NOTICE:  Starting September 30, 2016, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) must complete form I-131A Application for Travel Document and pay a USCIS fee.  See instructions below for more information.

What is a Boarding Foil?

A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States is required to present a valid unexpired Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card (green 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.  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 System (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, where there is no DHS counter presence, 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.  There is no DHS counter presence in Egypt.

A boarding foil may be considered by the airline as evidence of the individual’s status as an LPR.  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).  A boarding foil does not replace expectations for a traveler to present a valid passport or other valid travel document to the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry.

Eligibility

Only a U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) who did NOT stay outside of the US for MORE than ONE year is eligible to apply as long as he/she 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.

Requirements

1. Complete I-131A form online
2. Pay USCIS fee through the online payment system (ELIS) and print receipt. Applicants must review all of the boarding foil requirements before paying the fee.  The Embassy will not issue refunds to applicants who determine they do not qualify for a boarding foil.  Direct all fee questions to USCIS.
3. Police Report – if your green card was lost or stolen; the police report must be accompanied by a certified English translation.  If your Green Card was mutilated or has expired, please present the original card
4. Valid Original Passport – [If passport had been recently renewed then please provide the previous and the new passports]
5. Two Photos – Passport size with white background (no modifications or touch ups permitted) Effective November 1, you must remove eyeglasses for all photos.
6. Movement Certificate – only for Egyptian citizens from AlTahrir Center [Mogammaa AlTahrir]
7. Itinerary – copy of last plane ticket used to depart the United States
8. Photocopy of lost/stolen green card – if possible

English translations MUST be provided for any non-English documents you submit.

Applicants need to send all required documents via DHL for review. If all required documents are complete, we will schedule an appointment for you.

NOTE: 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 DHL courier service.