form-i-131

USCIS Form I-131 – Travel Doc

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Zendocs is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Everything You Need to Know About USCIS Form I-131

What is Form I-131 used for?
Form I-131 can be filed to request different types of travel documents:

  • Advance Parole – For individuals with a pending green card (Form I-485), DACA recipients, or others who need to leave the U.S. temporarily without abandoning their status.
  • Re-entry Permit – For lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who plan to stay outside the U.S. for more than 1 year but less than 2 years.
  • Refugee Travel Document – For refugees or asylees who wish to travel abroad and return to the U.S. legally.

Who should file Form I-131?

  • Pending adjustment of status applicants (Form I-485).
  • Green card holders planning extended stays abroad.
  • Refugees and asylees needing permission to re-enter.
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries seeking Advance Parole.

Why is it important?
Without an approved I-131, certain immigrants risk losing their pending applications, residency status, or ability to re-enter the U.S. if they travel internationally.

When to file Form I-131?

  • Before travel: File at least 60–90 days before intended departure.
  • Advance Parole should be approved before leaving the U.S..

Key information required

  • Applicant’s personal and immigration details.
  • Reason for travel and type of document requested.
  • Supporting evidence (passport, green card copy, I-485 receipt, or refugee/asylee documents).
  • Filing fee (amount varies based on category).

Processing times
Processing can vary:

  • Advance Parole: ~3–6 months.
  • Re-entry Permit: ~6–12 months.
  • Refugee Travel Document: ~3–6 months.

Risks

  • Traveling before Advance Parole approval may result in denial of re-entry.
  • Extended absence, even with a re-entry permit, may raise residency questions.

FAQ

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Step 1: Fill Out The Form

1. Fill Out The Form

Fill in your details and information, add date and customize as needed

Step 2: Add Your Signature

2. Add Your Signature

Add legally-binding signature by drawing, uploading, or typing

Step 3: Download or share

3. Download or share

Your form is ready, download, share link or send via email instantly

Step 1: Fill Out The Form

1. Fill Out The Form

Fill in your details and information, add date and customize as needed

Step 2: Add Your Signature

2. Add Your Signature

Add legally-binding signature by drawing, uploading, or typing

Step 3: Download or share

3. Download or share

Your form is ready, download, share link or send via email instantly

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I'm a screenwriter and mark up my drafts often. Tried the annotate pdf tool here – it was actually pleasant to use. Notes stuck where I placed them, colors were clear, and export kept everything intact. Beats printing 80 pages every time.

United States2 days ago
Bruno Simmons
Verified Customer

Used ZenDocs to split up a 100-page policy doc into smaller team manuals. It was quick, intuitive, and didn't crash once – even with that massive file.

United States1 day ago
Mindy Reid
Verified Customer

Compiled my speaker bio, session outline, and visual aids into one file for a conference. ZenDocs let me combine them fast and add bookmarks for each section. This made navigating during my talk so much easier. I even re-uploaded the final version to make a few changes – every step was smooth. Really appreciated how consistent the UI was.

United States1 day ago
Laura Martinez
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I needed to add quick comments to student feedback forms and the annotate pdf feature on zen docs made it painless. No crashes, super clean interface – definitely easier than Adobe's bloated editor.

United States1 day ago
A Costa
Verified Customer

ZenDocs has the cleanest interface I've used. Edited a PDF proposal, reordered some sections, and exported without hassle. It just works.

United States1 day ago
Sophie Frank
Verified Customer

I was skeptical about editing pdfs on my phone, but Zendocs made it work smoothly. Filled out a freelance w9 while waiting for my coffee. No issues at all.

United States5 days ago
Eugene Campbell
Verified Customer

I'm a screenwriter and mark up my drafts often. Tried the annotate pdf tool here – it was actually pleasant to use. Notes stuck where I placed them, colors were clear, and export kept everything intact. Beats printing 80 pages every time.

United States2 days ago
Bruno Simmons
Verified Customer

Used ZenDocs to split up a 100-page policy doc into smaller team manuals. It was quick, intuitive, and didn't crash once – even with that massive file.

United States1 day ago
Mindy Reid
Verified Customer

Compiled my speaker bio, session outline, and visual aids into one file for a conference. ZenDocs let me combine them fast and add bookmarks for each section. This made navigating during my talk so much easier. I even re-uploaded the final version to make a few changes – every step was smooth. Really appreciated how consistent the UI was.

United States1 day ago
Laura Martinez
Verified Customer

I needed to add quick comments to student feedback forms and the annotate pdf feature on zen docs made it painless. No crashes, super clean interface – definitely easier than Adobe's bloated editor.

United States1 day ago
A Costa
Verified Customer

ZenDocs has the cleanest interface I've used. Edited a PDF proposal, reordered some sections, and exported without hassle. It just works.

United States1 day ago
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USCIS Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document | Zendocs