I-131, Application for Travel Document

Form 5; instructions 15.

12/23/16. We will publish a new edition of this form soon. In the meantime, you may file using the 12/23/16 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Please check the Filing Addresses for Form I-131 for information on where to mail your application.

Filing Tips for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

Complete all sections of the form. We will reject the form if these fields are missing:

• Part 1 – Information About You
  • Family Name
  • Physical Address
  • Date of Birth
• Part 2 – Application Type
  • 1.a. – 1.f.
  • Family Name (If 1.f. selected)
  • Physical Address (If 1.f. selected)

Don’t forget to sign your form! We will reject any unsigned form.

You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check.  When filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Please note that service centers are not able to process credit card payments. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.

You do not need to pay an additional fee for Form I-131 if:

• You are filing Form I-131 Application Type B or D;
• You filed a Form I-485 with a fee on/after July 30, 2007; and
• Your Form I-485 is still pending.

We recommend reading our Lockbox Filing Tips.

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-131. It is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations. 

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language to English. 

Did you provide the following?

• For a refugee travel document:
  • A copy of an official photo identity document
  • Proof of refugee or asylee status
  • A statement explaining the reason for a “yes” response to any question in Part 6
  • If outside the United States, submit two identical color passport-style photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of filing this application.

• For a reentry permit:
  • A copy of an official photo identity document 
  • Evidence that you are a lawful permanent resident:
    • A copy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card or a Form I-551);
    • A copy of the biographic pages of your passport and a copy of the visa page showing your initial admission as a lawful permanent resident; 
    • A copy of the Form I-797, Notice of Action, approval notice of your application to replace your Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card or a Form I-551); or
    • Temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status.
  • Certified English translations of non-English documents (if applicable)

• For an advance parole document for individuals who are currently in the United States:
  • A copy of an official photo identity document
  • Two identical passport-style photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of the filing of this application
  • A copy of any document showing your current status in the United States 
  • Evidence that your trip is for educational, employment, or humanitarian purposes 
  • An explanation or other evidence showing the circumstances that warrant issuance of an advance parole document
  • If you are an applicant for adjustment of status, a copy of a USCIS receipt as evidence that you filed the adjustment application
  •  If you are traveling to Canada to apply for an immigrant visa, a copy of the U.S. consular appointment letter

• For advance parole for someone outside the United States (for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit):
  • A copy of a photo identity document for beneficiary, petitioner, and sponsor
  • A copy of the beneficiary’s passport identity page
  • A description of the urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reason, including documentation of a need for expedited handling, and the length of time for which the beneficiary needs parole
  • A completed Form I-134 with appropriate documentation as described in the form instructions
  • A statement explaining why the beneficiary cannot obtain a U.S. visa (if applicable)
  • A statement explaining why the beneficiary cannot obtain a waiver of inadmissibility (if applicable)
  • A copy of any decision on immigrant/non-immigrant applications or petitions

NOTE: Read more information about the types of evidence that may be relevant to specific parole requests on our Humanitarian Parole webpage. 
 

If you file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to request an advance parole document and depart the United States without possession of an advance parole document that is valid for the entire time you are abroad, your Form I-131 will be considered abandoned. At times, an individual may have an approved advance parole document while a second one is pending. Individuals may travel on the approved advanced parole document, provided the document is valid for the entire duration of the time abroad. The pending Form I-131 will not be considered abandoned in this situation.

To receive an e-Notification when your Form I-131 has been accepted, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the front of your application.

Note:  The new form edition has 2D barcode technology to help us collect information quickly and accurately. As you complete the form electronically, the barcode stores your information.

Depending on which internet browser you use, the barcode may not be visible when you open the form. We will process all forms with or without a barcode at the bottom of the page.