This page is general information, not legal advice. It reports what USCIS publishes about Form I-131A. Whether you still hold permanent resident status, and whether CBP admits you, is decided case by case. For your own situation, talk to a licensed US immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Quick summary: If your green card is lost, stolen or destroyed while you are in Guatemala and your trip has lasted less than 1 year, the USCIS route home is Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation. You pay the fee online first ($575 per the USCIS fee schedule, edition 10/07/26, with no fee waiver), then file in person with the Consular Section of a US Embassy or Consulate. If approved, you get a boarding foil or transportation letter, which the Form I-131A instructions say is generally valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. It lets the airline board you, but it does not guarantee admission, and you still need Form I-90 for a new card. Checked October 15, 2026.
Whether it was a stolen wallet at a bus terminal, a backpack left in a taxi or a card that went through the wash, this page covers what to do from Guatemala when your green card is gone. If your question is how long you can stay outside the US, or how to plan a long stay with a re-entry permit, see our page on the re-entry permit and keeping your green card.
Who can use Form I-131A
USCIS limits Form I-131A to people returning from temporary travel. What matters is which document was lost and how long you have been away.
| What was lost, stolen or destroyed | Your trip outside the US | Form I-131A? |
|---|---|---|
| Green card (Permanent Resident Card) | Less than 1 year | Yes, if you are still a permanent resident |
| Re-entry permit | Less than 2 years | Yes |
| Unexpired advance parole document (Form I-512, I-512L or I-512T) or EAD with travel endorsement, lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed overseas | Temporary travel | Yes |
Two details matter most:
- The clock stops when the fee is paid. USCIS writes: “We measure the length of your absence from the time you departed the United States to the time you pay the Form I-131A fee”. If your trip is getting close to the 1-year line, do not wait to pay.
- Permanent residents must still hold that status. USCIS says that if you are a permanent resident, you must have been one when you left and still be one when you return, and adds: “If you abandoned your LPR status or if we terminated it, do not file Form I-131A”. This condition applies to permanent residents; the Form I-131A instructions also cover applicants who are not permanent residents but have an advance parole document (the last row of the table). If you have already been away longer than the lines above, our re-entry permit page covers residence abandonment and the SB-1 alternative after an extended absence. If you have decided to give up your residency, see giving up your green card with Form I-407.
Step by step from Guatemala
- Check whether you need the form at all. If your card is expired rather than lost, you may be able to board without it. See Expired card, not lost below.
- Make sure you have your passport. The USCIS checklist starts with your original passport, and the instructions say that if your application is approved you will need to present your original passport when you receive the boarding foil or transportation letter. If your Guatemalan passport was stolen along with the card, you will need a replacement passport first: see replacing a lost or stolen passport.
- Pay the fee online. The USCIS fee schedule says the I-131A fee must be paid online, at my.uscis.gov/accounts/travel-document/start/overview. A relative in the US can pay it for you (details below).
- Gather the evidence. See the checklist below. The two USCIS lists do not match exactly, so bring the larger set.
- File in person. USCIS says you must file Form I-131A in person with a Consular Section at a US Embassy or Consulate. In Guatemala, that means the US Embassy in Guatemala City. We could not verify the embassy’s current appointment method; check the embassy’s own site, gt.usembassy.gov, before you go.
- Biometrics or interview, if requested. The instructions say USCIS may require an interview or biometrics (fingerprints, photograph and/or signature). If you are overseas, the appointment notice will tell you to contact a US Embassy, US Consulate or USCIS office outside the United States to schedule it. In its FAQ on the fee rule, USCIS says the rule incorporates biometric services costs into the main benefit fee and eliminates a separate biometric services fee in most cases.
- Collect the boarding foil and book the flight. The instructions say: “Generally, Carrier Documentation is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance”. Show it to the airline at check-in.
- Arrive at the US port of entry. Carrier documentation only shows the airline that you do not need a visa to apply for entry. In the instructions’ words, “it does not guarantee that you will be allowed into the United States”. CBP still inspects you on arrival.
- Replace the card. The instructions say carrier documentation does not take the place of a new Permanent Resident Card. You must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS. More information: www.uscis.gov/I-90.
Paying the fee: what relatives in the US should know
USCIS lets anyone pay the I-131A fee from anywhere in the world, as long as they enter the correct first and last names, date of birth and A-Number, “because this information will appear on your boarding foil”. You can find these details on the green card, re-entry permit or advance parole document. If the card is gone, look for a photo or copy of it.
- How: through the USCIS online payment system, by credit card, debit card or US bank account.
- Amount: $575 for a general filing; $0 for refugees, people paroled as refugees, and permanent residents who obtained that status as refugees in the United States (USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26).
- No waiver: USCIS says: “You cannot request a fee waiver for this form”.
- No refunds: “Filing fees are final and non-refundable”, whatever USCIS decides and even if you withdraw the request.
- No chargebacks: “If you pay by credit card or debit card, you cannot later dispute the payment”.
- Errors: if the payment system shows an error message, USCIS says to contact a Consular Section at a US Embassy or Consulate with the error message.
- Fee changes: on September 30, 2026, USCIS announced inflation adjustments to certain H.R.-1 immigration-related fees, effective October 16, 2026. Our sources do not establish whether the I-131A fee is affected. Check the G-1055 fee schedule at uscis.gov the day you pay.
Because USCIS says these details will appear on your boarding foil, and filing fees are non-refundable, have the relative who is paying read the details back to you before submitting.
The evidence checklist (two USCIS versions)
USCIS publishes two lists, and they differ. The webpage asks for less than the form instructions (edition 01/20/25). We could not verify which version the embassy in Guatemala City applies, so the safe approach is to bring everything in the right-hand column as well.
| Item | USCIS I-131A webpage | Form I-131A instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Original passport plus one copy of the biographic page | Copy of all pages, including the biographic page; original shown when you receive the boarding foil |
| Proof of residency | Evidence that you are a permanent resident | If available, for example a copy of your green card, your immigrant visa, or the CBP admission stamp in your passport |
| Travel proof | Tickets, itinerary or other evidence of your most recent departure and planned return date | Same, for example e-tickets or boarding passes |
| Photos | One passport-style photo taken within 30 days of filing | Two identical color passport-style photos taken recently |
The instructions give these photo specifications:
- 2 by 2 inches, full face, frontal view
- White to off-white background, printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, unmounted and unretouched
- Head height 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin; eye height 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the top of the eyes to the bottom of the photo
- Head bare unless you wear headwear required by a religious denomination
- Name and A-Number (if any) lightly printed on the back in pencil or felt pen
Spanish-language documents, RENAP certificates and apostilles
Neither USCIS checklist above lists a Guatemalan birth certificate, a RENAP certificate or an apostille, and we found no apostille requirement in the Form I-131A instructions. You do not need to order civil documents for this form unless the embassy specifically asks for them.
If you do hand in a document written in Spanish, for example a Guatemalan police report, USCIS regulations (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) require a full English translation. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from Spanish into English. We could not confirm whether the embassy in Guatemala City asks for a police report for a lost or stolen card.
Expired card, not lost
USCIS says that if your green card is expired, you may not need Form I-131A. CBP policy lets an airline bound for the US board you without carrier documentation if you are:
- A permanent resident with an expired card that was issued with a 10-year expiration date, outside the US for less than 1 year
- A permanent resident with an expired 2-year card plus a Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing you filed Form I-751 or Form I-829, outside the US for less than 1 year. USCIS explains that the Notice of Action extends the validity of the card “for a specified length of time”, so check the period shown on your notice before relying on it.
- A permanent resident service member or US government employee (or a dependent) on official US military or government travel orders, regardless of time abroad
Check with your airline before filing. USCIS warns: “In some situations, they may refuse to let you board even if you are in one of the categories above”. If the airline refuses, you will need to file Form I-131A.
What we could not verify for the US Embassy in Guatemala City
Our research could not retrieve the embassy’s own pages, so this page does not cover:
- How to book the I-131A appointment in Guatemala City, or the contact channel to use
- Whether the embassy requires a police report
- How long the embassy takes to issue a boarding foil
- What happens if you miss the appointment or the boarding foil expires before you fly
Check gt.usembassy.gov for these points, and be wary of paid intermediaries who promise faster results. The fee goes to USCIS through its own online payment system.
Sources
- USCIS, Form I-131A page (uscis.gov/i-131a), last reviewed 06/03/2026; form edition 01/20/25
- USCIS, Form I-131A instructions, edition 01/20/25
- USCIS, Form G-1055 fee schedule, edition 10/07/26; G-1055 page last reviewed 10/07/2026
- USCIS, frequently asked questions on the USCIS fee rule (biometric services fee)
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)
All sources checked October 15, 2026.
Related pages
- Re-entry permit: how long a green card holder can stay in Guatemala
- Giving up your green card with Form I-407
- Replacing a lost or stolen passport
Frequently Asked Questions
I lost my green card while visiting Guatemala. How do I fly back to the US?
If your trip has lasted less than 1 year and you are still a permanent resident, the USCIS route is Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation. You pay the fee online first, then file in person with the Consular Section of a US Embassy or Consulate. If USCIS approves it, you receive a boarding foil or transportation letter that lets the airline board you. General information, not legal advice.
How much does Form I-131A cost?
$575 for a general filing, according to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26). The fee is $0 for refugees, people paroled as refugees, and permanent residents who obtained that status as refugees in the United States. USCIS says you cannot request a fee waiver for this form, and filing fees are final and non-refundable. USCIS also announced inflation adjustments to certain fees effective October 16, 2026, so check the fee schedule on the day you pay.
Can a relative in the US pay the I-131A fee for me?
Yes. USCIS says anyone can pay the fee from anywhere in the world, as long as they enter your correct first and last names, date of birth and A-Number, because that information will appear on your boarding foil. Payment is through the USCIS online payment system by credit card, debit card or US bank account. If paid by card, the payment cannot later be disputed.
How long is the boarding foil valid?
The Form I-131A instructions say carrier documentation is generally valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. Plan your flight back inside that window.
Does the boarding foil replace my green card?
No. The Form I-131A instructions say carrier documentation does not take the place of a new Permanent Resident Card. To replace the card you must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS.
My green card is expired, not lost. Do I need Form I-131A?
Maybe not. USCIS says CBP policy lets an airline board you without carrier documentation if your expired card had a 10-year expiration date and you have been outside the US for less than 1 year, or if your expired 2-year card is paired with a Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing you filed Form I-751 or I-829 and you have been outside for less than 1 year, or if you are on official US military or government travel orders. USCIS says that Notice of Action extends the validity of the card for a specified length of time, so check the period shown on your notice. Airlines can still refuse to board you; in that case you file Form I-131A.
What documents do I bring to the US Embassy?
The USCIS I-131A page lists your original passport, a copy of your passport biographic page, evidence that you are a permanent resident, a copy of your tickets or itinerary showing your last departure and planned return, and one passport-style photo taken within 30 days. The Form I-131A instructions ask for a copy of all passport pages and two identical color photos. We could not verify which list the US Embassy in Guatemala City applies, so bring the larger set.
