Quick Summary: Transportation Letter and Boarding Foil
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a boarding foil or transportation letter? | A temporary document issued by a U.S. Consulate allowing an LPR to board a flight back to the United States without a green card |
| Who needs one? | Lawful permanent residents whose green card was lost, stolen or destroyed while abroad |
| Form required? | Form I-131A (Application for Travel Document) |
| Who issues it? | A U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad |
| Validity period? | Usually 30 days and valid for one entry only |
| Does it guarantee U.S. entry? | No: CBP/DHS makes the final admission decision |
| Who qualifies? | Generally LPRs who have been absent from the U.S. for under one year |
7 Key Facts About Transportation Letters and Boarding Foils
| # | Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | An interview is required | The Consulate’s immigrant visa section must interview you and confirm your LPR status |
| 2 | Processing is fast | Typically issued within a few days of application |
| 3 | 30-day validity | Must be used to enter the U.S. within 30 days of issuance |
| 4 | Single-entry only | Valid for one U.S. entry only |
| 5 | Generally for absences under 1 year | Usually only issued to LPRs who have been outside the U.S. for less than one year |
| 6 | Expired 10-year green card: a special case | An airline may board you on an expired 10-year green card under certain conditions; but if you have been abroad for over a year, seek legal advice before traveling |
| 7 | Does not guarantee admission | CBP/DHS makes the final admission decision; this document only protects the airline from penalties |
We have previously written about what lawful permanent residents can do if their Form I-551 “Green Card” has been lost, stolen, or destroyed and they are outside of the United States. In these articles, we have mentioned obtaining a travel letter or ‘Boarding Foil,” so they may return to the United States. One of our regular readers recently asked: “What is a transportation letter or boarding foil?”
If your Green Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can only obtain a replacement from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in the United States. A U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad cannot issue a replacement Green Card. Therefore, if you no longer have your Green Card to reenter the U.S., you may need to apply for a travel document using the Form I-131A Application for a Travel Document.
Upon approval of the application, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will issue you a travel document that will allow you to board the airline to return to the United States. The travel document is called a variety of names, such as a Boarding Foil, Transportation Letter, Transportation Boarding Letter, etc. Generally, these are issued in two forms.
A Transportation Letter is just like it sounds; an official letter issued by a U.S. Consulate that will allow you to board the airline to return to the United States.
A Boarding Foil is sometimes an actual visa that is affixed into your passport. It looks like other U.S. visas. The term “foil” is a holdover term from when U.S. visas had a texture that was similar to foil (e.g, aluminum foil).
What else you should know about a Transportation Letter/Boarding Foil:
- To be issued a Boarding Foil, the Immigrant Visa unit of a U.S. Consulate must interview you and confirm you have maintained permanent resident status.
- They are usually issued within a few days.
- They are usually valid for only 30 days and for a single entry.
- Boarding Foils may be issued only to permanent residents who are returning to the United States after an absence of less than one year.
- If your Green Card had a 10-year validity but has expired, you might not need a Boarding Foil. An airline may board you with the expired card, providing you meet all their other conditions for travel. However, if you have been outside the U.S. for over one year, you may be questioned at the port of entry. We advise you seek legal advice before traveling.
- Conditional Permanent Residents who have an expired Green Card with a 2-year expiration date and a Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing that they have filed a Form I-751 or Form I-829 to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status should also be able to apply for a Boarding Foil.
- The Boarding Foil does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security is the final authority for entry. It only exempts an airline from fines and penalties of boarding an undocumented person flying to the United States.
To better understand the implications of Vietnamese name order on U.S. documents, check out this article How Vietnam Passport Name Order Listed.
If your case involves family-based immigration, learn more about timelines at F4 Category Visa Waiting Time.
You can also stay up to date with changes in immigration rules by checking our U.S. Visas News.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a transportation letter or boarding foil?
A transportation letter or boarding foil is a temporary document issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, allowing a lawful permanent resident (LPR) to board a flight back to the United States when they cannot present a valid green card. It comes in two forms: an official letter (transportation letter) or a visa foil affixed to the passport (boarding foil). Both are valid for 30 days and single entry only.
Why does an LPR whose green card was lost abroad need this document?
U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad cannot issue a replacement green card; only USCIS inside the United States has that authority. Airlines may refuse to transport an LPR without valid immigration documentation and can face penalties for doing so. A transportation letter or boarding foil resolves both issues by authorizing the airline to carry the passenger to the U.S. while the passenger prepares to obtain a replacement green card from USCIS after arrival.
How do I apply for a transportation letter or boarding foil when I have lost my green card abroad?
Step 1: File Form I-131A (Application for Travel Document) at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Step 2: The immigrant visa section of the Consulate will schedule an interview to confirm your LPR status. Step 3: If approved, the document is typically issued within a few days. Step 4: Use the document to board your flight back to the U.S. within the 30-day validity window. Step 5: After returning to the U.S., file Form I-90 with USCIS to obtain a replacement green card.
Does a transportation letter or boarding foil guarantee that I will be admitted to the United States?
No. The document primarily serves two functions: it protects the airline from penalties for transporting a passenger without complete immigration documentation, and it provides documentation for the carrier to present at the point of entry. The final decision on whether to admit you rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry.
What if I have been outside the U.S. for more than one year and my green card is lost?
This is a more complex situation. Transportation letters and boarding foils are generally issued only to LPRs who have been absent from the United States for less than one year. If you have been absent for more than a year, you may need to apply for an SB-1 Returning Resident Visa rather than a standard boarding foil. In either case, consulting a U.S. immigration attorney before taking any steps is strongly recommended.
If you have any questions or concerns about immigrant matters, please contact Enterline & Partners at info@enterlinepartners.com and speak with a U.S. immigration attorney based in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei.
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Copyright 2021. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline and Partners only.
