Permanent Resident Information
A lawful permanent resident may apply for admission to the U.S. using his/her Permanent Resident Card, provided he/she has remained outside the United States less than one year and has maintained an unreliquished domicile in the United States. Persons not in possession of the Permanent Resident Card necessary for their legal admission to the U.S. may apply for a "Transportation Letter" with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office located in the American Consulate in Frankfurt. The following is general information on applying for a Transportation Letter with that office, which may be contacted at cbp.frankfurt@dhs.gov. What If I Am Overseas And Not In Possession Of My Permanent Resident Card?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office of the American Consulate Frankfurt processes applications for Transportations Letters for those U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents in current status but not in possession of an unexpired I-551 Permanent Resident Card and who are intending return travel to the U.S. within thirty days.
The CBP office accepts walk-in applications for Transportation Letters on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 8:00 and 11:00 AM. The American Consulate Frankfurt is not open for business on local or U.S. holidays. It is located at Giessener Strasse 30, 60435 Frankfurt and applicants should inform the Consulate security personnel that they wish to obtain a Transportation Letter from CBP.
There is no fee for the application, no appointment is necessary and only the applicant (greencard holder) must be present.
Documents necessary for Transportation Letter application:
Lawful Permanent Residents who have been continuously outside of the U.S. for a period of one year are not eligible for issuance of a Transportation Letter unless they are a spouse or child of a U.S. Military serviceperson or U.S. Government civilian employee who is overseas PURSUANT TO OFFICIAL ORDERS and their names are included on those orders or they present a marriage or birth certificate documenting the relationship.
What If I Wish To Remain Outside The United States For Longer Than 12 Months?
A permanent resident who has sufficient cause to remain outside the United States for more than one year may apply for a Reentry Permit. The application for issuance of a Reentry Permit, Form I-131, must be submitted prior to departure from the United States. Form I-131, with supporting documentation and fee, must be mailed to the following address:
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
Reentry Permits are valid for two years from issuance and cannot be extended or revalidated. Permanent Resident Cards cannot be extended or reissued outside the United States. Failure to return to the United States within the validity of either of these residency documents may jeopardize permanent residence status.
What If I Have Been Outside the United States For Longer Than 12 Months?
Persons who have remained outside the United States for one year or more without a valid Reentry Permit, or beyond the validity of a Reentry Permit, may be eligible to apply for a "returning resident visa" with the Department of State Immigrant Visa Section.
For general information about returning resident visas, visit the Department of State website.
Expired Permanent Resident Cards (I-551)
Most Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards (Form I-551), currently in circulation, have an expiration date and are required to be renewed every ten years. This enables the Department of Homeland Security to improve the quality of the card and make it less susceptible to fraud.
According to the DHS’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Permanent Residents who have an expired ten-year Card (Form I-551) and are presently outside the U.S. may STILL enter the U.S. without the issuance of a transportation letter provided they have not been absent from the U.S. for more than 180 days. Please be advised that lawful permanent residents with an expiring/expired Permanent Resident Cards do not lose their legal status in the United States - their lawful permanent resident status does not expire or change. However, they should renew their expiring Permanent Resident Cards in order to maintain acceptable evidence of their permanent resident status and avoid possible difficulties in obtaining employment, benefits, and re-entry into the United States after traveling abroad.
Transportation Companies are authorized to permit boarding of any bona fide Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in possession of an expired Permanent Resident Card with a ten-year expiration date and who has not been absent from the U.S. for more than 180 days, if the expiration date on the card is the only reason that the LPR would otherwise not be boarded. Airlines are to permit boarding without any penalty to the LPR.
Carriers must be informed that this policy does not affect Conditional Permanent Resident cardholders whose cards have a two-year expiration date. The Conditional Permanent Resident in possession of an expired Conditional Resident Card must continue to have evidence that the Conditional Resident Card expiration date has been extended.
An application (I-90) for a replacement Permanent Resident Card must be filed with a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in the U.S. as soon as possible. Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) can be retrieved from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
Expired Conditional Resident Cards (I-551)
Please contact the USCIS Frankfurt Office if you are presently outside of the United States and your Conditional Resident Card has expired.