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USCIS I-131A Application for Travel Document Fee

Before you start the payment process, eligibility.

Anyone can pay the I-131A filing fee from anywhere in the world. Whoever pays the fee must use a credit or debit card or U.S. bank account.

The current filing fee is $575.00

You must submit your filing fee before going to a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate to file your Form I-131A. You must bring evidence of payment with you when you appear in person at your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate to file Form I-131A.

Refund Policy

USCIS does not refund fees, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition or request, or how long USCIS takes to reach a decision.

By continuing this transaction, you acknowledge that you must submit fees in the exact amount and that you are paying the fees for a government service.

Please refer to the instructions for the form(s) you are filing for additional information or you may call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) 800-767-1833.

Information You May Need

To pay the fee, you will need the correct first and last names, date of birth, and A-Number as they appear on the lawful permanent resident's (LPR's) Green Card or Reentry Permit.

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Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them

We issue a variety of secure identity documents that may establish your identity, immigration status in the United States, authorization to work, or authorization to travel. Secure documents include:

• Arrival-departure records (Form I-94, Form I-94W, or Form I-95);
• Employment Authorization Documents (Form I-766);
• Naturalization and citizenship certificates (Form N-550, N-560, N-561, N-570, N-578, or N-645);
• Permanent Resident Cards , also known as Green Cards (Form I-551); and
• Travel documents (Form I-327, Form I-512, Form I-512L, Form I-512T, or Form I-571)

These documents include your personal information, such as your full legal name, date of birth, country of birth, gender, and A-Number.

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must always carry your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Green Card, or other proof of noncitizen registration in the United States with you.

You may request replacement of your USCIS-issued secure identity documents if they:

• Were not delivered;
• Have expired or will soon expire (renewals);
• Have been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed; or
• Contain incorrect information.

Generally, you need to file a new application form for USCIS to reissue a secure identity document. Depending on the scenario, you may need to pay a new filing fee. Requirements and processes for replacing secure documents vary by document type and the circumstances. Refer to the links below for specific information about replacing your DHS-issued secure documents. See  USCIS Policy Manual Volume 11, Part A, Chapter 3, Reissuance of Secure Identity Documents for more information.

NOTE: The information on this page is about DHS-issued immigration documents. If you are seeking to replace a document issued by another government agency, please refer to that agency’s information and the examples below.

How to Make a Biographic Change on Your Document

Did you experience a change in your personal information, and would you now like to update your USCIS-issued document?

If you are scheduled for an interview with USCIS based on a pending application, you may update your biographic information for that application at the time of your interview.

If USCIS issues you a Request for Evidence (RFE) relating to updating your biographic information based on a pending application, follow the instructions in the RFE.

Otherwise, refer to the table below for more information on how to request the change.

If you would like to update the name reflected on your document, you must provide sufficient evidence of the name change, such as a court order, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other vital document record. (Requirements may differ for name changes on a naturalization certificate. For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization, Part K, Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization, Chapter 4, Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization .)

As of March 31, 2023, you do not need to provide proof of your gender identity when requesting to change your gender marker on immigration documents, except if you are submitting Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document . (If you are seeking to change your gender marker on a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, you must continue to follow the Form N-565 instructions (PDF, 257.24 KB) ).

Documents and Evidence

You must return the USCIS-issued document with the incorrect information.

Generally, you also need to submit either a statement explaining the error or supporting documentation to show what the correct information should be, or both.

Forms and Fees

If you need a replacement document because your information changed after we issued your document, you generally must file a new form. You generally must pay the form filing fee if the reason you need a replacement document is because your information changed. For more information on fees and fee exemptions, see the Fee Schedule .

If you cannot afford the cost associated with your form, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. For more information about filing a fee waiver request, visit the webpages on Form I-912 and on Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver .

Information on Requesting a Biographic Change by Document Type

The tables below provide information on how to request a biographic change on a specific document.

You must return the document with the incorrect information.

If you received your document from USCIS with an error that is not your fault, you generally must file a new form, but not pay a new fee.

The table below provides information on how to request replacement of a document that needs to be corrected because of USCIS error.

For information on document delivery and tracking, see our How to Track Delivery of Your Notice or Secure Identity Document (or Card) page.

If you did not receive your document, you should make sure your address on record with USCIS is correct and up to date. You may visit our How to Change Your Address webpage for information on updating your address. If a document is returned to us as undeliverable, we try to resend it.

We may reissue a secure document if the original document was not delivered to you after the first or subsequent delivery attempts.

You generally must file a new form for a non-delivered secure document to be reissued.

You generally must pay a fee if the reason you did not receive your document was because of your error (such as not providing us your current address). You generally do not have to pay a new fee if the reason you did not receive your document is due to our error or United States Postal Service (USPS) error. For more information on fees and fee exemptions, see the Fee Schedule ( G-1055 ).

The table below provides information on how to request replacement of a document that was not delivered.

If you received your document and then it was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, you generally must file a new form and pay a new fee. For more information on fees and fee exemptions, see the Fee Schedule ( G-1055 ).

The table below provides information on how to request replacement of a document that was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.

Form I-131: The Advance Parole Travel Document Explained

If you have or are applying for a green card, DACA status, or certain humanitarian visas, and you want to travel outside the United States, you need to get a travel document from the U.S. government. You apply for this document by filing Form I-131: Application for Travel Document with USCIS. This allows you to get what’s called an Advance Parole document. Below is a guide on how to apply for Advance Parole step-by-step as well as tips for to plan for your temporary travel.

Written by Jonathan Petts .  Updated September 24, 2023

What Is Advance Parole?

An Advance Parole document allows current green card applicants to leave the United States for temporary travel and return without disrupting their green card (permanent resident card) application process. There are a few situations you can be in while applying for Advance Parole, such as: having a pending application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or being a DACA recipient. In this article, we are focusing on individuals applying for Advance Parole with a pending green card application . 

To apply for Advance Parole, you must file Form I-131: Application for Travel Document with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Green card applicants looking to travel abroad for any reason must obtain Advance Parole before leaving the United States. If you leave the U.S. without the proper travel documents, USCIS will close your green card application.  

Why Do I Need Advance Parole?

You need Advance Parole if you have a pending green card (permanent resident card) application and want to take a trip outside the United States. If you leave the United States without Advance Parole and USCIS hasn’t approved your green card application, the agency will consider your case abandoned and likely deny for application.

If USCIS closes your green card application, you have to start the process over again, which is expensive and time-consuming. To avoid this, you need to complete Form I-131: Application for Travel Document and apply for Advance Parole before leaving the U.S.

You do not need to apply for Advance Parole if you are waiting for USCIS to process your Form I-485 and you are: 

A temporary worker under a valid H-1 visa (or their spouse or child)

An intra-company transferee under a valid L-1 visa (or their spouse or child)

Who Is Eligible for Advance Parole?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines eligibility on a case-by-case basis. You’re eligible to apply for Advance Parole if you fall within one of these categories:

You submitted an adjustment of status green card application using Form I-485

You applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)* 

You submitted an asylum application or you are an asylee

You currently have a pending application for temporary resident status under Section 245(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

USCIS granted you TPS, T nonimmigrant, or U nonimmigrant status 

USCIS or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) granted you humanitarian parole under Section 212 (d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

You received benefits through the Family Unity Program

You’re a DACA recipient

*On July 1, 2022 USCIS began issuing a new travel authorization document for people who receive TPS. This new form is called: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States.

Who Is Not Eligible for Advance Parole?

You aren’t eligible for Advance Parole if one or more of the following applies to you:

You are residing in the United States without valid immigration status after entering unlawfully many times

You have a valid reentry permit or refugee document 

You are on a J visa or a visa with a foreign residence requirement

You are a beneficiary of a private immigration bill approved by Congress

You are currently in the middle of a removal proceeding (deportation)

You are an asylee or a refugee, but you’re not adjusting your status to a green card 

If you’ve been in the United States unlawfully, you may file for Advance Parole. However, even if granted, you still may be barred from reentry by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

If you’ve lived in the United States without status for any period of time, you should always consult an immigration lawyer before traveling abroad. If you can't afford a lawyer, you can contact a legal aid office for help.

How Do I Apply for Advance Parole? A Step-by-Step Guide

First, you will need to complete the official application form, called Form I-131: Application for Travel Document. When you have completed the form, you will have to gather the government filing fees and supporting documentation, and then finally submit them together with Form I-131 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Step 1: Complete Form I-131

Form I-131 is officially called the Application for Travel Document. This document is used for anyone applying for a Reentry Permit, a Refugee Travel Document, and Advance Parole. You cannot submit your travel permit request to the U.S. government without completing and signing this form. 

You can complete the form in two ways — either online by creating a MyUSCIS account or on paper by downloading, printing, and completing the most recent version of Form I-131 from the USCIS website. You will need your Alien Registration Number (A Number) to complete your application.

Step 2: Gather Fees & Supporting Documents for Form I-131

When you have completed Form I-131, it is time to gather the $575 filing fee and the required supporting documents. You must include these supporting documents with the Form I-131 application:

Your receipt notice from USCIS after filing Form I-485, if your green card is pending

Two passport-style photographs 

USCIS-issued document showing the validity of your current immigration status — this could be an approval/receipt notice ( Form I-797 )

A photocopy of a government-issued identification document (ID), which must include your name, date of birth, and a photo — examples of acceptable forms of ID include a passport, drivers license, and employment authorization document (EAD)

Marriage certificate (if applying for Advance Parole based on your spouse’s pending green card application)

Child’s birth certificate (if applying for Advance Parole for a child based on a pending child green card application)

Detailed evidence explaining your reasons for traveling — you can explain your reasons with a Declaration of Support Letter

If any of your supporting documents aren’t in English, USCIS requires the documents be accompanied by a certified English translation .

It’s also a good idea to include a cover letter for your application. This short letter explains what supporting documents are in your application and helps keep things organized.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

You can submit your completed Form I-131: Application for Travel Document and supporting documents to USCIS either online or by mail. To submit online, you must first create a MyUSCIS account . Then you can submit your petition through your account on the USCIS website.

If you choose to submit your USCIS forms by mail, you will have to send your application packet to a specific USCIS filing address. The address depends on where you live and what mail service you use to send your forms. For Advance Parole applicants who have a pending Form I-485 (green card) application, you’ll send your documents either to the USCIS lockbox in Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix. The USCIS website lists these addresses .

If You’re Filing Form I-131 Overseas

If you’re filing Form I-131 overseas, you must first get permission from your local U.S. embassy or consulate. You’ll have to set up an appointment with your local U.S. embassy to make your request in person. The State Department has an up-to-date list of all U.S. embassies and consulates.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Advance Parole?

The filing fee for Form I-131 is $575. If you cannot afford this filing fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver by filing Form I-912 . You can also check out our tips for fundraising the fees .

You can pay using a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card. All checks should be made payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” If you’re using a credit card, you must also file Form G-1450 : Authorization for Credit Card Transactions with your Form I-131 application. USCIS can only process your credit card payment using Form G-1450. 

How Long Does It Take To Get Advance Parole?

It’s currently taking USCIS 6 to 18 months to process Advance Parole applications. Processing times vary a lot by USCIS service center and may change over time. Your Form I-131 application can be delayed if you didn’t fill it out completely and correctly, mail it to the correct address, and ensure USCIS received it. 

The application processing time may take longer if the USCIS service center handling your case is experiencing significant processing backlogs. You can see USCIS’ current processing times on its webpage.

I Have an Emergency. Can I Get Advance Parole Quicker?

In some cases, USCIS will expedite applications. This can reduce the processing time to 30 days. To expedite your Advance Parole document application, you must demonstrate to USCIS that:

You’ve suffered a financial loss to your company or person

You’re experiencing an emergency

You have a valid humanitarian reason

You’re affiliated with a nonprofit organization requesting an expedited application for culture or social interests benefiting the United States

Your request is made by the Department of Defense or another U.S. government agency to promote the national interest

USCIS made an administrative error

You have another compelling interest determined by USCIS

USCIS grants emergency Advance Parole requests based on its officers’ discretion in emergencies. To do this, you will have to visit the nearest USCIS office with the following documents:

A completed Form I-131

Evidence supporting the emergency request

Two passport-style photos

Successful emergency Advance Parole requests are usually processed on the same day. 

What You Need To Know When Traveling With Advance Parole

Once you’ve successfully applied for Advance Parole, you cannot leave the United States until you’ve received your physical travel document. 

Typically, an Advance Parole document allows you temporary travel for up to one year abroad. However, USCIS reserves the right to revoke your Advance Parole document for any reason. If this happens, you cannot return to the United States without a valid U.S. visa or other documentation. 

You should also be mindful of scheduled fingerprinting ( biometric services ) and interview appointments. Although your travel permit may allow temporary travel for up to one year, you may miss many of these appointments without regularly returning to the U.S. 

The same goes for regularly receiving mailed communications (such as a notice of action ) from USCIS, which help you understand the status of your application. It’s best to make arrangements to receive mail while traveling abroad or update your mailing address with USCIS.

Reentry Into the U.S.

It is important to know that even if you have a valid Advance Parole document , there is no guarantee you can reenter the U.S. after traveling abroad. When arriving at a port of entry upon your return to the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will conduct an inspection and determine your admission back into the U.S. Unfortunately, DHS could deny your reentry. 

It is also possible for DHS to revoke your Advance Parole at any time, including while you are abroad. This can happen even if your Form I-131 application has been approved and you have the correct Advance Parole documents. With these risks, it is crucial to determine whether temporary travel outside of the United States is necessary.

Continue reading and learning!

Form I-131 – How to Apply for a Travel Document

Let us help you start your application today!

Last updated: April 2, 2024.

By Asel Williams, Esq . · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney

Application for Travel Document, or Form I-131, is a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form which allows applicants to apply for a Reentry Permit, Refugee Travel Document or Advance Parole.

This article will discuss how adjustment of status (Form I-485) applicants who are currently in the U.S. can apply for a travel document, or Advance Parole.

If you need to apply for a Refugee Travel Document or Re-Entry Permit, see our guides:

Refugee Travel Document

Reentry Permit

What is Advance Parole?

An Advance Parole document (Form I-512) is a form of temporary travel authorization that allows someone living in the U.S. to travel abroad while awaiting their green card.

Nonimmigrants in the United States such as adjustment of status applicants must obtain Advance Parole to obtain permission to reenter the United States after traveling abroad without jeopardizing their status.

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status , is used by a person in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status.

Adjustment of status applicants must be granted Advance Parole before leaving the United States.

If they have not obtained Advance Parole prior to traveling abroad, they cannot be permitted to re-enter the United States upon their return from abroad.

An Advance Parole serves the following functions:

• It enables an alien to come back to the U.S. after traveling abroad without having to obtain a visa to enter the U.S.
• It preserves the pending Adjustment of Status application that the alien has filed

Attention: If you are an adjustment of status applicant and travel outside the United States without an Advance Parole Document while Form I-485 is pending, your case will be presumed abandoned and denied.

If you apply for an Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) and then enter the U.S. on a visa instead of an Advance Parole document, your pending I-485 petition can be considered to have been abandoned (except in the situations that you come back with valid H-1 and L-1 visas).

For example, if you are an applicant for Adjustment of Status, then leave the U.S. and re-enter on a non-immigrant visa such as an F-1 visa, you will be considered to have abandoned your adjustment of status application. 

What is a Reentry Permit?

If you are a lawful permanent resident and you expect to spend significant time outside the United States but intend to return to the U.S, you will need a Reentry Permit.

Form I-131 can be used by green card holders to apply for a reentry permit.

Normally, if you are a permanent resident, you can use a green card to reenter the United States after traveling abroad.

However, your green card will be assumed to be abandoned if the absence is one year or more.

A Reentry Permit can help prevent this problem.

Lawful permanent residents or conditional permanent residents who plan to travel outside the United States for more than one year, but less than two years, can apply for a Reentry Permit. 

Reentry Permit can serve as a passport for a U.S. permanent resident if he/she has no passport and cannot obtain it from the country of his/her nationality.

If you are a permanent resident and you are outside the country for more than a year without a Reentry Permit, you will most likely be denied reentry into the U.S. on the ground that you have abandoned your permanent resident status.

What is a Refugee Travel Document?

If you have a refugee or asylum status and you wish to travel outside the United States, and you wish to return later to the U.S, you can apply for a Refugee Travel Document .

You can use your Refugee Travel Document to travel in place of a passport.

If you do not obtain a Refugee Travel Document before you leave the U.S., you can be unable to re-enter the United States, or you can be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

You should file a Form I-131 before you leave the United States and expect processing times of approximately 3 to 5 months. However, it can take longer.

A Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to one year. During this time, you can use the document multiple times.

Form I-131 – The difference between an Advance Parole and a Reentry Permit

Advance Parole is issued to you if you do not have permanent resident status. 

A Reentry Permit is issued to you if you are a permanent resident of the U.S.

The two documents are dissimilar in physical appearance: Advance Parole is a single piece of paper bearing your photo, whereas a Re-entry Permit looks like a passport.

An Advance Parole functions much like a visa to the United States while a Reentry Permit functions like a passport.

If you have an Advance Parole document, you still need a foreign passport to enter into the United States.

If you are a permanent resident with a Reentry Permit you do not need a foreign passport to enter the United States.

Another difference is the duration: Advance Parole is valid for one year, whereas a Reentry Permit is valid for two years.

Form I-131 – Who Can File It?

If you are in the United States, you can apply for Advance Parole if you have:

• An application for adjustment of status (Form I-485) pending.
• Been granted benefits under the Family Unity Program.
• A pending application for Temporary Protected Status ( TPS ) Form I-821 or been granted Temporary Protected Status.
• Have been granted T or U nonimmigrant status

If you have an application pending with USCIS, and you leave the United States on advance parole, you can miss important notices from USCIS regarding your application, including requests for additional evidence ( RFE ).

If you do not respond timely to these notices, USCIS can deem your application abandoned and you will not receive the benefit you seek.

It is very important that you make appropriate arrangements to ensure you do not miss any such important notices from USCIS.

What are the benefits of Advance Parole?

Applying for Advance Parole comes with the following benefits:

• It will enable you to return to the U.S. after traveling abroad without the necessity of obtaining a visa.
• It preserves whatever Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) applications that you have pending with the USCIS.

Form I-131 Checklist

If you are applying for Advance Parole, you will need to submit the following:

• An accurately completed Application for Travel Document, Form I-131
• A receipt notice for Form I-485
• Two passport photos
• Your biographical information
• Phone number and current address
• Form I-131 fees

Form I-131 Fees

Certain applicants may be eligible for a Fee Waiver. 

Form I-131 Processing Time

USCIS takes approximately 3-5 months to process your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

However, if you are experiencing an extremely urgent situation, you can visit your local USCIS office to request an Advance Parole Document on an emergency basis. 

You can’t leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3-5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.

How long will my Advance Parole document be valid?

An Advance Parole Document is valid for one year after it was issued.

How can I renew my Advance Parole document?

If you are yet to receive your green card and you plan to travel after that year has elapsed, it is advisable to renew your travel document.

You can file a renewal application as early as 100 days before your current Advance Parole document expires. It is important to submit the renewal as early as possible.

The renewal Advance Parole document will usually be processed within the same timeframe as that for the initial application, which is 5 months or longer. It’s important to plan early to avoid gaps in your ability to travel.

To renew your Advance Parole document, submit Form I-131 with a copy of your current Advance Parole document, a copy of the receipt notice from your green card application, and two passport-sized photos.

Form I-131 – Expedited Processing

It takes at least 90 days or more for USCIS to process your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

You may, however, be able to get expedited processing of a travel document in certain situations. Such situations include:

• Severe financial loss to company or person
• Emergency situations
• Humanitarian reasons
• A nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States
• Department of Defense or National Interest Situation
• Compelling interest of USCIS.

How can I request an Expedited Processing on Form I-131?

Since it takes more than 90 days to obtain a travel document, it is always advisable to apply for one as early as possible.

However, when there is an emergency that needs your attention abroad, there are steps you can take as an applicant to apply for one on an expedited basis. The tips are discussed below:

Write a cover letter requesting expedited processing. In the cover letter, outline the reasons for your expedited request. If the criteria outline above is met, USCIS can expedite your application for Advance Parole. 

To prove that one of the criteria has been met, you can submit evidence. Such evidence can include a medical report if the situation involves someone who is sick.

Gather the necessary evidence that proves your urgent need. It is important that you gather the required documentation that supports your reason for expedited processing.

As discussed above, you can provide proof of fatality, hospital records or a letter from the doctor. Keep in mind that the kind of evidence you will submit will determine if your request for the expedited processing of the travel document will be successful.

Prepare your application for the Travel Document . Complete Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. It is important that you prepare the application accurately.

Include the cover letter, filing fee, and all the supporting documentation according to the filing instructions. You can also use an overnight method to mail your expedited request. 

Contact USCIS .  It is advisable that you contact USCIS one week after filing to follow up on your request.

Can I file Form I-131 from abroad?

If you are outside the United States, you can apply for an Advance Parole Document if you:

• Need to visit the United States temporarily for an urgent humanitarian reason or for significant public benefit
• Unable to obtain the necessary visa and any required waiver of inadmissibility or consent to reapply for admission.

Under these conditions, an Advance Parole Document is granted on a case-by-case basis for a temporary period, according to any conditions that can be placed on parole.

Someone in the United States can also file the application for you.

Returning to the United States without a travel document

Before departing the United States, you need to understand the risks associated with traveling abroad while your Adjustment of Status application is pending.

You should obtain your travel document before leaving the United States. If you depart from the United States before the Advance Parole Document is issued, your application for an Advance Parole Document will be considered abandoned.

Returning to the United States with a travel document

Even if you have an Advance Parole Document and you leave the United States, it can impact your ability to return to the United States.

An Advance Parole Document does not entitle you to parole or guarantee that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will parole you into the United States upon your return. 

If you are using an Advance Parole Document to leave and return to a port of entry in the United States, you are considered an applicant for admission upon your return.

You will be subject to inspection at a port of entry and you cannot be admitted if you are found to be inadmissible under any applicable provision of immigration law.

If the Department of Homeland Security determines that you are inadmissible, you can be subject to expedited removal proceedings or to removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

In conclusion, it is important to apply for an Advance Parole Document if you are an adjustment of status applicant and you intend to travel abroad. 

Related Links:

Form I-131 instructions – how to fill out

Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Undocumented Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens

Advance Parole

Marriage green card

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You can learn more about the holiday here and explore ways you can celebrate black joy. you can also read the clinic statement on racial injustice here ., important information and resources related to covid-19 pandemic, breadcrumbs, when is advance parole an option, last updated.

Recent court decisions and policy changes impacting recipients of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, may have created confusion about who can seek advance parole and in what circumstances. This article summarizes who is eligible for advance parole, as well as the possible risks and benefits of traveling with it.

Advance parole is a travel document issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, on Form I-512L that allows certain noncitizens inside the United States to depart and seek to reenter the country after temporary travel abroad. The categories of noncitizens who qualify for advance parole from USCIS include the following:

• Applicants for adjustment of status must obtain advance parole before departing the United States to avoid abandoning their pending I-485 application (with narrow exceptions for certain applicants who hold valid nonimmigrant visas). Non-emergency advance parole based on a pending adjustment application may be granted when travel is for bona fide business or personal reasons. Applicants are not required to document a specific reason for the travel and advance parole is routinely granted regardless of the basis of the pending adjustment application (family-based, employment-based, asylum/refugee status, U and T nonimmigrant status, etc.).
• Applicants for asylum must also seek advance parole before departing the United States for temporary travel to avoid abandoning a pending I-589 application. Generally, it is not recommended to travel unless there is an urgent need to do so. While asylum applicants may be granted advance parole, they should be advised that returning to the country of claimed persecution or traveling with a passport from that country could undercut the basis of their asylum claim.
• TPS recipients must have valid advance parole to depart and reenter the United States without breaking the continuous physical presence requirement for maintaining TPS. Advance parole is routinely granted to TPS recipients without documentation of the specific reason for the travel.
• DACA recipients may seek advance parole, but only if they need to travel for humanitarian, educational, or employment purposes. Humanitarian purposes include travel to obtain medical treatment, attend funeral services for a family member, or visit an ailing relative. Educational purposes include semester-abroad programs and academic research. Employment purposes include overseas assignments, interviews, conferences, training, or meeting with clients overseas. More details are available in CLINIC’s FAQ on Advance Parole Travel for DACA Recipients .
• Other noncitizens who may seek advance parole include recipients of humanitarian parole under INA § 212(d)(5) who can demonstrate their travel is for an urgent humanitarian reason or furthers a significant public benefit. Also, some U nonimmigrants reported their being issued advance parole for temporary travel aboard during the Obama administration, but these requests were no longer approved during the Trump administration.

Advance parole applications are filed with USCIS using Form I-131 . The current filing fee is $575. Advance parole applications are not eligible for a fee waiver. However, a pending adjustment applicant who filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007 and paid the I-485 fee may seek advance parole without paying an additional 1-131 fee. All applicants must indicate on the I-131 the purpose of their travel, the country or countries they intend to visit, the number of trips planned, and the circumstances that warrant issuance of advance parole.

Applicants must obtain the advance parole document before departing the United States. If the applicant leaves the country before advance parole is issued, the I-131 application will be considered abandoned. This is in contrast to an I-131 applicant for a re-entry permit or refugee travel document who can depart the country after attending the biometrics appointment and retrieve the document at a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas (assuming this is requested on the I-131).

Expedited processing of a pending advance parole application is available in certain situations, including severe financial loss to a company or person, urgent humanitarian reasons, and when requested by a nonprofit organization to further the cultural and social interests of the United States. In the event of an extremely urgent travel need, clients may call the USCIS Contact Center to request an in-person appointment to apply for an emergency advance parole document at a USCIS field office. Applicants must bring a completed I-131, filing fee, evidence to support the emergency travel request, and two passport photos.

What are the risks involved in advance parole travel? A grant of advance parole from USCIS does not guarantee reentry to the United States. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, inspects advance parole holders at the port-of-entry and has the discretion to find someone inadmissible under INA § 212(a) or otherwise deny entry. Note that in Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly , the Board of Immigration Appeals held that travel for an adjustment applicant on advance parole does not constitute a “departure” for purposes of triggering the ten-year unlawful presence bar under INA § 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II). USCIS has also applied this analysis to individuals with TPS and DACA. Keep in mind that someone with an unexecuted removal order who departs on advance parole may be found to have executed the order and could face future immigration consequences, such as the inability to reenter the United States for ten years unless an I-212 waiver is granted. However, in the context of a TPS holder with an unexecuted order, USCIS has stated that travel with advance parole does not execute the order.

What about the potential benefits of advance parole travel? In addition to meeting the noncitizen’s underlying reasons for travel, entry with advance parole may make some individuals eligible for adjustment of status under INA § 245(a). For example, someone who entered the United States without inspection but subsequently left and returned under advance parole may now be considered to have been “inspected and admitted or paroled.” If that parolee has an immigrant visa immediately available, is not inadmissible, and is not subject to any of the 245(c) bars to adjustment, he or she may qualify to adjust status under section 245(a). This typically benefits "immediate relatives" (the spouses or children of U.S. citizens or the parents of adult U.S. citizens). Note that a TPS beneficiary who returns with advance parole after Aug. 20, 2020 is not considered “admitted or paroled” for purposes of 245(a) adjustment. More information is in CLINIC’s Practice Advisory on Adjustment Options for TPS Beneficiaries

Related Content

All About Parole Practice Advisory

Posted on July 6, 2023

The advisory also covers various categories of parole and their eligibility criteria, as well as the processes to request these types of parole.

Parole , Humanitarian Parole , Advance Parole , Parole in Place

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