USCIS-Athens Field Office
Permanent Resident Information
Lawful permanent residents may apply for admission to the United States using a permanent resident card (also called “green card” or “alien registration card”), provided they have remained outside the United States less than one year and maintained a domicile in the United States.
WHAT IF I AM OVERSEAS AND NOT IN POSSESSION OF MY PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD?
For lost or stolen cards you will need to obtain a Transportation Letter from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
FAILURE TO RECORD DEPARTURE FROM THE U.S.
If you returned to Greece and you still have your I-94 form, you must return it to the United States for your departure to be recorded. For instructions on how to return your I-94 card see Record of Arrival and Departure (I-94).
If you are a refugee who needs a refugee travel document, please see the Refugee Travel Document page for more information.
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 using Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. This form must be submitted before leaving the United States. Form I-131, with supporting documentation and fee, must be mailed to the following address:
U.S. 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 resident status.
WHAT IF I HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES FOR LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS?
Individuals who have remained outside the United States for more than one year without a valid reentry permit, or beyond the validity of a reentry permit, may be eligible to apply for a "returning resident visa" (also called an “SB-1” visa) with the Department of State Immigrant Visa Section at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
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), in circulation have an expiration date and must 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.
An Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90) must be filed in the United States. Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card)
According to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, permanent residents who have an expired ten-year card (Form I-551) and are presently outside the United States may STILL enter the U.S. without presenting a transportation letter. Please be advised that permanent residents with expiring or expired permanent resident cards do not lose their legal status in the United States. Only the card, not their lawful permanent resident status, expires. They should, however, renew expiring permanent resident cards 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 or carriers are authorized to permit boarding of any bona fide lawful permanent resident who has an expired permanent resident card with a ten-year expiration date, if the expiration date on the card is the only reason that the individual would otherwise not be boarded. Airlines must permit boarding without any penalty to the permanent resident. For more information visit the Customs and Border Protection website.
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 with an expired card must have evidence that the conditional resident card’s expiration date has been extended.
EXPIRED CONDITIONAL RESIDENT CARDS (I-551)
Please contact USCIS Athens if you are outside of the United States and within our jurisdiction and your Conditional Resident Card has expired via email at uscis.athens@dhs.gov noting “Expired Conditional Resident Card” on the subject line.
For general information about permanent resident status, please visit the USCIS website.