USCIS has published a new Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation). The new form is available to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to apply for a carrier document if they are returning from temporary overseas travel:
- of less than one year, and their Green Card has been lost, stolen or destroyed, or
- of less than two years, and their Reentry Permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
NOTE: The length of the absence must be measured from the time the LPR departed the U.S. to the time he or she pays the Form I-131A fee.
To secure the carrier documentation, qualifying applicants must pay the required $360 filing fee online and then apply in person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The carrier documentation will generally be issued within 2 weeks. The LPR should present the carrier documentation to the transportation carrier instead of their Green Card or Reentry Permit.
Manas Bhat, Director Operations, First Houston Mortgage India
