Form I-131
Application for Travel Document
Apply for a re-entry permit, refugee travel document, or advance parole — the documents that let certain non-citizens travel abroad and return to the United States.
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What is Form I-131?
Form I-131 covers several different travel documents. A re-entry permit lets a permanent resident stay outside the U.S. for up to two years without abandoning their status. A refugee travel document lets a refugee or asylee travel internationally. Advance parole lets someone with a pending application (most often adjustment of status) leave and return without the trip being treated as an abandonment of that application.
Which one you need — and the eligibility rules and risks — depends entirely on your immigration situation. Traveling on advance parole while in removal proceedings, or after certain periods of unlawful presence, can carry serious consequences, so the instructions and often legal advice matter here.
- Who needs it
- Permanent residents planning a long trip abroad (re-entry permit); refugees and asylees who need to travel (refugee travel document); and applicants with a pending adjustment of status or certain other pending applications who need to travel and return (advance parole).
- Deadline
- File well before you travel. A re-entry permit application generally requires you to be physically present in the U.S. when you file and for biometrics. Advance parole should be approved before you depart — leaving while it's pending can be treated as abandoning the request.
- How to submit
- File online or mail the form to the address on the USCIS I-131 page for your category, with the fee (some categories are fee-exempt) and supporting evidence. A biometrics appointment is usually required; re-entry permits and some travel documents can be sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate for pickup.
Form I-131 — line-by-line
Part 1 — Information about you
Name, address, date and country of birth, A-Number, and current immigration status.
Part 2 — Application type
Select re-entry permit, refugee travel document, advance parole document, or the specific parole category that applies.
Part 3 — Processing information
The dates and purpose of your intended travel, countries you plan to visit, and how long you expect to be outside the U.S.
Part 4 — Re-entry permit / refugee travel document details
Time spent outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident or being granted status, and whether you've filed U.S. tax returns.
Part 7 — Where to send the document
A U.S. address, or a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad for pickup.
Form I-131 — frequently asked questions
Do I need a re-entry permit for a short trip?+
No. Permanent residents can generally travel for trips under six months with just their Green Card. A re-entry permit is for planned absences approaching or exceeding one year (valid up to two years).
Can I travel while my Green Card application is pending?+
Only with an approved advance parole document (unless you also hold a valid H-1B/H-4 or L-1/L-2 status). Leaving without it usually means USCIS considers the I-485 abandoned.
Is advance parole a guarantee of re-entry?+
No. It lets you request parole at the port of entry; a CBP officer still makes the admission decision, and certain grounds of inadmissibility can still apply.
Can I apply for advance parole together with my Green Card application?+
Yes — many applicants file I-131 for advance parole at the same time as the I-485 and I-765.
Related forms
The blank Form I-131 offered here is the version published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Official page and instructions .
PDFCure is not a government agency and does not provide tax, legal, or immigration advice. This page is general information — for your specific situation, follow the official instructions or consult a qualified professional. Always download the current edition from the agency before filing. Revision referenced: see the edition date on the USCIS page before filing.