Form I-131 guide: applying for travel and parole documents (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records)

Wang Law Firm, LLC · David Wang, Managing Attorney · Attorney-reviewed · Updated October 2026

Form I-131 is handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); the edition in use since 2025 is titled Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records. It is a "multipurpose" form: green card holders use it to apply for a reentry permit; applicants with a pending I-485 use it to apply for advance parole (in Chinese both documents are often called by the same informal name, but they are entirely different from each other); people granted asylum or refugee status use it to apply for a refugee travel document; and it is also used for applications such as humanitarian parole.

These documents solve completely different problems: a reentry permit helps a green card holder on a long trip abroad avoid being presumed to have abandoned the green card; advance parole lets someone with a pending application such as an I-485 travel without the application being treated as abandoned and return to the United States; and a refugee travel document is a passport substitute for refugees and asylees who cannot or should not use their own country's passport. When completing the form, you may select only the one that fits your situation. Readers most often confuse the first two, so this page explains each separately.

At a glance

The three main uses

Legal basis

• Reentry permits and refugee travel documents: INA 223 and 8 CFR Part 223. 8 CFR 223.2 requires filing inside the United States; 223.2(c)(2) provides that if you have spent more than four years in total outside the United States in the past five years (or since becoming a permanent resident, whichever is shorter), a reentry permit is generally issued for only one year; 223.3 provides that a reentry permit is generally valid for two years and a refugee travel document for one year, and neither can be extended.
• Advance parole: the parole authority comes from INA 212(d)(5)(A), with related rules in 8 CFR 212.5. The rule that an I-485 applicant who leaves without advance parole is treated as abandoning the application is in 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii).

Reentry permit

Who it is for

Green card holders planning to spend a long period outside the United States (for example, more than a year), such as for an overseas work assignment, caring for family, or studying abroad. Generally, a green card holder who is outside the U.S. for more than a year without a valid reentry permit is usually presumed to have abandoned permanent resident status and can only apply for a returning resident visa (SB-1) or similar. A reentry permit can prevent a finding of abandonment "solely because of the length of the absence."

What a reentry permit cannot do

• It does not guarantee admission; Customs and Border Protection will still check whether you are admissible;
• It cannot completely rule out a finding of abandonment: if other evidence shows you have moved the center of your life out of the United States (for example, long-term settlement abroad, no U.S. residence, filing taxes as a nonresident), there is still risk;
• It does not preserve the "continuous residence" required for naturalization. An absence of more than a year usually breaks continuous residence; certain people working abroad can separately file the N-470. For naturalization calculations, see the N-400 calculator.

Filing and travel

• You must file inside the United States and complete biometrics in the United States;
• Under 8 CFR 223.2(d), leaving after biometrics does not affect the application;
• On the form you can ask for the document to be sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate or a USCIS international office, and pick it up there;
• If you already have a valid reentry permit, you cannot apply for a new one unless you return it or show that it was lost.

For more, see Reentry permit (I-131): what green card holders should do before a long absence and Traveling abroad as a green card holder; you can also use the travel risk assessment tool for an initial assessment.

Advance parole

Who it is for

• Applicants with a pending I-485, the most common situation; it can be filed together with the I-485;
• Others who qualify and need to travel temporarily and return, such as in certain TPS- and DACA-related situations (each with its own rules); follow the official instructions.

Why it matters

Under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii), leaving the United States while an I-485 is pending without first obtaining advance parole is generally treated as abandoning the application. The main exceptions are people maintaining valid H-1B or L-1 status (and their H-4 or L-2 dependents) who return on a valid visa and resume that status, and K-3/K-4 and V visa holders. In addition, leaving while the I-131 itself is pending generally causes the advance parole application to be treated as abandoned.

Risks when using it

• An advance parole document does not guarantee admission; CBP decides at the port of entry whether to parole you in;
• For people with a history of unlawful presence in the U.S., under the BIA precedent Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly (2012), an I-485 applicant who travels on advance parole generally is not considered to have made a "departure" that triggers the 3-year/10-year bars; but cases vary widely, and anyone with a prior removal order, who is in immigration court proceedings, or who has other issues must have a lawyer assess the situation before leaving;
• Do not book nonrefundable travel before approval; in an emergency, you can request expedited processing as USCIS describes, or make an appointment at a local office for an emergency travel document.

The "combo card"

If you file an I-765 and I-131 together with your I-485, USCIS may issue a single card that serves as both a work permit and an advance parole document (the card states that it serves as an I-512). If you travel on this card, make sure its validity covers your return date.

Refugee travel document

• For people with valid refugee or asylee status, and those who obtained a green card based on refugee or asylee status;
• Valid for one year (or until the status ends) and cannot be extended;
• Must be filed inside the United States (8 CFR 223.2(b)(2)(ii) provides a limited exception for people who have already left);
• Major risk: a refugee or asylee who returns to the country of nationality, or applies for or uses that country's passport, may be considered to have re-availed himself or herself of that country's protection, which can affect asylum status and even a later green card or naturalization. Always consult a lawyer before traveling.

Other uses (in brief)

The I-131 is also used for humanitarian parole (applying for someone abroad to enter for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit), re-parole and similar requests. Parole-related programs and policies have changed a great deal in recent years, and several specialized parole programs have been terminated or modified; related applications must follow the current USCIS instructions.

Completing the form (by main section)

The 2025 edition divides the form into parts covering the application type, information about the applicant, travel plans, and questions specific to each document type. Check specific item numbers against the current edition.

• Application type: check only one. Do not mix reentry permit, advance parole and refugee travel document; green card holders should not mistakenly select advance parole.
• Information about the applicant: name, A-Number, date of birth and entry information must match your other applications.
• Where to deliver the document: you can choose a U.S. address or (for reentry permits and refugee travel documents) pickup at a U.S. embassy or consulate or a USCIS international office. If you choose pickup abroad, state the specific city of the embassy or consulate.
• Travel plans: state the purpose of the trip, the expected departure date, length of the trip and countries to be visited. Reentry permit applicants must also state their total time spent outside the U.S. in the past, which directly determines whether the permit is valid for 2 years or 1 year.
• Status-related questions: such as whether you have been in immigration court proceedings, have been removed, or have filed taxes as a nonresident; answer truthfully.
• Signature: the applicant signs personally; unsigned forms are rejected.

Evidence and documents to include

• Identity documents: passport biographic page or other government-issued photo ID;
• Proof of status by type:
  • Reentry permit: copy of the front and back of your green card;
  • Advance parole: the I-485 receipt (or file together with the I-485);
  • Refugee travel document: proof of refugee or asylee status, or the green card obtained on that basis;
• Two passport-style photos (per the instructions; in some cases they are taken at the biometrics appointment);
• An explanation of and evidence for the purpose of travel (especially important in situations such as humanitarian parole);
• If you already have a reentry permit or refugee travel document, include the old document or an explanation of its loss.

Chinese-language supporting documents must include an English translation; see Translation and notarization requirements.

How to file and fees

• Filing address or online: varies by application type and whether it is filed together with an I-485; follow the official USCIS "Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-131" page;
• Fees: vary by type and age. Under the fee rules in effect since 2024, an I-131 filed together with an I-485 generally requires a separate fee. Follow G-1055; for how to check fees, see How to check fees and processing times;
• H.R. 1 parole fee: 2025 legislation added a statutory parole fee, which DHS has collected since October 16, 2025 for paroles granted after that date (including re-parole, humanitarian parole and others), subject to several statutory exceptions. One exception is that a properly filed adjustment of status applicant who returns on advance parole after a short trip abroad is generally not charged this fee, but the applicant must show DHS that the exception applies. For whether it applies to you, follow the current USCIS and CBP announcements.

What happens after filing

1. Receipt notice (I-797C);
2. Biometrics: reentry permit and refugee travel document applicants must complete biometrics in the United States, and should only leave after that;
3. Request for evidence (RFE): see How to respond to an RFE;
4. Approval and delivery: the document is mailed to your U.S. address, or sent to the embassy or consulate or USCIS international office you selected for pickup.

Check processing times on the USCIS processing times page; before traveling, you can also use the travel-while-pending check tool for an initial check.

Common reasons for denial or problems

• A reentry permit applicant left after filing without completing biometrics in the United States, so biometrics could not be taken;
• An existing valid reentry permit or refugee travel document was not returned;
• An I-485 applicant left before advance parole was approved, so the application was treated as abandoned;
• The wrong application type was selected;
• The underlying status or application no longer exists (for example, the I-485 has been denied);
• An older edition that is no longer accepted was used (this leads to rejection).

After a denial, depending on the situation you can generally file a motion to reopen or reconsider (see I-290B), or reapply once the problem is fixed. If you are already outside the United States, consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

How the I-131 differs from related forms

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• USCIS: Form I-131 official page (form, instructions, accepted editions, filing addresses)
• eCFR: 8 CFR Part 223 (reentry permits and refugee travel documents)
• eCFR: 8 CFR 245.2 (travel while an I-485 is pending)
• Federal Register: H.R. 1 parole fee rule (October 16, 2025)
• USCIS: Form I-131A official page

Related reading

• Reentry permit (I-131): what green card holders should do before a long absence
• Traveling abroad as a green card holder
• Form I-485 adjustment of status guide
• Can I travel while my application is pending?

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Laws and policies can change; rely on the latest official information and on an attorney's advice for your specific situation.