Fill Out USCIS Form I-131 Online
Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Applies for advance parole, a reentry permit, or a refugee travel document.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, is the USCIS application for several different travel-related documents. Depending on your status, you can use it to request a reentry permit, a refugee travel document, advance parole, TPS travel authorization, or parole-related documents.
You can fill out Form I-131 in the Universal PDF editor and download the completed PDF to print, sign, and file. Because the form serves many purposes, marking the correct application type and completing only the parts that apply to you is most of the work.
What is Form I-131 used for
Form I-131 covers a family of travel and parole documents rather than a single benefit.
- Advance parole for people in the United States, commonly used by adjustment of status applicants who need to travel while Form I-485 is pending.
- Reentry permits for lawful permanent residents planning extended time abroad.
- Refugee travel documents for refugees and asylees who need to travel internationally.
- TPS travel authorization for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries.
- Parole, parole in place, and re-parole requests based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, plus advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents.
Who files Form I-131
The person who needs the document files the application, and the right document depends on status. Adjustment applicants typically request advance parole, permanent residents planning long trips request reentry permits, and refugees or asylees request refugee travel documents.
Travel while an immigration case is pending carries real risk. Departing without the right document can cause a pending I-485 to be treated as abandoned, and travel can have other consequences depending on your history, so review your plans with an immigration attorney or accredited representative before booking anything.
How to fill out Form I-131
Read the application type list first, then complete the parts the instructions assign to your document type.
- Part 1 asks which document you are requesting. Select only the option that matches your situation, since the required evidence and any biometrics steps flow from this choice.
- The biographic parts collect your name, address, birth details, and immigration information such as your A-Number and current status.
- Trip-related parts ask about your intended travel, including purpose, destinations, and expected departure date and length of the trip.
- Reentry permit and refugee travel document applicants answer additional questions about time spent outside the United States and prior documents.
- Sign the form and attach the photos and supporting evidence the instructions list for your document type.
Filing tips
The current edition of Form I-131 is dated 01/20/25, and USCIS may reject filings that mix pages from different editions. Adjustment applicants often file the I-131 in the same package as Forms I-485 and I-765.
- Use typed entries or black ink and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page.
- Check the current fee for your document type with the USCIS fee calculator, since fees differ across the application types.
- Reentry permit applicants generally need to complete biometrics in the United States, so plan travel dates around that appointment.
- TPS beneficiaries should read the instructions about the risks of being abroad while a TPS application or re-registration is pending.
Frequently asked questions
Generally not without advance parole. For many applicants, departing before USCIS issues the travel document means the pending I-485 is treated as abandoned. Wait for the document and get legal advice about your specific risks.
Advance parole lets certain people with pending applications return after temporary travel, while a reentry permit is for lawful permanent residents who plan to stay abroad for an extended period and want to preserve their residence.
Reentry permits are typically valid for up to two years from issuance, though the period can be shorter in some situations described in the instructions. Check your document for its exact validity.
No. Parole decisions are made by CBP officers at the port of entry, and a document does not guarantee admission. Travelers with complicated histories should get legal advice before departing.
Using the passport of the country you claimed persecution from can raise serious problems for asylees. A refugee travel document requested on Form I-131 is the standard travel document, and an attorney can advise on specific destinations.
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