If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and have remained abroad for more than 12 months without a re-entry permit, it is possible that your status has lapsed.

• If you wish to return to the U.S. as an immigrant, please visit our returning resident page.
• If you have decided to voluntarily abandon your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States and relinquish your green card, please print and complete Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status.
  • Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status Download Form I-407
  • Instructions for Form I-407 (PDF 281.27 KB)

The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau does not accept local filings of Form I-407.

Beginning July 1, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) no longer accepts Form I-407 at international field offices by mail or in person.  Individuals who wish to voluntarily record abandonment of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status must submit Form I-407 via mail to:

USCIS Eastern Forms Center
Attn: I-407 unit
124 Leroy Road
PO Box 567
Williston, VT 05495

USCIS anticipates that processing times at the Eastern Forms Center, from receipt to completion, will be within 60 days, which does not include mailing time to or from outside of the United States.  You may also submit Form I-407 to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a U.S. port of entry.

Please prepare sufficient time to abandon your green card with Form I-407 before you register for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  Travelers who have questions or problem about ESTA should consult Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  Information about ESTA can be found on CBP’s website.

When you travel to the United States, you should take a copy of the processed I-407 form with you to the airport. Although the port of entry inspector will see electronically that you have abandoned your status, the processed I-407 form is mainly for the airlines. If you do not have a copy of the processed I-407 form and your passport shows that you have previously been admitted as a ‘LPR’ (Lawful permanent resident) or “ARC” (Alien Resident Card), the airlines may not allow you to board the aircraft.

Abandoning your Permanent Resident Card/green card and status does not affect your ability to apply to immigrate to the United States in the future.  However, you will have to follow a new USCIS petition and visa application process.

IMPORTANT: Parental consent is required for those filing a Form I-407 on behalf of their minor child.

If a minor is 17 or younger, each parent, custodian, or legal guardian must sign the form and consent to the submission of the form. The relationship and identity of the persons signing for the minor should be clear and certain. If there is only one parent, guardian, or custodian, proof (e.g., a death certificate, custody decree, or guardianship papers) must be submitted demonstrating that this person is indeed the sole decision maker for the child, and Form I-407 must be completed accordingly (in Part 1, item 14.d).  They must have sole legal custody in order to file Form I-407.

 

Last modified: October 24, 2022