What Documents Do Carriers Require to Board Permanent Residents?
The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated many aspects of the immigration process and caused delays in the processing of cases. However, it has also created issues for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and Conditional Permanent Residents (CPRs) who have been unable to return to the U.S. as planned after a trip abroad. Many LPRs departed the U.S. close in time to the expiration of their Permanent Resident Card (PRC) possibly leaving them abroad with an expired document. Some CPRs departed the U.S. and were unable to return to the U.S. prior to filing their I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
Recently, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued guidance to airlines and other carriers regarding what is and what is not a valid immigration document for purposes of boarding a carrier bound for the U.S.
Unexpired Permanent Resident Card
If you are a lawful permanent resident in possession of a valid PRC, an airline should let you board with no further documentation. Airlines should not determine whether or not you are admissible to the U.S.
Valid Reentry Permit
If you are in possession of a valid reentry permit, an airline should allow you to board with no additional documents. You must be in possession of the original permit and a copy is not an acceptable boarding document.
Expired Permanent Resident Card - Part 1
Passengers in possession of an expired PRC may be boarded as long as the card had a 10-year validity date.
Expired Permanent Resident Card - Part 2
Some LPRs have an expired PRC that has an extension sticker on the back that extended the validity of the card for one year. As of January 2021, those stickers have been discontinued. However, PRCs with that sticker will remain valid until the expiration date. LPRs who have expired PRCs should now use their expired PRC and their original I-797 (Receipt Notice) for their I-90s (Green Card Renewal) for travel. The combination of the expired PRC along with the I-797 extends the validity of the PRC for one year.
Expired Conditional Resident Cards
Conditional Permanent Residents (CPRs) are non-citizens who were granted permanent residence for a period of two years. If you are a CPR with an expired green card, you must be in possession of the original I-797 (Receipt Notice) showing that you timely filed your I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. If you are not in possession of both your expired card and the original receipt notice, you will not be allowed to board the airline or other vessel entering the U.S.
In the guidance from CBP, the agency wrote that airlines should only be determining whether a passenger is in possession of proper boarding documents and immigration documents, not whether they are eligible to enter the U.S. under the immigration laws. Keep in mind that being allowed onto an airplane, train, etc. does not guarantee your admission into the U.S. If you have an extended absence from the U.S. or questions about your immigration documents, you should contact an immigration attorney in advance of your intended departure.
