Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Legal Permanent Residents

Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law, Dallas

Q: My request for a reentry permit is approved. How can I collect it?

A; If you have received a notification from the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai to collect your reentry permit, then you may visit the Consulate General any business day between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with your passport and the notification letter for collection.

Q: My green card has expired but I have been outside the U.S. for less than one year.  May I travel to the U.S.?

Please refer to Public notice on expired alien registration cards (I-55I) available at the web site of U. S Consulate, Mumbai, India in this regard.

Q: I have lost my "Green Card" while in India and what do I do now?                                   

A: If you have lost your green card, the U.S. Consulate General may be able to issue you a Boarding Foil (formerly known as transportation letter) that will permit you to return to the United States. In order to apply for a boarding foil at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, the LPR must visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in, and schedule a Consular interview using a Category 2 appointment slot. Please bring the following documents to your Consulate appointment.

•Application Form

•Valid passport

•Police report regarding the loss of the LPR card

•Copy of your LPR card, if available

•Evidence to demonstrate that you have not been outside the United States for more than one year

•Two identical 2 x 2 inches photographs

The consulate needs three business days in order to confirm an applicant’s LPR status with other offices.  Upon confirmation, the Immigrant Visa Unit will send you a notification regarding your appointment at the Consulate. When you arrive at our office, please join the line for pending immigrant visa cases.  Please note that completing the process at the Consulate may require several hours. All boarding foils issued by our office are valid for 30 days.  If your application for a boarding foil is approved and you fail to travel within the 30 day window, you will have to follow the same process to obtain a new boarding foil.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Legal Permanent Residents

Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law, Dallas

Q: My request for a reentry permit is approved. How can I collect it?

A; If you have received a notification from the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai to collect your reentry permit, then you may visit the Consulate General any business day between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with your passport and the notification letter for collection.

Q: My green card has expired but I have been outside the U.S. for less than one year.  May I travel to the U.S.?

Please refer to Public notice on expired alien registration cards (I-55I) available at the web site of U. S Consulate, Mumbai, India in this regard.

Q: I have lost my "Green Card" while in India and what do I do now?                                   

A: If you have lost your green card, the U.S. Consulate General may be able to issue you a Boarding Foil (formerly known as transportation letter) that will permit you to return to the United States. In order to apply for a boarding foil at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, the LPR must visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in, and schedule a Consular interview using a Category 2 appointment slot. Please bring the following documents to your Consulate appointment.

•Application Form

•Valid passport

•Police report regarding the loss of the LPR card

•Copy of your LPR card, if available

•Evidence to demonstrate that you have not been outside the United States for more than one year

•Two identical 2 x 2 inches photographs

The consulate needs three business days in order to confirm an applicant’s LPR status with other offices.  Upon confirmation, the Immigrant Visa Unit will send you a notification regarding your appointment at the Consulate. When you arrive at our office, please join the line for pending immigrant visa cases.  Please note that completing the process at the Consulate may require several hours. All boarding foils issued by our office are valid for 30 days.  If your application for a boarding foil is approved and you fail to travel within the 30 day window, you will have to follow the same process to obtain a new boarding foil.

Note: This is the second part of Question and Answers series of a three part article. The same information is available at www.travel.state.gov web site of the Dept. of State. Thanks.

Disclaimer:  Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law, with more than 36 (about 21 years in U. S. Immigration Laws) years of experience as an Attorney, mainly practices in U. S. immigration law and is located in Dallas, Texas. He does not claim authorship for above referenced information since it is obtained from several sources including USCIS, DOS web sites, AILA and other Internet based legal sources, and published for the benefit of the general public. Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law or the publisher is not responsible or liable for anything stated above, since it is generalized information about the subject matter collected from various legal sources. For individual cases and specific questions you are advised to consult any attorney of your choice or contact your State Bar Organizations or local Bar Associations or American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA) for finding an attorney or for any legal help. You can visit our website at: www.indiaimmigrationusa.com or www.indiaimmigrationusa.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/groups/usattorney for information about U. S. immigration law related matters. Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law can be reached at (972) 788-0777 or at his e-mail: attylal@aol.com if you have any questions.