Title : Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
An Application for Travel Document is for people under difference circumstances to help them re enter the U.S. after temporary international travel. Form I-131 should be filed with the USCIS to apply for a re-entry permit, refugee travel document or advance parole travel document, to include parole into the US for humanitarian reasons.
Advance Parole is for applicants who have a pending Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident, and who wish to travel before the application is approved. Refugee Travel Document is for applicants who hold Refugee or Asylee status in the US and who wish to travel abroad.
A Re-entry Permit is for Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) who will be outside the United States for an extended period of time, normally one year or more.
Applications for re entry permit should be filed in the U.S. Additionally the Lawful Permanent Resident has to appear for a biometrics appointment (fingerprinting) before he or she can leave the country. You can leave the U.S. after getting the fingerprinting done and pick up the travel document at a U.S. Consulate or DHS office abroad. Else, you may remain in the U.S. until the application is approved. Processing times differ, but generally range from three to six months.
Re entry Permits are valid only for two years and cannot be renewed. But you can return to the U.S. to file another application. Normally, a Lawful Permanent Resident can spend almost six years outside the U.S. and retain his/her Re entry Permit.
If you are filing the I-131 application based on your pending or approved Form I-821, you should file your form with the USCIS Dallas Lock box facility. Additionally, you should include a copy of the I-797 C Notice of Action that shows that your application was accepted or approved.
If you are applying for renewal of your advance parole document ,USCIS will accept and adjudicate Form I-131 filed up to 120 days before the date your Advance Parole document that you have at present expires.
All Refugee Travel Document applicants or Reentry Permit applicants should complete biometrics at an Application Support Center (ASC). They should get the fingerprinting done at an overseas USCIS facility if applying for a Refugee Travel Document while being outside of the U.S.. If you are between 14 and 79 years old and you are applying for a Refugee Travel Document or Re-entry Permit, you have to be fingerprinted as part of USCIS biometric services requirements.
Once you have filed this application, USCIS will notify you of the time/location of your biometrics appointment. If you fail to appear for biometrics, it might result in a denial of your application. All applicants for Re-entry Permit and/or Refugee Travel Documents aged between 14 and 79 years should pay an additional $85 biometric fee.
The submission fee for advance parole or re-entry permit is $360 and for a Refugee Travel Document for applicants aged 16 or older is $135. For a child below 16 years of age, the fee is $105. Applicants aged between 14 and 79 should pay a biometric fee of $85 for a Reentry Permit and a Refugee Travel Document , unless the applicant resides abroad at the time of filing their form. Advance parole applicants need not pay the biometric fee.
The submission fee and biometrics services fee can be paid with a single check for $445 and it should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security.
