Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status. If it is determined, however, that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status.

If you plan to travel outside the United States for one year or more, you should apply for a Travel Document known as a Reentry Permit by completing a Form I-131 and submitting it to USCIS before departing from the United States. A Reentry permit establishes that you did not intend to abandon status, and it allows you to apply for admission to the United States upon returning from abroad during the permit’s validity without having to obtain a Returning Resident Visa. Reentry Permits are normally valid for two years from the date of issuance.

If you have been outside the United States for more than one year or beyond the validity of your Reentry Permit for reasons beyond your control, you may be eligible for a Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa.  Visit this page for further information on how to apply for this visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca.

If you have been outside the United States for more than one year (or beyond the validity of your Reentry Permit) for reasons that were within your control, you may lose your LPR status.  If this occurs, you must complete the immigrant visa process all over again to regain lawful permanent resident status.

For further information, please visit the USCIS webpage on International Travel as a Permanent Resident.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues Permanent Resident Cards (I-551) to immigrants who are legally admitted for residence in the United States. Permanent Resident Cards (commonly known as “Green Cards”) can only be issued or replaced in the United States and cannot be obtained overseas.  For additional information on replacing a Green Card, please visit the USCIS webpage on Green Cards.

If your Green Card is lost, stolen, destroyed, or expired and you have been outside the United States for less than one year (or two years if you have a Reentry Permit), you may be able to obtain a Boarding Foil. Boarding Foils are usually valid for 30 days for a single entry.

If you have been outside the United States for more than one year (or beyond the validity of your Reentry Permit) for reasons beyond your control, you may be eligible for a Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa. For instructions on how to apply for a Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca, please click here.

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) planning to travel outside the United States for one year or more should apply for a Travel Document known as a Reentry Permit by completing a Form I-131 before departing the United States. LPRs who stay outside of the United States for one year or more and who did not apply for a Reentry Permit before departing from the United States risk the abandonment of their permanent resident status. You must be physically present in the United States when you file the Form I-131.  For further information please see How Do I Get a Reentry Permit (PDF 667KB).

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and you have been outside the United States for more than one year (or beyond the validity of your Reentry Permit) for reasons beyond your control, you may be eligible for a Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa.  For instructions on how to apply for a Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca, please click here.

If you do not qualify for returning resident status, a new petition must be filed on your behalf with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and you must start the entire immigrant visa process all over again.

The abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status is irrevocable. If you relinquish your LPR status, then you must qualify again for such status. Therefore, give careful thought to abandoning your LPR status.

If you wish to abandon your LPR status and return your Green Card (Form I-551) to the U.S. government, you must complete and submit a Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status. In most instances this form must be submitted directly to the USCIS Eastern Forms Center in Williston, Vermont (please see the addresses listed on the linked page).  If you have further questions about this issue, please contact USCIS directly.

For further assistance regarding the rights and responsibilities of LPRs, please contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in the United States and in an abusive relationship with the petitioner, you have certain protections. The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA), of the Violence Against Women and the Department of Justice Reauthorization act of 2005, established various protections for foreign fiancé(e)s and spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States applying for fiancé or marriage-based visas.  Please review the information here concerning these protections.

For questions about appointments for Boarding Foil or Returning Resident (SB-1) Visa interviews at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca, please send an email message to CasablancaLPR@state.gov.  If you have general questions about Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) issues, please contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directly.