A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States is required to present a valid unexpired Form I-551/Permanent Resident Card, if seeking admission after a temporary absence abroad of less than ONE year.  If the LPR’s card is lost, mutilated, stolen, or has expired while temporarily outside of the United States, he/she may be refused boarding by a transportation company.  If this happens, then the LPR must seek to obtain temporary evidence of his/her status in order to board a transportation carrier and return to the United States.

When the LPR presents a passport with an Alien Documentation and Identification & Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp indicating admission to the United States as an LPR (or adjustment to that status), the LPR may travel without a boarding foil while the ADIT stamp is valid.  If the LPR does not have a valid Form I-551 or ADIT stamp, a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo may issue a secure boarding foil to facilitate the boarding of an in-status LPR on a U.S.–bound flight and the application for admission to the United States.

A boarding foil may be considered by the airline as evidence of the alien’s status as an LPR.  A boarding foil does not replace expectations for a traveler to present a valid passport or other valid travel document to CBP at the port of entry (POE).  It serves only to give notice to the air carrier that the U.S. Government does not intend to issue a penalty under INA Section 273(b).

Eligibility for a U.S. Embassy Issued Boarding Foil

Only a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States/Green Card holder who did NOT stay outside of the US for MORE than ONE year is eligible to apply for a boarding foil, dependent on if the LPR can provide the relevant documents for the procedure.

NOTE:  Individuals granted conditional resident status must file a petition to remove the conditions of residence with USCIS before the two-year grant of status expires; individuals in conditional status who remain outside of the U.S. for more than one year are not eligible for a boarding foil.

Documents Required for a Boarding Foil:

• Form I-131A– https://www.uscis.gov/i-131a
• Police Report – If the green card was lost or stolen; a police report must be submitted with an accredited English translation.  If the Green Card was mutilated or is expired, please present the original card.
• Valid Original Passport – If your passport was recently renewed, then please provide the old and the new passports.
• Two Photos – Photos should be passport size with white background (no modifications or touch ups permitted)
• Movement Certificate – only for Egyptian Citizens from AlTahrir Center [Mogammaa AlTahrir]
• Itinerary – copy of last air ticket used to depart the United States and a copy of your air ticket for intended reentry to the United States. Both tickets MUST include month/day/year of departure & arrival.
• Photocopy of lost/stolen green card if possible

Applicants must send all documents by SLS.  Once the Embassy receives your documentation, your application will be reviewed, and you will be scheduled for an interview.  All non-English documents must include an English translation.

The boarding foil will be valid for no more than 30 days, single entry. Applicants will not be issued a boarding foil on the day of the interview. Normally it will be delivered within a week via SLS courier service.