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  3. Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records

I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records

Alert Type info

ALERT: On Aug. 13, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued a precedent decision, Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, 29 I&N Dec. 830 (BIA 2026), that overruled Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012). 

This decision has an immediate impact for certain aliens with valid Advance Parole Documents (Form I-512L) who are considering departing from the United States. As of Aug. 13, 2026, departing the United States after obtaining an Advance Parole Document is a departure for purposes of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i) of the INA, aliens who accrue more than 180 days of unlawful presence in the United States, depart the United States, and then again seek admission within the relevant 3- or 10-year statutory period, are inadmissible. Aliens considering a departure with an Advance Parole Document should be aware that they may be inadmissible under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i) of the INA upon their return to the United States if they have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence.   

Alert Type info

Alert: Litigation Update on Ms. L. v. ICE and Applicability of Certain HR-1 Fees

USCIS is pausing the collection of certain fees required by Pub. L. 119-21 (“HR-1”) from Ms. L. Settlement Class members and their Qualifying Additional Family Members (QAFMs) as of Feb. 5, 2026, pursuant to a decision issued in Ms. L. v. ICE, 18-cv-00428 (S.D. Cal.).  The Department does not concur with this decision and is evaluating its options.

If you are a Ms. L. Settlement Class member or QAFM who received a notice informing you that you are required to pay one of the below-listed HR-1 fees, and you did not already make a payment prior to Feb. 5, 2026, the payment notice is rescinded and you are not required to pay the HR-1 fee. USCIS will notify you if any further information is necessary to continue processing your application.

If you are a Ms. L. Settlement Class member or QAFM, you are not required to pay the following HR-1 fees as of Feb. 5, 2026:

  • Immigration Parole Fee (8 U.S.C 1804)
  • Parolee Initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Fee (8 U.S.C 1803(b)) (Form I-765 based on a category (c)(11) initial EAD)
  • Parolee Renewal EAD Fee (8 U.S.C 1809) (Form I-765 based on a category (c)(11) renewal EAD, or Form I-131 when requesting re-parole under Part 1, category 10.G and selecting the EAD checkbox in Part 9)
  • Asylum Application Fee (8 U.S.C 1802)
  • Annual Asylum Fee (8 U.S.C. 1808)

Please see www.together.gov and the Ms. L. Settlement Agreement for information on who may qualify as a Ms. L. Settlement Class Member or QAFM. Individuals must register on together.gov or juntos.gov and be confirmed by the Family Reunification Task Force Research Committee to qualify as Ms. L. Settlement Class members.

Note for Asylum Applicants: If you are applying for asylum with USCIS as a Ms. L. Settlement Class Member or QAFM, you must write “Ms. L Settlement Class Member” or “Ms. L. Settlement QAFM” on the top of the first page of your paper Form I-589 and mail your paper application according to the Form I-589 filing instructions in order for USCIS to process your application without the HR-1 Asylum Application Fee. Do not file your Form I-589 online. If you file your Form I-589 online, we may reject it. See Applying for Asylum with USCIS for Ms. L. Settlement Class Members for more information.

Alert Type info

ALERT: Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members

On Feb. 27, 2024, we announced a process for eligible Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to apply for re-parole so they can continue to temporarily remain in the United States.

We encourage eligible Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to submit their re-parole requests to us no earlier than 180 days (6 months) before the expiration of their current period of parole. You can find your parole expiration date on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you were paroled into the United States.

Filing during this window reduces the risk that your current period of parole and employment authorization will expire before you receive a decision on your re-parole request. If you submit a request for re-parole more than 180 days before the expiration of your current period of parole, we may reject or deny your re-parole application without refunding the filing fees. Please note that filing earlier than 180 days before your current parole expiration date will not result in a faster decision.

Use this form to apply for travel documents, parole documents, or arrival/departure records.

Travel Documents

You may use this form to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) travel authorization document, Advance Parole Document, or advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents.

If we approve your Form I-131 and you are a (TPS) beneficiary in the United States who wishes to travel outside the United States, we will issue you Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by an Alien to the United States.

If we approve your Form I-131, and your Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, is still pending, we will issue you a Form I-512L, Advance Parole Document. 

If you are a TPS beneficiary or have a pending initial TPS application, you should carefully read the Form I-131 Instructions. These instructions explain certain risks you may face if you are outside the United States while we are considering your TPS re-registration or initial application, such as missing important requests for evidence or other notices or being denied TPS while you are outside the United States.

For information on travel documents, including potential immigration-related consequences of traveling outside the United States, see our Travel Documents page. If you are in the United States and you have an urgent need to travel outside the United States, see our Expedite Requests page and Emergency Travel page.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will determine at its discretion during inspection whether you may be admitted into TPS. You may be admitted into TPS if you travel and return in accordance with your TPS travel authorization, your TPS remains valid, and you are not inadmissible for certain criminal or security grounds that are mandatory ineligibility grounds for TPS. Note that if you were previously granted parole, this admission will render you ineligible for a new period of parole (re-parole).

If you file this form to request advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents, and you leave the CNMI without having an advance permission to travel document, your status will automatically terminate.

Initial Parole Documents

You may use this form to apply for parole into the United States based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, either for yourself or for someone else who is an alien and who is currently outside the United States. A parole request from outside the United States may fall under an existing program or process, such as the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, parole under the Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative, or the Family Reunification Task Force (FRTF) process. Your initial parole document may be a boarding foil that is placed in your passport, or it may be a Form I-512L travel document.

Arrival/Departure Records for Parole in Place

If you are an alien who is currently inside the United States and you are present without having been admitted, you may use this form to apply for parole in place based on urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, including requests for military parole in place and the FRTF process.

Arrival/Departure Records for Re-Parole

If you are an alien who is inside the United States, who was previously granted parole, and who needs an additional period of parole, then you may use this form to apply for re-parole based on urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. If we authorize your re-parole, you will be issued a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with a new Admit Until Date or Parole Until Date.

Generally, the DHS component that initially authorized parole has jurisdiction over any request for re-parole, unless DHS or USCIS provides alternate filing instructions. Please see the Memorandum of Agreement between USCIS, ICE, and CBP for more information about each agency’s jurisdiction over re-parole requests. Form I-131 includes filing instructions for specific types of re-parole requests processed by USCIS. 

Your re-parole request may fall under an existing program or process, including: 

  • Certain Afghans paroled into the United States after July 31, 2021;
  • Certain Ukrainians paroled into the United States after Feb. 11, 2022;
  • The Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program; 
  • Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative;
  • Central American Minors Program; 
  • FRTF Process; 
  • Military parole in place.

File Online   

Form Details

Forms and Document Downloads
Form I-131 (PDF, 637.69 KB)
Instructions for Form I-131 (PDF, 545.24 KB)
Edition Date

01/20/25. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions. 

Where to File

You have 2 options for filing your Form I-131 application with USCIS:

  • Online (only available for certain application types); or
  • By mail (on paper).

Filing Your Form I-131 Online

First create a USCIS online account or log in if you already have an account. To learn more, visit our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page. After you submit your Form I-131 online, we will send you a receipt notice.

Who Can File Form I-131 Online

Form I-131 Application Type

Selection on Form I-131

Can it be filed online?

Reentry permits  

Part 1, Box 1 on Form I-131

No

Refugee travel documents

Part 1, Box 2 or 3 on Form I-131

No

Travel authorization documents for TPS beneficiaries inside the United States

Part 1, Box 4 on Form I-131

Yes

Advance parole documents for aliens who are inside the United States and advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents

Part 1, Boxes:

  • 5.A (pending Form I-485) Form I-485 receipt number must begin with IOE to file online under 5.A. All other receipt numbers are ineligible for online filing;
  • 5.C (pending initial Form I-821);
  • 5.D (Deferred Enforced Departure);
  • 5. E (Approved Form I-821D); and
  • 5.G (Approved Form I-918); 
    • on Form I-131 

Yes

Advance parole documents for aliens who are inside the United States and advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents

Part 1, Boxes:

  • 5.A (pending Form I-485) Form I-485 receipt number must begin with IOE to file online under 5.A. All other receipt numbers are ineligible for online filing;
  • 5. B (Pending Form I-589);
  • 5. F (Approved Form I-914);
  • 5.H (Current Parolee);
  • 5. I (Approved Form I-817);
  • 5. J (Pending Form I-687);
  • 5. K (Approved V nonimmigrant status);
  • 5. L (CNMI long-term resident);
  • 5. M (Other);
    •  on Form I-131

No

Initial parole documents for aliens who are currently outside the United States under specific parole programs and processes.   This includes individuals applying for themselves or for someone else

Part 1, Boxes:

  • 6.B (1), (2), and (3) (Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative); and
  • 6.D (Family Reunification Task Force Process); on Form I-131

Yes

Initial parole documents for aliens who are currently outside the United States under specific parole programs and processes. This includes individuals applying for themselves or for someone else

Part 1, Boxes:

  • 6. A (Filipino World War II Veterans Parole);
  • 6. C (Intergovernmental Parole Referral); and
  • 6. E (Other); 
    • on Form I-131

No

Initial parole documents for aliens who are currently outside the United States but are not applying under a specific parole program or process. This includes individuals applying for themselves or for someone else

Part 1, Box 7 on Form I-131

Yes

Initial request for Arrival/Departure Record for parole in place for aliens who are inside the United StatesPart 1, Box 8.B (Family Reunification Task Force)

Yes

Initial request for Arrival/Departure Record for parole in place for aliens who are inside the United States

Part 1, Boxes:

  • 8. A (Military Parole in Place);
  • 8. C (Other); or
    • Form I-131

No

Arrival/Departure Record for re-parole for certain aliens who are requesting a new period of parole from inside the United States under an existing program or process:

  • Certain Afghans paroled into the United States after July 31, 2021;
  • Certain Ukrainians and their Immediate Family Members paroled into the United States on or after Feb. 11, 2022;
  • The Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program;
  • The Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative;
  • The Central American Minors Program;
  • Certain participants in the FRTF Process; or
  • Other Program or Process
  • Part 1. Box 10.B on Form I-131 (Certain Afghans Paroled into the United States after July 31, 2021)
  • Part 1. Box 10.C on Form I-131 (Certain Ukrainians and their Immediate Family Members Paroled into the United States on or after Feb. 11, 2022)
  • Part 1. Box 10.D on Form I-131 (Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program)
  • Part 1. Box 10.E (1)(2) or (3) on Form I-131 (Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative)
  • Part 1. Box 10.F on Form I-131 (Central American Minors Program)
  • Part 1. Box 10.G on Form I-131 (FRTF Process as a Ms. L. Settlement Class member or qualifying additional family member under the Ms. L. Settlement Agreement)
  • Part 1. Box 10.I on Form I-131 (Other Program or Process)

 

Yes

Arrival/Departure Record for re-parole for aliens initially paroled into the United States or granted parole in place under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) who are:

  • Requesting a new period of parole from inside the United States, but not under a specific program or process; or
  • Requesting a new period of parole and who were initially paroled into the United States or granted parole in place, but not under a specific program or process, and someone else is filing the request for them.

Part 1. Box 11

Yes

You cannot change or amend the selected application type after you file online. If you file Form I-131 online for a category that must be filed on paper (for example, to request an advance parole document) but indicate another category to enable online filing, we may deny your Form I-131 and we will not refund your Form I-131 filing fee. 

If you are filing Form I-485 online using PDF upload, you can file Form I-131 concurrently with your Form I-485 application package. 

Filing Your Form I-131 By Mail

Please check our Filing Addresses for Form I-131 page for information on where to mail your application, if you are not filing online via myUSCIS.gov. If you do not send your application to the appropriate direct filing address, it may take longer to process.

Filing Fee

You can find the fees for Form I-131 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

Special Instructions

E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or text message that we have accepted your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the first page of your form.

Related Links
  • Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole for Individuals Outside the United States
  • Guidance on Evidence for Certain Types of Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Requests
  • Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members
  • Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans
  • Card Delivery Tracking
  • Department of State: Photo Specifications
  • Travel Documents
Last Reviewed/Updated:
08/14/2026
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