, there is also a biometric fee that applies, which raises the cost to $540. In some cases, applicants don’t have to pay at all, while others can only pay the biometrics fee.

Also, if you have to submit a Form I-131A so you can travel to the U.S. without a green card, you may have to pay a $575 filing fee.

How Long Does It Take to Replace a Lost Green Card?

The amount of time it takes for a lost green card to be replaced depends on various factors. In general, you may have to wait between 6 and 9.5 months to receive your new green card, or at least that was the waiting time as of November 11, 2020. Keep in mind that the processing times tend to change regularly, so it’s important to keep an eye on them on the USCIS platform.

If you need a green card much sooner than the average waiting time, you can schedule an appointment at a USCIS field office that is close to you. While there, you can get an Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications stamp on your passport. You can use the stamp as a temporary green card for a year, and it is also known as the “I-551 stamp”.

This is also something you can do before filing Form I-90, as long as you have a pending application for U.S. citizenship. It only applies if you filed it at least 6 months before the expiration of your green card, though.

What to Do If Your Replacement Green Card Application Is Denied?

There are situations when USCIS denies replacement green card applications. For example, this may happen if the applicant has a pending deportation order or if he/she offered false information on purpose.

Unless you did something like this, then you have nothing to be concerned about. But if the application is denied, you will receive a letter that explains the reason. Luckily, you can do a few things when this happens.

One thing you can do is seek legal help. This is recommended for very complicated cases. If you are confused and do not know what to do, legal help will be the best solution. An immigration attorney will be there with the right advice for the situation.

You can also file a motion. The motion can be submitted to USCIS to ask them to reconsider the decision they made. If you can prove that the initial decision was taken based on incorrect information, your motion can be effective. The same can happen if you are able to bring new evidence and facts.

For this method, you have to submit Form I-290B within 30 days to the office that made this decision. Then, you will have to pay a $675 filing fee. Requesting a fee waiver because of financial issues is possible, though.

Read More

• Can I Stay More Than 6 Months Outside the U.S. with a Green Card?
• Green Card Process Steps: EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Visa
• SSN Update After Green Card
• How Long Does it Take for USCIS to Make a Decision After an Interview?
• Can You Be Deported if You are Married to an American Citizen?
• Which Countries Can You Visit With a Green Card?

The Bottom Line

When you are dealing with a lost green card issue, it’s important to know the right steps to take. Don’t panic because it is possible to replace your green card, but how you do it depends on whether you are in the U.S. or not at the moment. Filing Form I-90 will be necessary in both cases, though. Ensure that you go through all the right steps so you can have a smooth process.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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