What is Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)?

If you’re living in the U.S. on a visa and plan to travel abroad, you may need official permission before leaving the country — and again to return — to avoid jeopardizing your immigration status. Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, is the form you use to request that permission.

Form I-131 is how you request a travel document from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This document allows you to re-enter the country after traveling abroad. Without the proper travel document, you may not be able to return to the U.S.

You’ll need to file Form I-131 if you’re in one of the following situations and plan to travel outside of the United States:

• You’re a lawful permanent resident and plan to be outside the U.S. for a year or more.
• You’re applying for a Green Card ( Form I-485 ) and need to... leave the U.S. temporarily while your application is pending.
• You have refugee or asylee status .
• You have Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• Your current nonimmigrant visa stamp has expired and you have a pending adjustment of status (AOS) application.

Form I-131 is also used for special parole programs. For example, you can request humanitarian parole for urgent medical or family travel needs, or parole in place if you’re a qualifying family member of a U.S. military service member and already inside the United States.

If you entered the country without inspection, re-entering on parole could possibly cure that “illegal entry.”

➡️ 2025 updates to parole: As of Oct. 16, 2025, the U.S. is charging a new $1,000 parole fee . There are some exceptions, including advance parole and parole for urgent medical reasons. The fee is due upon approval, not with an I-131 submission. Read more about the new parole fee here.

Types of travel documents under the USCIS I-131 form

USCIS uses the same Form I-131 to issue several different travel documents. The one you need depends on your immigration status and reason for travel:

• Re-entry permit: Green Card holders will need this if they plan to travel outside the U.S. for a year or more.
• Advance Parole: Anyone with a pending Green Card application who plans to travel outside the U.S. needs to request advance parole before leaving the country. An advance parole document allows you to seek re-entry into the country without having to get a new visa. Without advance parole, USCIS will consider your Green Card application abandoned and terminate your application. Keep in mind that even if you get advance parole, it does not guarantee re-entry to the U.S. A Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent can still decide not to grant you re-entry.
• Refugee travel document: People with refugee or asylee status will need permission to re-enter the U.S.
• TPS travel authorization: Someone with TPS will need this authorization document to travel abroad and request re-entry while keeping TPS.

Did you know? “Parole” in immigration law is different than parole in a criminal context. In immigration, parole is a discretionary decision to allow an immigrant to request entry to the U.S. when there is no legal basis to do so. It’s basically an exception to the rules.

Eligibility and requirements for I-131 travel documents

Each of the travel documents you can request through Form I-131 has unique eligibility requirements and filing procedures. In general, eligibility depends on your current immigration status and the purpose of your travel.

Here’s a a closer look at who is eligible and some unique requirements for each type of travel document:

Supporting documents needed for Form I-131

When and where to file Form I-131

Filing Form I-131 online vs. paper

How to fill out Form I-131

Form I-131 filing fees

What happens after filing Form I-131

Guidance for your I-131 submission

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