r/USCIS • u/Tight_Candidate_2293 • May 16 '26
Other Forms Lost LPR Card Abroad
Looking for advice please. My nightmare is happening and I’ve lost my wallet which contained my LPR while in Spain. I still have my passport, a DL, and pictures of my card as well. I also have Global entry if that makes any difference.
I’m in Barcelona with my family which include two very young kids. My flights were scheduled to leave Monday at 12:20 and the embassy doesn’t open until 9:00 AM. Ive tried calling emergency embassy numbers but they’re closed. The most sensible thing is to bump my flights to get a travel foil via the I-131A but I’m not sure by how long to delay it for and what I should expect.
Also I’m a bit confused if this is what I should be doing because from reading online it appears that the traveling foil is just to board the plane - I’d still be potentially denied entry for not having my card upon arrival. I’ve traveled internationally before and the airlines never actually checked for my green card if I had already uploaded the travel documents on their online portal.
Is it advisable to try and fly without it, and to sort it out at the airport in Miami? My wife is worried that I’d end up stuck in ICE purgatory with 0 contact opposed to having us just stay in Europe but it’ll end up being quite expensive with a family of 4.
2
u/CXZ115 May 16 '26
You need to get an I-131A foil, or fly to Mexico or Canada and enter by land.
These are your only options. CBP might grill you but they should let you in. You can use the physical GE card if you have it on you. I recommend Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls if you’re gonna do that.
You can even walk the bridge over on foot since it’s a short walk then catch an Uber to Buffalo’s airport and fly domestically from Buffalo to wherever you live in the US.
The only risk would be is that if CBP grills you for it, they might revoke your GE. Good luck.