Form I-131: A Complete Guide

Planning to travel internationally soon? If you’re a non-citizen, a refugee, or a CNMI long-term resident there are steps you need to take to protect your status before you depart the United States. The Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, serves several purposes including applying for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, and advance parole whether you are outside the United States, currently in the U.S., or for CNMI long-term residents.

Form I-131: Applying for a Reentry Permit

One common reason individuals must file a Form I-131 Application for Travel Document is to apply for a reentry permit. Reentry permits allow Lawful Permanent Residents to apply for admission into the U.S. after having traveled abroad for more than a year without having to get a returning resident visa from the U.S. Consulate or Embassy overseas. While lawful permanent residents can travel out of the country, it’s important to apply for a re-entry permit if you’ve been outside the U.S. for one year or longer, to avoid having your Permanent Resident Card become invalid.

Additionally, a reentry permit helps protect your permanent residence status from being considered abandoned by immigration officials if you take up residence in another country for less than one year. Without it, you may need to present your case to an immigration judge if your status is considered abandoned.

Importantly, you need to be physically present in the United States when you File Form I-131 for a reentry permit and you should submit your application at least 60 days before the anticipated travel. 

You will need to provide the following documents when applying for a reentry permit:

• Copy of official photo I.D. (i.e., state-issued driver’s license, permanent resident card, passport, etc.)
• Evidence proving your lawful permanent residency (i.e., copy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card
• Two identical passport-style photos taken within 30 days
• Photocopy of Form I-797 if you cannot provide a permanent resident card

After USCIS processes your I-131 for a reentry permit, you will receive a written notice of the date of your biometric services appointment where your fingerprint, photo, and signature will be taken.

How long is the reentry permit good for? 

You can use the reentry permit to apply for admission for up to two years. If necessary, you can leave the U.S. while your I-131 is pending. You are not required to be physically in the U.S. when USCIS approves your application.

How long does it take to get advance parole?

You can expect processing time to take on average 4-7 months.

Refugee Travel Document

For those who hold refugee or asylee status but are not lawful permanent residents, you are required to have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States after being overseas; exceptions for those who have an Advance Parole Document. Upon entry at the U.S. port of entry, you should show your refugee travel document to the DHS officer.

To apply for a refugee travel document, you will need the following:

• Copy of official photo I.D.
• Proof of status as a refugee or asylee
• A statement on a separate piece of paper from Form I-131 explaining your answer to any question you answer ‘yes’ to in Part 6.

If you are applying from outside the United States include:

• Two identical passport-style photos taken within 30 days
• Proof of your last date of departure from the U.S. if possible. Examples include boarding or airplane tickets
• Receipts that you have paid the appropriate filing fees
• A statement explaining the reason for your trip outside of the country (plus any evidence you have to support it), why you left the U.S. without first applying or a refugee travel document, a list of places you visited since exiting the United States, any activities you participated in while outside the U.S.  and if your intention was to abandon your refugee/asylee status when deciding to leave the U.S.

Advance Parole Document

For Those in the U.S.

An advance parole document permits foreign nationals to travel outside the U.S. for a designated purpose, while their petition is pending.

DHS, as a matter of discretion, may issue an Advance Parole Document to authorize an immigrant to travel outside of the U.S. to visit a sick family member back home. An Advance Parole Document is not issued to serve in place of any required passport.

Be mindful that the Department of Homeland Security maintains the right to revoke or terminate your Advance Parole Document at any point when you are in or outside of the U.S. If you have applied for adjustment of status to LPR and leave the U.S. without getting an Advance Parole Document first, your application will be considered abandoned unless it is pending and you are currently in one of the classifications below or would be eligible for one of the following upon reentry at a port of admission:

• H-1 temporary worker, or H-4 spouse or child of an H-1;
• L-1 intracompany transferee or L-2 spouse or child of an L-1;
• K-3 spouse, or K-4 child of a U.S. citizen;
• V-1 spouse, or V-2/V-3 child of a lawful permanent resident

Be prepared to provide the following documents if applying for advance parole document from inside the U.S.:

• Copy of official photo I.D.
• Two identical passport-style photos taken within 30 days
• Proof of your current status in the US.
• Evidence proving your trip is for humanitarian, educational, or employment reasons
• A statement explaining why your situation necessitates an advance parole document
• Copy of USCIS receipt showing you filed an adjustment of status application (if applicable to you)
• Copy of U.S. consular appointment letter (for those traveling to Canada to apply for a visa)

For Those Outside the U.S.

Advanced parole for individuals outside of the U.S. is less commonly granted but it is possible in order to “allow an otherwise inadmissible alien to travel to the United States and to seek parole into the United States for a temporary period of time due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit.”

To apply for advance parole for someone outside the U.S. you will need to provide the following:

• Copy of official photo I.D. for beneficiary, sponsor or petitioner
• Copy of beneficiary’s passport identification page
• A statement explaining the humanitarian reason or public benefit reason for the need for parole
•  Completed Form I-134 with appropriate documentation as described in the form instructions;
• A statement explaining why the beneficiary cannot obtain a U.S. visa (if applicable);
• A statement explaining why the beneficiary cannot obtain a waiver of inadmissibility (if applicable); and
• A copy of any decision on immigrant/nonimmigrant applications or petitions

Advance Permission to Travel (CNMI Long-Term Residents)

CNMI long-term residents (those not permitted to travel to the rest of the U.S. otherwise) can apply for advance permission which permits them to travel to other parts of the country only for “temporary and legitimate purposes without automatically terminating their CNMI long-term resident status.” If you fall in this category, you need to get advance permission before traveling to other parts of the U.S. otherwise you risk terminating your status entirely.

Form I-131 Filing Fee

The fee for the form will depend on the type of document or permit you are applying for as well as your age. See the chart below and notice the different tiers and fees allocated by age and document type.

I-131 Frequently Asked Questions

Reentry permit vs advanced parole?

Advance parole is for those applying for permanent residency to re-enter the U.S. after travel, while a reentry permit is for green card holders to maintain their residency during extended absences. 

Do I have to translate my documents not in English? 

Yes, any documents not in English need to come with a certified English translation.

What is an I-131?

An I-131 is a form used to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, and advance parole for pending lawful permanent residents.

Who qualifies for an I-131?

The I-131 is designed for non-citizens seeking a reentry permit, refugees or asylees seeking a travel document, those in the U.S. who do not want their status considered abandoned while their adjustment of status is pending, and CNMI long-term residents not permitted to travel to the rest of the U.S.

What is the processing time for form I-131?

You can expect the I-131 processing time to be between 3-5 months. Delays can occur if your filing packet is incomplete.

Where to send the form I-131?

You can always reference a list of filing addresses for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

What is class of admission on the I-131 form?

On the form, class of admission means your visa category that you were admitted into the U.S. under (i.e., conditional permanent resident, permanent resident)

What is Form I-131 fee?

See the section above for a chart detailing the I-131 fees based on purpose and age. You may qualify for a fee waiver; discuss this option with your immigration representative.

How much time can be requested for being out of the US when filing form I-131?

A reentry permit for LPRs is valid for 2 years from when issued (no extensions available). A refugee travel document and an advance parole travel document are each valid for 1 year. The advance parole travel document is able to be granted as a single-entry or multiple-entry document.