Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation

U.S. law requires transportation carriers like airlines to make sure all passengers traveling to the United States are in possession of a valid passport and any required visa. If you are a lawful permanent resident or conditional resident who has traveled outside the United States, you may use your permanent resident card (green card) or a reentry permit in place of a visa. Likewise, certain foreign nationals may use an Advance Parole Travel Document in order to return to the United States. You will almost certainly experience difficulties when you attempt to return to the U.S. with a lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Permanent Resident Card, Reentry Permit, or Advance Parole. You will likely need to request a temporary travel document to reenter the United States.

Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation, is not a way for permanent residents to renew or replace a green card after abandoning permanent residence. A permanent resident who has been outside the United States for one year or more may not file Form I-131A. Typically, USCIS will presume that a green card holder abandoned their permanent resident status if that person is absent from the U.S. for one year or more. (A reentry permit is one way to avoid this dilemma.) Form I-131A is not a way to re-establish an immigration status. Certain individuals may qualify for a returning resident (SB-1) visa. Please contact an immigration attorney for additional assistance.

If you have an expired green card and are presently outside the United States, you likely do not need to file Form I-131A. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy permits a transportation carrier bound for the United States to board a permanent resident without special carrier documentation if the permanent resident traveler carries:

• An expired green card that was issued with a 10-year expiration date (and you have been outside of the U.S. for less than a year);
• An expired green card with a two-year expiration date and you also have Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing that you filed a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, (and you have been outside of the U.S. for less than a year). The Notice of Action extends the validity of the card for a specified length of time, generally 24 months; or
• An expired green card and has official U.S. military or government travel orders (based on military service or U.S. government employment), regardless of time outside of the United States.

If you find yourself with an expired green card while traveling abroad, check with your airline or transportation carrier before you file Form I-131A. As described above, CBP policy allows them to board you. However, the transportation carrier or airline may still refuse to let you board even if you are in one of the categories above. In that case, you will need to file a Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation.

If you have a child who was born outside the United States and is coming to the U.S. for the first time, you may need to request carrier documentation if:

• You are a lawful permanent resident or conditional resident;
• Your child is under two years old; and
• Your child is traveling with you to come to the United States for the first time.

Please check with your airline or transportation carrier first to ensure they will board your child in these circumstances without carrier documentation. If the airline or transportation carrier refuses to board your child without carrier documentation, you will need to pay for and submit Form I-131A for your child.