Embassy of the United States Brussels, Belgium

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website provides information and directions necessary to apply for Permanent Resident Cards, also known as Alien Registration Receipt Cards (ARC), or 'green cards', including renewal or replacement such cards. A 'green card' is proof of one's Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status and is required for readmission to the United States.

Lost or Stolen Permanent Resident Card

Permanent residents, visiting or transiting Belgium, who have lost their valid I-551 Alien Registration Receipt Card, or 'green card', can request the Consular Section the issuance of a no-fee 'boarding foil', valid for one entry within 30 days of issuance, so they can return home.

An apppointment is required to report a lost/stolen green card and to apply for a 'boarding foil'.  To schedule an appointment,  please call 02.811.42.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m.

At the moment of the appointment, you must bring the following to apply for the 'boarding foil':

• A valid passport
• A completed form I-90 (99.7 PDF. KB). 
• your alien registration number (A-number, also known as green card number, consisting of A-0 + eight digits)
• a full-face color photograph of 5 cm by 5 cm with a white background, taken within the last 6 months. Attention: this size is larger than the standard Belgian passport photo size. To check photo requirements and a list of photographers in Brussels, click here.
• Police report of stolen or lost permanent resident card
• Evidence of last departure from the U.S. (for example airline (e-)ticket or boarding pass)

ATTENTION: The Consular officer can only consider issuing a 'boarding foil' upon verification of your status by USCIS.  As the Consular Section does not have direct access to USCIS records, this may take several working days. 

Once permission is granted by USCIS to issue a 'boarding foil', we will contact you and schedule a second appointment, for you to come back the Consular Section, so we can issue the 'boarding foil'.

If you do not have your principal residence in the U.S., but you live overseas, you probably have lost your U.S. resident status. In that case, you cannot apply for a 'boarding foil' and you are advised to follow the abandoning procedure below.

Abandoning your Permanent Resident Status

If you no longer reside in the U.S., or if you are otherwise subject to loss of permanent resident status, you must abandon your claim to that status by filing form I-407 with the Consular Section.  Often, an immigration inspector at port of entry into the U.S., if (s)he has determined you are no longer considered to have your residence in the U.S., will advise you to do so upon your return to Belgium.  

An appointment is required for abandonment of Green Cards.  To schedule an appointment, please call 02.811.42.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m.

To abandon your LPR status, form I-407 (PDF 622.60KB) must be completed.  The completed form I-407 must be presented, with your passport, and your permanent resident card ('green card') to the consular officer.  We will provide you with a copy of your I-407 form.  This copy will also be signed by the consular officer. You may, for instance, send a copy to the IRS to prove you no longer reside in the U.S.

All over age 14 must come in person as the I-407 is to be signed in front of a consular officer. Children under age 14 do not have to come in as a parent can sign the child's I-407. But we do require the child's passport and resident card.

*If you are no longer in possession of your card, please bring any other official USCIS document, e.g. correspondence, entries in (expired) passport(s), etc., showing your alien registration number (A-number).