I lost my green card between airport security and the gate

Feb 27th, 2022
I was in CDG airport, all checked in, through the security.
I bought myself breakfast from Paul (the Bakery) and went to use a restroom.

I found myself a seat and about 10 mins later, I thought to myself: I better check that I have my passport and green card (In my card holder). There is my passport, and
.
.
.
I couldn’t find my card holder. I could not.

I looked again. It was not there. It’s not anywhere.

I immediately went back to Paul, not there.
I went back to the bathroom and checked, not there.
I checked my bags, Paul and the bathroom over and over again and I just couldn’t find it.

It’s gone.

I talked the the security and they asked me to talk to the airline.
I talked to the airline and they directed me to talk to the security.
There was no lost and found in CDG airport.

I looked up online and people say I will have to leave the airport, get an appointment at the U.S. embassy in France to get an entry permit before I can board the plane. That means I will not be able to go home today, and I will be stuck in France. These past days I was wondering if I’d be stuck in France due to the Russia- Ukraine war. Turns out, I was gonna be stuck in France because I lost my green card. Paris is great, but I really rather be home with my cats and husband.

My husband found this online and send it to me:
“Green Card is not a travel document. You do not need it to travel. It just proves your status in the US when you are returning faster. If you don’t have it but you have your valid passport from your own country (which you should have regardless you have your green card or not if you are traveling internationally), when you are coming back to the US, you can declare at the CBP post that you lost your green card and you will be sent to the second level inspection. Over there, they can verify who you are from your passport and let you in . It is just a matter of inconvenience. Your passport is tied to your A-Number. If you lose your passport or have to change it one way or another, you need to update your Alien record at USCIS immediately."

With this information, I talked to the airline again. This AMAZING gentleman helped me out and made a call to the custom office(Merci beaucoup x3). He said the French immigration has my data and Seattle Immigration will let me in as well.

He let me board the plane and when I arrived in Seattle, they took me to the back room and did some paper work. It took about 30 mins. There was a $575 fee for not having the card with me but they waived it (I said thank you but I didn’t ask why). It was SO NICE of them. I love Seattle.

To applied for a green card replacement, I filed I-90 and paid the $540 fee. It will take 5-12 months for me to get a new card. Meanwhile, I requested for an appointment at USCIS and got an appointment the very next day to get an I-551 stamp on my passport. I was surprised by how quick I could get an appointment.

The I-551 stamp on my passport will be as good as my green card. The only difference is that it will expire in 1 year. Hopefully by then I will have my card. If not, they will give me another stamp and another year.

I hope this article helps!
Let me know if you have any question @jennyandberries
or jennyandberries@gmail.com