Fill Form I-131 online
Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
or choose your own copy:
- ✓ Official current version
- ✓ Free download, no account
- ✓ No card, no trial
- ✓ Never uploaded
Form I-131 in short
Form I-131 is used to apply for U.S. travel and parole documents. The most common uses are a reentry permit for permanent residents, a refugee travel document, and an advance parole document for people with a pending Green Card application. It is also used for TPS travel authorization, initial parole, parole in place, and re-parole.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 01/20/25 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | Permanent and conditional residents seeking a reentry permit. Refugees, asylees, and residents who got status through refugee or asylee status seeking a refugee travel document. People inside the U.S. with a pending Form I-485 or another qualifying status who need advance parole. TPS beneficiaries. People requesting parole for themselves or for someone outside the United States. |
| Who receives it | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). |
| Where to send it | Some application types can be filed online with a USCIS account. Others must be mailed. USCIS changed the I-131 filing locations on Oct. 7, 2026. Use the USCIS page 'Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-131' (uscis.gov/i-131-addresses) to find the address for your reason for filing. Forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026 sent to a prior location are accepted. |
| Deadline | Depends on the document. For a reentry permit you must be physically present in the U.S. when you file and when you give biometrics. For a refugee travel document you must apply before you leave the United States. For Ukrainian re-parole, USCIS asks for filing no earlier than 180 days before parole expires. |
| Fee | Varies by document (Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26, effective Oct. 16, 2026; checked 2026-10-25). Examples: reentry permit $630 (paper only); advance parole with a pending I-485 $630 paper or $580 online; TPS travel authorization $630 paper or $580 online; refugee travel document $0 for refugees, $165 for asylees age 16 or older, $135 for asylees under 16. Some categories are $0 and some allow a fee waiver with Form I-912. An extra parole fee may be charged by CBP at the port of entry if parole is approved. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
On Oct. 7, 2026, USCIS changed the filing locations for paper I-131 forms. On Oct. 16, 2026, USCIS published Form G-1055 edition 10/16/26 with new fiscal year 2027 fees under Pub. L. 119-21 that include Form I-131. The form edition itself is still 01/20/25.
How to fill out Form I-131, line by line
| Part 1 | Application type Select the one document you are asking for, such as reentry permit (Item 1), refugee travel document (Items 2 or 3), TPS travel (Item 4), advance parole (Item 5 with a sub box), or a parole category (Items 6 to 11). You cannot change this after filing online. |
| Part 2 | Information about you Your name, other names, addresses, date and country of birth, A-Number, USCIS online account number, Social Security number, class of admission, and I-94 details. |
| Part 3 | Biographic information Ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye and hair color of the person who will receive the document. |
| Part 4 | Processing information Expected travel date, prior documents issued, where the document should be delivered, and questions on removal proceedings. |
| Part 5 | Reentry permit only Total time spent outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident, or during the past 5 years if that is shorter. |
| Part 6 | Refugee travel document only Questions about returning to or using a passport from the country of claimed persecution. |
| Part 7 | Proposed travel For advance parole and similar documents: purpose of the trip, countries to visit, and number of trips requested. |
| Parts 8 and 9 | Parole and re-parole details Only for initial parole, parole in place, or re-parole. Part 9 is for requesting employment authorization with re-parole. |
| Part 10 | Applicant contact information and signature Your phone and email, and your handwritten signature. USCIS does not accept a typed or stamped name. |
| Parts 11 to 13 | Interpreter, preparer, and additional information Fill in only if someone helped you. Part 13 is extra space for longer answers. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the United States after filing I-485 without an approved advance parole document. The instructions say USCIS generally treats the I-485 as abandoned, with some exceptions for H, L, K, and V status holders.
- Filing for a reentry permit while outside the United States. You must be physically present when you file and when you complete biometrics.
- Selecting a category that allows online filing when your real category must be filed on paper. USCIS says it may deny the form and keep the fee.
- Mailing to an old address. Filing locations changed on Oct. 7, 2026.
- Paying an old fee. New fees in G-1055 edition 10/16/26 apply to forms postmarked on or after Oct. 16, 2026.
- Leaving out the two identical color passport-style photos or the copy of a photo ID. Form I-94 is not accepted as photo ID.
- Filing duplicate I-131 requests of the same type for the same person. USCIS may reject or deny duplicates.
- Missing the biometrics appointment before travel. USCIS may deny the application.
Questions about Form I-131
Can I file Form I-131 online?
Only for some types, such as TPS travel authorization, advance parole based on a pending I-485 with an IOE receipt number, and some parole and re-parole categories. Reentry permits and refugee travel documents must be filed on paper.
How long is a reentry permit valid?
Generally 2 years from issuance. It may be limited to 1 year if you spent more than 4 of the last 5 years outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident. USCIS will not extend it.
How long is a refugee travel document valid?
The instructions say a refugee travel document is valid for 1 year.
Can I travel while my I-131 is pending?
It depends on the document. For a reentry permit, leaving before a decision usually does not affect it if you completed biometrics first. For advance parole with a pending I-485, leaving before approval generally leads USCIS to treat the I-485 as abandoned.
Does advance parole guarantee I will be let back in?
No. USCIS notes a Board of Immigration Appeals decision of Aug. 13, 2026 (Matter of Delcarmen-Lara) that changes how departures on advance parole are treated for some people with unlawful presence. Read the USCIS alert and get legal advice before traveling.
Can someone else file I-131 for a person outside the U.S.?
Yes, for initial parole requests a person in the U.S. can file on behalf of someone outside the United States.
Related forms
Tools for this form
Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.