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Permanent resident alien registration cards (commonly known as green cards, Form I-551) can only be issued or replaced inside the United States by the U.S. Justice Department's Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). No INS office outside the U.S. can issue replacements. If you left your alien registration card in the United States, you should ask friends or relatives to send it by express mail.


If you have lost your alien registration card, INS Seoul located within the Embassy may be able to issue you a transportation letter to permit you to return to the United States. In order to issue such a letter, INS must confirm your resident alien status.


The normal processing time for applications for such transportation letters is two weeks (ten work days). If you do not know your alien registration number, it can take longer.


Immigration law allows a transportation letter to be issued to a child born subsequent to the issuance of an immigrant visa to his or her accompanying mother, or to a child born during the temporary visit abroad of a mother who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, provided that: the child's application for admission to the United States is made within 2 years of birth; the child is accompanied by his or her mother who is applying for readmission as a permanent resident upon the first return of his or her mother to the United States after the birth of the child; and his or her accompanying mother is found to be admissible to the United States.


For assistance with a lost green card and/or transportation letter, please visit INS Seoul as soon as possible to complete the necessary questionnaire. INS Seoul is located on the 3rd floor, window #6, and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.