Form I-131 is the USCIS Application for Travel Document. One form covers three very different documents — advance parole, a reentry permit, and a refugee travel document — so the field that matters most is which one you request. If you're adjusting status, advance parole lets you travel while your green card is pending, but leaving before it's approved can abandon your case.
What Form I-131 Is
Form I-131, "Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records," is how you ask USCIS for permission to travel in situations where an ordinary passport isn't enough. Because it serves several purposes, the first real decision is identifying which document you actually need.
Advance Parole, Reentry Permit, or Refugee Travel Document?
| Document | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Advance Parole | Someone with a pending Form I-485 (adjustment of status) who needs to travel and return without abandoning the application |
| Reentry Permit | A lawful permanent resident who will be outside the U.S. for an extended period and wants to preserve their status |
| Refugee Travel Document | A refugee or asylee who needs to travel internationally |
Selecting the wrong category is the most consequential I-131 error, because each has different eligibility rules and evidence.
Where I-131 Fits in an Adjustment Packet
If you're getting a family-based green card, I-131 (for advance parole) is commonly filed in the same concurrent packet as your Form I-765 work permit, your I-485, and your sponsor's I-864 Affidavit of Support. All of these forms ask for the same applicant identity — name, date of birth, country of birth, A-Number — so the accuracy risk is the same: enter it inconsistently across the packet and you invite a Request for Evidence.
How to Fill Form I-131
- Part 1 — Applicant information. Your legal name, address, date and country of birth, and A-Number.
- Part 2 — Application type. Check exactly which document you're requesting. This drives everything that follows.
- Travel details. Expected departure date, length of trip, and countries you plan to visit.
- Evidence. For advance parole, a copy of your I-485 receipt notice; for a reentry permit or refugee travel document, proof of your status.
- Sign and date. An unsigned application is rejected outright.
Can I travel before my advance parole is approved?
Generally no — and this is the trap. If you have a pending adjustment application and leave the United States before advance parole is granted, USCIS can treat your I-485 as abandoned. Wait for the document to be issued before you travel, and check your specific category's rules, because some nonimmigrant statuses have exceptions.
Is there a fee for Form I-131?
It depends on the document type and your category, and some applicants are exempt. Because USCIS fees change with each fee rule, confirm the current amount for your situation on uscis.gov before filing rather than relying on an older figure.