Green Card expired 10 years ago — how to restore status and do I need a US visa?

Please tell me what to do — my permanent resident card (Green Card) has been expired for about 10 years. How can it be restored, if that’s even possible? Do I need a U.S. visa to return, or is there another way?

I know cases like that — people didn’t return for several years; there were questions at the border, but in the end everyone was let in. The main thing is to have a ready explanation for the immigration officer why you weren’t in the US — problems with the economy, business issues, inability to leave your affairs. But 10 years is a completely different scale; in that case you’ll most likely need to deal with the consulate first, not just show up at the border.

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