Legal Permanent Resident Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Replacing Green Cards

• My Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Card (Green Card) is about to expire. Can I file Form I-90 at the Consulate General?
• My Green Card expired. I have been out of the United States for less than 12 months. Do I need a transportation letter?
• I applied for a Green Card but I have not received it. What should I do?

Lost/Forgotten Green Cards

• I lost my Green Card. What should I do?
• I forgot my Green Card in the United States. What should I do?

Fingerprinting

• I need to be fingerprinted for a USCIS service such as adjustment of status, re-entry permit or a naturalization application. Does the Consulate General offer fingerprinting services?

Maintaining Permanent Resident Status

• I expect to be outside of the United States for more than 12 months. What should I do?
• I did not apply for a re-entry permit before leaving the United States and it has been more than one year since I left the U.S. What should I do?
• Can I file for a re-entry permit with the Consulate General?

Change of Address

• I entered the United States on an immigrant visa. My address changed before I received my Green Card. What should I do?

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My Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Card (Green Card) is about to expire. Can I file Form I-90 at the Consulate General?

No. An LPR card (Green Card) can only be re-issued by filing Form I-90 with USCIS while you are in LPR status in the United States.

My Green Card expired. I have been out of the United States for less than 12 months. Do I need a transportation letter?

If your permanent resident Green Card has expired, please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office, 33 Garden Road, St. John's Building, 11^th floor, tel: +852-2524-1136, public hours 9 – 11:30 am and 2 – 4:30pm.

I applied for a Green Card but I have not received it. What should I do?

If you have your receipt number, you should contact the USCIS case status service online or call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC).

I lost my Green Card. What should I do?

First, you are required to report the loss of your Green Card to the local police authorities. You may then appear at the Consulate General to apply for a transportation letter. For information on Transportation Letters, see here.

I forgot my Green Card in the United States. What should I do?

You should have someone send it from the United States.

I need to be fingerprinted for a USCIS service such as adjustment of status, re-entry permit or a naturalization application. Does the Consulate General offer fingerprinting services?

American citizens residing in Hong Kong or Macau who need to be fingerprinted for an adoption related service should contact the Immigrant Visa Unit. Fingerprinting is conducted on Wednesday afternoons at 2pm. Please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit (see information below) for an appointment.

Email: Please use the Visa Inquiry Form on our website
Fax: +852-2147-3586
Mail: U.S. Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

Individuals residing in Hong Kong or Macau who need to be fingerprinted for an N-400 citizenship application and who have already received fingerprint cards and a Notice of Action regarding fingerprinting overseas should contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Fingerprinting is conducted by appointment only, generally on the first and third Wednesday of the month, from 4-5 pm on the first floor of the Consulate General. Please contact the ICE office for an appointment: phone: +852-2230-5100, fax: +852-2810-6550, mail: ICE, U.S. Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong.

Individuals residing in Hong Kong or Macau who seek fingerprinting for other USCIS services (such as re-entry permits) should either attend their biometric appointment in the United States or contact the USCIS office in Bangkok for more information. Contact information for USCIS in Bangkok is as follows: U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Sindhorn Tower 2, 15th Floor, 130 Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand, phone number: 662-205-5050 or 5352, e-mail: BKKCIS.Inquiries@dhs.gov.

I expect to be outside of the United States for more than 12 months. What should I do?

If you plan to be outside of the United States for more than 12 months, you should apply for a re-entry permit before leaving the United States. You will be required to file Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document/Re-entry Permit with USCIS before you depart the U.S. A re-entry permit is normally valid for up to 2 years and shows that you are returning from a temporary visit abroad. You will be required to show the re-entry permit at the port of entry when you enter the United States.

I did not apply for a re-entry permit before leaving the United States and it has been more than one year since I left the U.S. What should I do?

If you did not apply for a re-entry permit before leaving the United States and have been overseas for more than 12 months, it is possible that your LPR status has lapsed. You may need to undergo the entire immigrant visa process anew. See Returning Resident (SB-1).

Can I file for a re-entry permit with the Consulate General?

Form I-131 can only be filed in the United States with USCIS.

I entered the United States on an immigrant visa. My address changed before I received my Green Card. What should I do?

Contact the USCIS.

 

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Last modified: January 20, 2009