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Application for Travel Document

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US · No statutory deadline; file before international travel and (for AP) before departing on a pending I-485.

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    What is I-131?

    USCIS Form I-131 is the omnibus application for several different travel and parole documents. The most common pro se uses are: (1) Reentry Permit for a lawful permanent resident who plans to be outside the United States for more than one year; (2) Refugee Travel Document for an asylee, refugee, or LPR via refugee/asylee status who needs to travel outside the country; (3) TPS Travel Authorization for a Temporary Protected Status beneficiary who needs to travel; (4) Advance Parole for someone with a pending I-485 (or U/V/I-687/I-817 status, or current parolee) who needs to travel before their adjustment is approved. Item 1 of Part 1 is the most consequential field on the form because it drives which other parts you must complete and what fee you owe. Less common applications (initial parole, parole in place, re-parole, humanitarian parole) appear on the same form but are highly fact-specific and usually require attorney guidance.

    What happens if you miss the deadline: Departing the United States without an approved Advance Parole while an I-485 is pending will be treated by USCIS as abandonment of the I-485, except for the narrow H, L, K-3, K-4, and V categories. Reentry Permits cannot be issued from outside the U.S.; if you remain abroad more than one year without a permit, your green card may be deemed abandoned. Refugee Travel Documents must be obtained before departing if at all possible; refugees and asylees who travel without one risk being denied reentry.

    How to file

    Filing fee
    Varies by application type (USCIS April 2024 final rule, paper). Under the 04/01/24 rule, biometrics costs are bundled into the base fee for most categories; only TPS Travel Authorization (item 4) and EOIR-related filings keep a separate $30 biometrics line. Reentry Permit (item 1): $630 (biometrics bundled). Refugee Travel Document (items 2 / 3): $165 if age 16 or older, $135 if under 16 (biometrics bundled); refugees / asylees who first travel before adjustment under 8 CFR 223 retain the fee path described in the I-131 instructions. Advance Parole (item 5): $630 standalone; no extra fee if filed concurrently with a pending I-485 that itself paid the AP-bundled fee under the USCIS one-time bundle. TPS Travel Authorization (item 4): $630 plus $30 biometrics. Items 6-11 (initial parole / parole in place / re-parole): fees vary by program; some humanitarian programs are $0 under USCIS or congressional-direction filing-fee exemptions. Always check uscis.gov/feecalculator before mailing; fees change annually. Use Form I-912 to request a fee waiver if you cannot pay.
    Filing method
    mail (USCIS lockbox or service center, varies by application type), online (my.uscis.gov, for some application types)
    Filing deadline
    No statutory filing deadline. Practical guidance: (a) Reentry Permit (item 1) must be filed while you are physically inside the United States; biometrics are scheduled in the U.S. and the document is then mailed to you (or to a U.S. embassy / consulate / international field office abroad if you have already departed). USCIS strongly recommends filing 60 days before international travel. (b) Refugee Travel Document (items 2 / 3): file before you depart the U.S.; an asylee or refugee who travels without an RTD risks being denied reentry. (c) TPS Travel Authorization (item 4): no statutory deadline, but file at least 90 days before intended travel; without TPS travel auth, departing terminates TPS. (d) Advance Parole (item 5): file as soon as you know you will need to travel; departing the U.S. before AP is approved abandons a pending I-485 (with narrow H, L, K-3, K-4, V exceptions). (e) Items 6-11 (parole / parole in place / re-parole): fact-specific; many parole programs have congressional or USCIS-published filing windows.
    How to serve
    Not applicable. I-131 is filed directly with USCIS; there is no party to serve.
    Wet signature
    Yes, sign in pen after printing.
    Notarization
    No
    Original and copies
    Original to USCIS lockbox or service center per the I-131 instructions for your application type. Keep a copy of the entire packet for your records, including the signed form, all supporting evidence (passport bio page, prior I-94, prior EAD or green card, evidence of pending I-485 / I-589 if applicable, two passport-style photos, the fee receipt or I-912), and any tracking number from USPS or courier.

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    Other Ezel-supported forms that commonly file alongside I-131. Each one has its own guided fill, AI review, and PDF render.

    I-485
    Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
    Application to Register Permanent Residence. I-131 item 5 (advance parole) is the most common I-131 path for adjustment-of-status applicants and requires a pending I-485; the advance-parole grant under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(B) is what lets an Immigration and Nationality Act section 245(a) adjustment-of-status applicant travel internationally without abandoning the I-485. Travel during a pending I-485 without an approved I-131 is deemed abandonment under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(A) and the I-485 is denied as a matter of law (limited carve-outs apply for applicants who maintain valid H-1B, H-4, L-1, L-2, K-3, K-4, or V status throughout the trip under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(C), provided they do not lose those statuses by the travel and they re-enter using the underlying nonimmigrant visa rather than parole; Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012) protects advance-parole-based departures from triggering the INA 212(a)(9)(B) 3 / 10-year bar). Under the 04/01/24 fee rule (89 FR 6194, effective April 1, 2024), the I-131 item-5 fee is bundled with the I-485 fee for any I-485 filed on or after that date under 89 FR 6233-6235 concurrent-filing rules, so concurrent filers pay $0 separately for I-131 (and for (c)(9) I-765 - the bundle is I-485 + (c)(9) I-765 + I-131 item 5 = single I-485 fee of $1,440 paper / $1,375 online under 89 FR 6240). Concurrent I-485 filers whose I-485 was filed before 04/01/24 pay the standalone I-131 fee of $630 paper / $580 online and the standalone I-765 fee of $520 paper / $470 online. USCIS typically issues the I-131 grant on a Combo Card with the I-765 (c)(9) EAD within 4 to 8 months of the I-485 receipt; the Combo Card is the single plastic ID-card-sized credential under 8 CFR 274a.13 that carries both work authorization and travel authorization, and is the I-9 List A document for the adjustment-applicant during the I-485 pendency. The Combo Card replaces the older two-document (separate EAD plus paper I-512L parole document) protocol; current adjustment applicants get only the Combo Card unless USCIS issues separate documents (typically only when one application precedes the other by more than 3 months). The I-131 advance parole confers no immigration status; on return the parolee is paroled in under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) / 8 USC 1182(d)(5)(A), not admitted, which carries some functional differences (e.g. parolees are not technically 'admitted' for purposes of INA 245(a) consular-processing override, but they are in 'authorized period of stay' for I-9 employment-authorization purposes). AP does not extend the underlying status; AP travel by someone in H-1B status, for example, voids the H-1B and replaces it with parole, which means the traveler returns to the U.S. under parole rather than as an H-1B nonimmigrant - a critical distinction if the I-485 is subsequently denied because the parolee cannot reactivate the original H-1B status (would need a new H-1B petition for any future status). The I-485 abandonment rule under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii) is strict: if the applicant leaves the U.S. without advance parole, the I-485 is denied even if the applicant returns the same day on a valid visa. Concurrent filers usually pair I-131 item 5 + I-765 (c)(9) + I-485 + I-864 / I-864A (family-based supporting affidavit of support) in the same packet for family-based AOS; employment-based AOS bundles I-131 + I-765 + I-485 + I-140 (or with approved I-140 receipt) under INA 245(a) with the priority-date current under the State Department Visa Bulletin requirement. Humanitarian-based AOS (asylee, refugee, T, U, VAWA, SIJ) pairs I-131 + I-765 + I-485 with the underlying humanitarian-status-grant evidence (e.g. asylum grant notice for asylee adjustment under INA 209(b) and 8 CFR 209.2). The I-131 item-5 grant is valid for the duration the I-485 is pending plus typically 1 year, and is renewable through a new I-131 filing if the I-485 remains pending after expiration; the renewal I-131 retains the bundled-fee status if the underlying I-485 is post-04/01/24. Advance parole holders who travel with an Arrabally and Yerrabelly protection should not assume the protection extends to all INA 212(a) inadmissibility grounds; the Arrabally rule was specifically about the 3 / 10-year bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B), not about other grounds like criminal, fraud, or national-security inadmissibility, which still attach to a CBP inspection on parole-in.
    I-912
    Request for Fee Waiver
    Request for USCIS Fee Waiver. I-912 eligibility is per-form-type under 8 CFR 106.3, not blanket: I-131 type 1 Reentry Permit ($630 paper / $580 online per 89 FR 6194) and type 2 Refugee Travel Document ($165 for age 16 and older, $135 for under 16, with the under-16 reduced rate also at 89 FR 6194) are listed in 8 CFR 106.3(a)(1)(viii) as fee-waiver-eligible, and humanitarian-parole bases (items 6 through 11 on the 04/24 I-131 edition) are eligible when tied to T nonimmigrant status (8 USC 1101(a)(15)(T), trafficking victims), U nonimmigrant status (8 USC 1101(a)(15)(U), crime victims), VAWA self-petitioner status (8 USC 1154(a)(1)(A)(iii)-(iv) and (B)(ii)-(iii)), Special Immigrant Juvenile status under INA 101(a)(27)(J), or asylee / refugee status under INA 207-208, per the I-912 instructions and the 04/01/24 fee rule preamble (89 FR 6266-6268) which preserved fee-waiver eligibility for these humanitarian categories. Under the 04/01/24 fee rule (89 FR 6194, Jan. 31, 2024), item 5 advance parole tied to a pending I-485 is NOT separately fee-waivable, because the I-131 fee is already bundled into the I-485 fee (the 04/01/24 rule's bundling at 89 FR 6233-6235 made AP and EAD filings free for AOS applicants with paid I-485s), so 'waiving I-131' is meaningless when filed as concurrent AP with I-485; what matters is whether the underlying I-485 is fee-waivable, and family-based / employment-based I-485s are excluded from waiver under 8 CFR 106.3(a)(3)(ii)(E) while humanitarian I-485s (asylee, refugee, T, U, VAWA, SIJ) remain eligible. Eligible filers pick one of three bases on I-912 Part 2: (1) means-tested benefit (CalFresh, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, CalWORKs, housing assistance, Tribal TANF, CAPI, IHSS) with a current benefit verification letter per 8 CFR 106.3(a)(2)(i), (2) household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline with tax-return / pay-stub / IRS-transcript evidence per 8 CFR 106.3(a)(2)(ii), or (3) discretionary financial hardship per 8 CFR 106.3(a)(2)(iii) (a narrative declaration of catastrophic medical expenses, unemployment, eviction, or other one-time financial events; each basis requires its own evidence package, and combining bases does not strengthen the request). File I-912 stapled to the front of the I-131 packet under the form-instructions cover-page rule; USCIS rejects the entire packet under 8 CFR 103.7(c) if the fee waiver is denied and the fee was not paid, and the rejection returns the unsigned check or money order with no priority-date credit; the filer must refile from scratch with the full fee or with corrected fee-waiver evidence. Up to 4 family members may share one I-912 if filing related petitions concurrently in the same packet; each requestor 14 or older signs separately under 8 CFR 106.3(b). USCIS does NOT offer fee deferral or hardship installment under any benefit type beyond the binary waive-or-pay decision in 8 CFR 106.3; partial-fee or reduced-fee payment plans are not available.
    I-765
    Application for Employment Authorization
    Application for Employment Authorization. Advance-parole applicants with a pending I-485 (item 5 on I-131) typically also file I-765 in eligibility category c.9 (pending I-485 adjustment applicant under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(9)) so they can work while the green card is pending. Under the 04/01/24 fee rule (89 FR 6194), both c.9 I-765 and item 5 I-131 fees are bundled with the I-485 fee for any I-485 filed on or after that date, so concurrent filers pay $0 separately for either; standalone fees would be $520 paper / $470 online for I-765 and $630 paper / $580 online for I-131. USCIS typically issues both documents together on a single Combo Card (Employment Authorization / Advance Parole EAD-AP) within 4 to 8 months of the I-485 receipt, replacing the historical practice of separate paper cards; the Combo Card has the EAD on one side and the I-512L advance-parole authorization on the reverse, both valid for the duration of the underlying I-485 (typically 1 year, renewable while the I-485 stays pending). The I-131 advance parole authorizes international travel without abandoning the pending I-485 under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(B) (international travel during pending I-485 without approved AP is deemed abandonment and the I-485 is denied, with limited carve-outs under 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(C) for valid H-1B / H-4 / L-1 / L-2 / K-3 / K-4 / V status holders); the I-765 c.9 authorizes work; neither confers immigration status. The c.9 EAD is renewable in 540-day automatic extensions under 8 CFR 274a.13(d) once the timely renewal is filed (the 540-day extension was permanent under the 12/13/24 final rule, replacing the prior 180-day default and the temporary 540-day rule from 04/04/24). On return from international travel, the parolee is paroled in under INA section 212(d)(5)(A), not admitted as an immigrant; the I-485 is then adjudicated to LPR status and the Combo Card is replaced by the I-551 LPR card. Note that international travel under advance parole still triggers the 3-year / 10-year unlawful-presence bars under INA 212(a)(9)(B) for applicants who accrued unlawful presence before adjusting (departing on AP can trigger the bar; the case law including Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly (BIA 2012) and 8 USCIS PM B.3(B) somewhat softened this, but the wizard should flag the risk for any I-485 filer with prior unlawful presence).
    I-864
    Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
    Affidavit of Support. I-864 is required for nearly all family-based I-485 adjustments under INA section 213A and 8 USC 1183a, with implementing rules at 8 CFR 213a.2(b) (when required) and 8 CFR 213a.2(c) (sponsor requirements); the petitioning relative as primary sponsor under INA 213A(f)(1) (and any joint sponsor under INA 213A(f)(3) and 8 CFR 213a.2(c)(2)(iii)(B), or substitute sponsor under INA 213A(f)(5)(A) and 8 CFR 213a.2(c)(2)(iii)(C) where the original petitioner died after I-130 approval but the case survived under INA 204(l)) signs the I-864 binding themselves contractually under INA 213A(a)(1)(A)-(B) and 8 USC 1183a(a)(1)(A)-(B) at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines under INA 213A(f)(1)(E) and 8 USC 1183a(f)(1)(E) (100 percent for an active-duty military sponsor petitioning for a spouse or child under INA 213A(f)(3) cross to 8 USC 1183a(f)(3)) for the beneficiary's support until one of the five termination events under 8 CFR 213a.2(e)(2) occurs: (1) the beneficiary becomes a U.S. citizen by naturalization under INA 316 or 319(a), (2) the beneficiary accrues 40 qualifying quarters of Social Security work credits under 8 USC 1183a(a)(3)(A) (including spouse's quarters during marriage and parent's quarters before age 18 under 42 USC 413), (3) the beneficiary departs the United States and abandons LPR status, (4) the beneficiary dies, or (5) the sponsor dies. The I-864 is enforceable by the beneficiary directly and by any federal/state/local agency that provides a means-tested public benefit under 8 USC 1183a(b) (reimbursement obligation, 10-year statute of limitations under 8 CFR 213a.4(a)(2)); divorce does not terminate the obligation (Erler v. Erler 824 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2016); Liu v. Mund 686 F.3d 418 (7th Cir. 2012) (no duty to mitigate); In re Marriage of Kumar 13 Cal.App.5th 1072 (2017) (California state-court enforcement)). The public-charge inadmissibility ground under INA 212(a)(4) and 8 USC 1182(a)(4) requires the family-based I-485 applicant to demonstrate non-public-charge status, and I-864 is the principal evidence under INA 212(a)(4)(C) (family-based) and 8 CFR 212.21-212.23 (public charge rule restored 12/23/22 at 87 FR 55472 to the pre-Trump 1999 NPRM/2022 final-rule framework). Family-based AOS beneficiaries concurrently file I-131 (advance parole under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(A) and INA 212(d)(5)) and I-765 (c.9 employment authorization while I-485 is pending under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(9)) with the I-485 + I-864 packet at the same USCIS lockbox; under the 04/01/24 fee rule at 89 FR 6194 the I-131 (otherwise $630 paper / $580 online under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(17)) and I-765 (otherwise $520 paper / $470 online) are bundled fee-free with a paid I-485 ($1,440 paper / $1,375 online, $950 reduced for child under 14 filing concurrently with parent) so the AP applicant pays no separate I-131 filing fee at this stage; the I-864 itself carries no USCIS fee in the AOS context (the $120 affidavit-of-support review fee applies only to consular processing through the National Visa Center under 22 CFR 42.62 and DOS regulation). The I-864 is the sponsor's instrument, not the AP applicant's, but it travels in the same case file and the AP applicant's I-131 cannot be approved without an approvable I-485 under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(B) (departure without AP abandons the I-485, and a denied I-485 voids any pending I-131), and the I-485 cannot be approved without an adequate I-864 (refusal under INA 212(a)(4) for public-charge inadmissibility if I-864 income falls short and no joint sponsor or I-864A household contributor cures the gap under 8 CFR 213a.2(c)(2)(iii)(B)). Travel on advance parole between I-131 receipt and I-485 approval does not affect the I-864 (the sponsor's obligation runs from LPR admission forward under 8 CFR 213a.2(e)(2)), and crucially does not count as a triggering departure for the 3/10-year unlawful-presence bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) and 8 USC 1182(a)(9)(B) (Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012); AP departure is not a 'departure' for 9B purposes). A denied I-485, often for inadequate I-864 income or sponsor ineligibility (lack of U.S. domicile, sponsor's own LPR status not yet 5 years for naturalization quarters, sponsor bankruptcy under Younis v. Farooqi 597 F.Supp.2d 552 (D. Md. 2009)), abandons the I-131 by extension and the parole document is voided. The AP applicant should confirm sponsor income (most recent tax-year IRS Form 1040 + 1099/W-2, IRS tax transcript via Form 4506-T preferred per I-864 Instructions, current employment letter, last 6 months of paystubs, 12 months of bank statements if relying on assets under 8 CFR 213a.2(c)(2)(iv) at 3x for spouse/child / 5x for other LPR sponsors / 3x for citizen spouse/child or orphan) and document availability before filing I-131 to avoid sinking the packet.
    I-130A
    Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary
    Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. When the underlying I-130 is filed by a U.S. citizen or LPR petitioner for a spouse beneficiary, USCIS requires the spouse beneficiary to complete and sign I-130A under 8 CFR 204.2(a)(1)(i)(B) (the spouse-beneficiary biographic supplement) and the I-130 form instructions Part 6 / USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6, Part B, Chapter 2; I-130A captures the beneficiary's 5-year address chain, 5-year employment chain, last address and employer outside the U.S., both parents' identifying information, and any prior marriages of the beneficiary not already on I-130. The supplement gives USCIS the data needed for bona-fide-marriage analysis under INA 204(b), 8 USC 1154(b), and INA 204(c), 8 USC 1154(c) (the lifetime bar against approving any I-130 for a beneficiary previously found to have entered a marriage to evade immigration laws), including overlap of addresses and employers with the petitioner that supports a real shared life rather than a paper marriage. The connection to I-131 is procedural: advance parole on box 1.d of I-131 Part 2 is a benefit only available to AOS applicants under 8 CFR 212.5(f) and 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(A), the I-485 is typically filed concurrently with I-130 + I-130A for an immediate-relative spouse under INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i), 8 USC 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), per 8 CFR 245.2(a)(2)(i)(A) (concurrent-filing rule for immediate relatives), and a missing, unsigned, or materially incomplete I-130A triggers a Request for Evidence (RFE) on the I-130 under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8) that stalls the entire concurrent packet including I-485 and the I-131 advance-parole adjudication; USCIS can issue a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(16) if the gaps are unresolved, and outright denial under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8)(iv) if no response is filed in the 30-87 day RFE window. A K-1 or K-3 beneficiary adjusting after marriage to the I-129F petitioner does NOT file I-130A (the I-129F serves as the petitioning instrument under 8 CFR 245.1(c)(6)(ii) and no I-130 is required); I-130A is only triggered when an I-130 is the basis. Stepchild beneficiaries do not file I-130A either; only spouse beneficiaries do. Spouse beneficiaries living in the U.S. wet-ink-sign I-130A and the original I-130A goes in the packet; overseas beneficiaries submit the I-130A unsigned per the form instructions because consular processing makes the consular officer collect the signature at the interview under 22 CFR 42.61. I-130A has no separate filing fee (bundled with the $675 paper or $625 online I-130 fee under 89 FR 6194); attempting to file I-130A standalone or with its own check will be rejected under 8 CFR 103.7(c). The spouse beneficiary's I-130A address chain at items 7-12 should reconcile exactly to the beneficiary-address fields on Form I-485 Part 1 items 11-13 and on Form I-131 Part 1 mailing-address block; inconsistencies between I-130A, I-485, and I-131 within the same packet are a common RFE trigger because USCIS reads all three together at the field-office interview.
    I-589
    Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (I-589)
    Application for Asylum. Granted asylees and asylee-derived LPRs (CR-1 / IR-1 adjusted via INA 209(b)) are the canonical Refugee Travel Document population on I-131: Part 1 item 2 covers asylees still in asylee status, item 3 covers LPRs who obtained the green card via asylee adjustment. An asylee who travels on the home-country passport, or who applies for or renews the home-country passport, can be deemed to have re-availed of that country's protection and may lose asylum status under INA section 208(c)(2)(D) and 8 CFR 208.24(a)(1); the RTD is the safe travel mechanism because USCIS issues the document and the asylee travels under it in lieu of any home-country passport. Travel back to the country of feared persecution is the highest-risk action a granted asylee can take and is presumptively re-availment grounds for asylum termination under 8 CFR 208.24(a) even with an RTD; the asylee must rebut the presumption with documented compelling reasons (dying-relative visit under government safe-conduct, etc.). The RTD application fee under the 04/01/24 fee rule at 89 Fed. Reg. 6194 is $165 for applicants age 16 and older and $135 for applicants under 16 per 8 CFR 106.2(a)(7)(i)-(ii); the prior fee-exempt RTD path at the old 8 CFR 103.7(c)(3) was eliminated in the fee-rule reorganization, so an asylee filing RTD pays the fee unless paired with an I-912 fee waiver (asylees ARE on the I-912 list under 8 CFR 106.3 humanitarian carve-out). RTDs are valid 1 year for asylees, up to 2 years for asylee-derived LPRs; renewal requires a fresh I-131. An expired RTD abroad strands the asylee, who must approach a U.S. consulate for a boarding foil under 22 CFR 41.122.
    I-821D
    Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Form I-821D)
    Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Current DACA holders apply for advance parole on Form I-131 Part 2 item 1.d (Person granted deferred action under the Department of Homeland Security DACA initiative authorized by the 2012 Napolitano Memorandum and codified by the 2022 USCIS DACA Final Rule at 87 FR 53152 (08/30/22), with current regulations at 8 CFR 236.21-236.23) and Part 5 (item 5 reason for travel under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) parole authority and 8 USC 1182(d)(5)(A)), for educational, employment, or urgent humanitarian travel under 8 CFR 236.22 (DACA travel authorization). USCIS adjudicates DACA-based advance parole discretionarily under 8 CFR 212.5(d) (totality-of-circumstances review) and 8 CFR 236.22(c): (a) educational study (academic study abroad including semester-abroad programs, research conference attendance with curricular relevance, dissertation field research; documented by university enrollment letter, syllabus, conference invitation), (b) employment necessity (overseas assignment by employer, training, conference attendance with documented business purpose; employer letter required), or (c) urgent humanitarian reason (visit to dying or seriously ill relative with treating-physician letter, attending funeral or wake of close relative with documented relationship and death certificate, obtaining medical treatment unavailable in the U.S. with U.S. physician's letter explaining specialized care unavailable domestically); cosmetic or vacation travel is rejected. Departing the U.S. without an approved I-131 advance parole document while holding DACA terminates the DACA grant immediately under 8 CFR 236.21(c)(2) (also reflected in the 2012 Napolitano DACA memo, the 2022 DACA Final Rule preamble at 87 FR 53152-53154, and current USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 10 Pt. F Ch. 1 guidance), and the DACA holder is treated as having abandoned status; the c.33 EAD under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(33) also lapses on departure without AP, and the I-821D Texas v. United States (5th Cir. 2023, 50 F.4th 538) injunction-respect-renewals-only does not preserve DACA after departure abandonment. Approved AP travel followed by parole admission back into the U.S. under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) may create a lawful entry status (the parolee is 'inspected and paroled' for INA section 245(a)(1)(B) purposes, satisfying the 245(a) 'inspected and admitted or paroled' element for adjustment of status, opening an LPR path for DACA recipients with a viable family-based or employment-based immigrant petition; United States v. Texas precedent reaffirmed the parolee-status entry effect). Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012) held that a recipient who departs under AP and returns through inspection is not deemed to have made a 'departure' for purposes of triggering the 3 / 10-year unlawful-presence bars at INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) and 8 USC 1182(a)(9)(B)(i)(II), making AP-authorized travel the only safe means by which a DACA holder with prior unlawful presence can leave and return without triggering the bar (DACA recipients typically have unlawful presence because they entered as minors and lacked status from their 18th birthday onward; the 9B bar would otherwise prevent return). The DACA holder who later marries a U.S. citizen and adjusts under INA 245(a) leverages the AP-entry to bypass the 9B issue while preserving family unity. I-131 fee for DACA AP is $630 paper / $580 online under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(17) (the 04/01/24 fee rule at 89 FR 6194), payable separately from I-821D ($85 under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(34)) and I-765 c.33 ($520 paper / $470 online under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(15)); not eligible for I-912 fee waiver because I-912 does not cover DACA-tied filings under 8 CFR 106.3(a)(3)(ii)(E) (I-821D carve-out) or 8 CFR 106.3(a)(3)(ii)(F) (I-765 c.33 carve-out), and by extension Advance Parole tied to a DACA grant follows the same fee-waiver-ineligibility logic per the 2022 Final Rule policy rationale that DACA is a discretionary deferred-action program not a humanitarian category. The DACA holder seeking AP files I-131 with the underlying I-821D either concurrently (initial DACA grant with concurrent AP requested) or as a stand-alone filing (any DACA holder may seek AP at any point during DACA validity). The Texas v. United States Fifth Circuit injunction (in force since 2021, modified 2022 to permit renewals but not initial grants) affects new I-821D filers but does not bar AP for existing DACA holders.
    I-130
    Petition for Alien Relative
    Petition for Alien Relative. Family-based beneficiaries with a pending I-130 plus I-485 (concurrent filing under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(2)(i)(A) for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens classified under INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i) and 8 USC 1151(b)(2)(A)(i) - spouse, parent of citizen-petitioner age 21+, unmarried child under 21; or after the preference-category priority date becomes current on the Visa Bulletin under INA 203(a) F1/F2A/F2B/F3/F4 family preferences and the I-485 may be filed in the U.S. under INA 245(a)) commonly file I-131 advance parole alongside I-765 c.9 EAD. The AP travel document is requested at I-131 Part 2 item 1.d ('Person who has a pending I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status') under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) parole authority and 8 CFR 212.5(f) (parole for adjustment-of-status applicants), and USCIS typically issues the AP travel document and the c.9 EAD as a single Combination Card I-766/I-512L combo under 8 CFR 274a.13(d) (the combo card lists both work authorization under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(9) for c.9 EAD and travel authorization under 8 CFR 212.5(f) for AP, with the back of the card showing AP validity period). Departing the U.S. while the I-485 is pending without an approved I-131 AP is treated as abandonment of the I-485 under 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii) (with limited exceptions in 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(C) for H-1B/H-4, L-1/L-2, K-3/K-4, V-1/V-2/V-3 nonimmigrants in valid status, plus the Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012) holding that AP-authorized travel is not a 'departure' for INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) unlawful-presence purposes), so the I-131 functions as the bridge document that lets the I-130 / I-485 beneficiary travel for emergencies, work, or family events while the application is pending. I-130 by itself (with consular processing under 22 CFR 42 et seq. and 9 FAM 502-505 instructions, beneficiary still abroad) does not generate I-131 demand because the immigrant visa is issued at the consulate under INA 221 and the new LPR enters on the visa stamp (the I-94 admission record reflects 'IR1' for spouse-immediate-relative, 'CR1' for spouse-conditional-immediate-relative under INA 216, or the appropriate F-preference code; consular-processing entry does not require AP because there is no pending I-485 to abandon). The I-131 fee for an item-1.d pending-AOS applicant is bundled into the I-485 fee ($1,440 paper / $1,375 online under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(36)) under the 04/01/24 fee rule at 89 FR 6194 (no separate fee when filed with a pending I-485 under 8 CFR 103.7(c)(4) bundled-filing rule); a stand-alone I-131 filed after I-485 was filed without the I-131 (or for an emergency-AP after the I-485 receipt) incurs the regular $630 paper / $580 online fee under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(17) plus $30 biometrics under 8 CFR 106.2(a)(2) where applicable. An approved I-130 alone, with no pending I-485 (the I-130 beneficiary remains abroad and is consular processing through NVC), does not establish I-131 eligibility under any item on the form; the abroad beneficiary may not file a U.S.-based I-131 since I-131 requires either the applicant to be physically in the U.S. with pending I-485 (item 1.d) or to be a granted asylee/RTD path (items 2-3) or a granted LPR (item 1.a re-entry permit). Beneficiaries of long-pending I-130s without yet-current priority dates (e.g., F2B for unmarried adult son/daughter of LPR from Mexico or Philippines, multi-decade backlog) cannot file concurrent I-485 + I-131; they must consular-process at the NVC under the FAM instructions, where AP is unavailable and unnecessary.

    Field-by-field guidance

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    Application Type
    blocker

    Part 1 item 1-12: which document you are applying for. Most consequential field on the form.

    • Picking 'reentry permit' when applicant is not a green-card holder. Reentry permit (item 1) is for LPRs only.
    • Picking 'advance parole' when applicant is outside the U.S. Item 5 AP is for people inside the U.S.; if outside the U.S., the right path is items 6-7 (initial parole document).
    Tps I821 Receipt
    blocker

    TPS Travel Authorization receipt number (item 4 attaches the I-821 receipt).

    • Putting an I-765 (EAD) receipt instead of the I-821 receipt. USCIS specifically wants the I-821 receipt.
    Ap Basis
    blocker

    Advance Parole basis (item 5 sub-letter A through M).

    • Picking pending I-485 (5.A) when the I-485 is denied or has been withdrawn. AP only attaches to a pending adjustment.
    • Picking 5.B (V-status) when applicant is on a different visa class.
    Ap I485 Receipt
    warning

    I-485 receipt number when filing this I-131 separately from a pending I-485.

    • Filing the I-131 in the same envelope as the I-485 but still entering the receipt number; leave blank if both are stapled together so USCIS does not look up a receipt that has not been issued yet.
    Ap U Receipt
    blocker

    U-status I-918 receipt number.

    • Filer types only the digits without the 3-letter prefix.
    • Filer types Visa or A-Number instead of receipt.
    Ap V Receipt
    blocker

    V-status receipt number.

    • Filer types only the digits without the 3-letter prefix.
    • Filer types Visa or A-Number instead of receipt.
    Ap I687 Receipt
    blocker

    I-687 receipt number (Section 245A temporary residence).

    • Filer types only the digits without the 3-letter prefix.
    • Filer types Visa or A-Number instead of receipt.
    Ap I817 Receipt
    blocker

    I-817 Family Unity receipt number.

    • Filer types only the digits without the 3-letter prefix.
    • Filer types Visa or A-Number instead of receipt.
    Ap Parolee Coa
    blocker

    Class of admission for current parolee.

    • Filer types visa class instead of parole COA.
    • Filer leaves blank because the I-94 was paper and they do not know the code.
    Ap Other Explanation
    blocker

    Explanation when AP basis is other.

    • Filer leaves blank after picking 'other'.
    • Filer writes a vague phrase rather than tying to a specific program.
    Legal Family Name
    blocker

    Item 1 family name; matches passport spelling.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Legal Given Name
    blocker

    Item 1 given name.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Legal Middle Name
    none

    Item 1 middle name.

    • Filer treats middle name as required and types 'N/A'.
    • Filer omits middle name listed on passport.
    Other Name1 Family
    none

    Item 2 first 'other name' family.

    • Forgetting maiden names. USCIS background checks pick those up and missing them produces RFEs.
    • Filer types 'N/A' instead of leaving blank.
    Other Name1 Given
    none

    Item 2 first 'other name' given.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name1 Middle
    none

    Item 2 first 'other name' middle.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name2 Family
    none

    Item 2 second 'other name' family.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name2 Given
    none

    Item 2 second 'other name' given.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name2 Middle
    none

    Item 2 second 'other name' middle.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name3 Family
    none

    Item 2 third 'other name' family.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name3 Given
    none

    Item 2 third 'other name' given.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Other Name3 Middle
    none

    Item 2 third 'other name' middle.

    • Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.
    • Filer types nickname instead of legal name.
    Mail In Care Of
    none

    Item 3 in-care-of name on mailing address.

    • Filer fills with own name instead of leaving blank.
    • Filer types 'self'.
    Mail Street
    blocker

    Item 3 mailing street.

    • Listing only a P.O. box without filling item 4 (physical address).
    • Filer types only number without street name.
    Mail Unit Type
    none

    Item 3 mailing unit type.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit number is filled.
    • Filer types unit number in this field.
    Mail Unit Number
    none

    Item 3 mailing unit number.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit type is filled.
    • Filer prefixes with '#' which can confuse the optical reader.
    Mail City
    blocker

    Item 3 mailing city.

    • Filer abbreviates city name (LA instead of Los Angeles).
    • Filer types neighborhood instead of city.
    Mail State
    warning

    Item 3 mailing state (if U.S.).

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer types full state name in a small field.
    Mail Zip
    warning

    Item 3 mailing ZIP (if U.S.).

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer enters ZIP+4 with no separator.
    Mail Postal Code
    none

    Item 3 mailing postal code (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer fills with ZIP-style 5 digits when country uses alphanumeric postal codes.
    • Filer leaves blank when address is outside U.S.
    Mail Province
    none

    Item 3 mailing province (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer leaves blank when province is part of the country's address format.
    • Filer types province in 'state' field for non-U.S. addresses.
    Mail Country
    warning

    Item 3 mailing country (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer types abbreviation; spell out country name in full.
    • Filer leaves blank when address is outside U.S.
    Physical In Care Of
    none

    Item 4 physical address in-care-of.

    • Filer fills with own name.
    • Filer types 'self'.
    Physical Street
    warning

    Item 4 physical street.

    • Filer types only number without street name.
    • Filer abbreviates street type non-standardly.
    Physical Unit Type
    none

    Item 4 physical unit type.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit number is filled.
    • Filer types unit number in this field.
    Physical Unit Number
    none

    Item 4 physical unit number.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit type is filled.
    • Filer prefixes with '#' which can confuse the optical reader.
    Physical City
    warning

    Item 4 physical city.

    • Filer abbreviates city name (LA instead of Los Angeles).
    • Filer types neighborhood instead of city.
    Physical State
    warning

    Item 4 physical state.

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer types full state name in a small field.
    Physical Zip
    warning

    Item 4 physical ZIP.

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer enters ZIP+4 with no separator.
    Physical Postal Code
    none

    Item 4 physical postal code (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer fills with ZIP-style 5 digits when country uses alphanumeric postal codes.
    • Filer leaves blank when address is outside U.S.
    Physical Province
    none

    Item 4 physical province (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer leaves blank when province is part of the country's address format.
    • Filer types province in 'state' field for non-U.S. addresses.
    Physical Country
    none

    Item 4 physical country (if outside U.S.).

    • Filer types abbreviation; spell out country name in full.
    • Filer leaves blank when address is outside U.S.
    Alien Number
    warning

    Item 5 A-Number.

    • LPRs often forget to copy the A-Number from the green card. The A-Number is the 'USCIS#' on the front of the green card.
    Country Birth
    blocker

    Item 6 country of birth.

    • Filer types country of citizenship rather than country of birth.
    • Filer types historical name (USSR, Yugoslavia) when USCIS expects current country.
    Country Citizenship
    blocker

    Item 7 country of citizenship or nationality.

    • Writing the country of birth instead of citizenship; these can differ.
    Sex
    blocker

    Item 8 sex.

    • Filer leaves blank.
    • Filer types text rather than picking from the radio.
    Dob
    blocker

    Item 9 date of birth.

    • Filer uses DD/MM/YYYY (international format).
    • Filer types only year.
    Ssn
    none

    Item 10 SSN.

    • Filer enters ITIN instead of SSN.
    • Filer types fake SSN; leave blank if you have none.
    Uscis Online Acct
    none

    Item 11 USCIS Online Account number.

    • Filer enters A-Number instead of online account number.
    • Filer leaves blank because they have an online account but did not check.
    Class Of Admission
    warning

    Item 12 class of admission (COA).

    • Filer types visa class on the visa stamp rather than the I-94 admission code.
    • Filer leaves blank when applying under items 4, 5, 8-11.
    I94 Number
    warning

    Item 13 most recent I-94 number.

    • Listing the visa number rather than the I-94 number. Look up your I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
    I94 Expiration
    warning

    Item 14 expiration date of authorized stay shown on I-94.

    • Filer types visa expiration instead of I-94 admission stay expiration.
    • Filer types numeric date when I-94 says 'D/S' (Duration of Status).
    Emedical Uspid
    none

    Item 15 eMedical U.S. Parolee ID.

    • Filer enters A-Number instead of eMedical USPID.
    • Filer leaves blank when paroled under a humanitarian program that issued one.
    Refugee Status Yes No
    warning

    Item 13 (top of Part 2 page 4) yes / no on refugee status.

    • Picking yes when only the spouse / child is the refugee/asylee. Item 13 is about the applicant's own status.
    • Picking no after I-485 was approved as a refugee/asylee.
    Ethnicity
    blocker

    Part 3 item 1 ethnicity.

    • Filer skips because they identify as multi-ethnic; pick the closest option.
    • Filer leaves blank assuming optional; required by USCIS.
    Race
    blocker

    Part 3 item 2 race (multi-select).

    • Filer picks only one when multiple apply.
    • Filer leaves blank assuming optional; required by USCIS.
    Height Feet
    blocker

    Part 3 item 3 height feet.

    • Filer types inches in feet field.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Height Inches
    blocker

    Part 3 item 3 height inches.

    • Filer types decimal feet here.
    • Filer enters >=12 inches.
    Weight Pounds
    blocker

    Part 3 item 4 weight in pounds.

    • Filer types kilograms instead of pounds.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Eye Color
    blocker

    Part 3 item 5 eye color.

    • Filer types descriptive language ('hazel-green'); pick from the dropdown.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Hair Color
    blocker

    Part 3 item 6 hair color.

    • Filer types descriptive language; pick from the dropdown.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Ever In Proceedings
    blocker

    Part 4 item 1: ever in immigration proceedings yes / no.

    • Answering no when the applicant has been in master / individual hearings. Check immigration court records at acis.eoir.justice.gov.
    • Answering no when applicant has had a credible-fear interview.
    Prior Reentry Or Rtd
    blocker

    Part 4 item 2a: prior Reentry Permit or RTD yes / no.

    • Filer answers no when prior RP / RTD was issued and expired.
    • Filer treats AP as RTD; AP is item 3, not item 2.
    Prior Reentry Date
    warning

    Part 4 item 2b: date of last RP/RTD issuance.

    • Filer uses DD/MM/YYYY (international format).
    • Filer types only year.
    Prior Reentry Disposition
    warning

    Part 4 item 2c: disposition of last RP/RTD.

    • Filer leaves blank after answering yes to item 2a.
    • Filer types 'expired' when document was used for travel and returned.
    Prior Ap
    blocker

    Part 4 item 3a: prior Advance Parole yes / no.

    • Filer answers no when AP was issued for prior I-485 cycles.
    • Filer treats reentry permit as AP.
    Prior Ap Date
    warning

    Part 4 item 3b: date of last AP issuance.

    • Filer uses DD/MM/YYYY (international format).
    • Filer types only year.
    Prior Ap Disposition
    warning

    Part 4 item 3c: disposition of last AP.

    • Filer leaves blank after answering yes to item 3a.
    • Filer types 'used' without dates.
    Is Replacement
    blocker

    Part 4 item 4: is this a replacement of an existing document?

    • Picking yes when the document has not yet been issued. Initial applications pick no.
    • Picking no when applicant lost the existing document and needs replacement.
    Replacement Reason
    blocker

    Part 4 item 5: reason for replacement.

    • Picking 'USCIS error' when the error was caused by the applicant. USCIS-error replacements are eligible for fee-free correction; applicant-error replacements are not.
    • Picking 'lost/stolen' without filing a police report (recommended).
    Replacement Explain
    warning

    Part 4 item 6a: explanation of incorrect information.

    • Filer leaves blank after picking 'incorrect info' as reason.
    • Filer writes vague 'wrong info' without specifying the field.
    Replacement Prior Receipt
    warning

    Part 4 item 6b: receipt number of prior I-131.

    • Filer types only the digits without the 3-letter prefix.
    • Filer types Visa or A-Number instead of receipt.
    Send To Choice
    warning

    Part 4 item 7: where to send the issued document.

    • Filer picks 'embassy' when applicant is still in the U.S. Most filers want delivery to the U.S. address.
    • Filer picks 'address in part 1' when actually expecting embassy pickup.
    Send To City
    blocker

    Part 4 item 7b: embassy / consulate city.

    • Filer types country instead of embassy city.
    • Filer leaves blank after picking embassy delivery.
    Send To Country
    blocker

    Part 4 item 7b: embassy / consulate country.

    • Filer leaves blank after picking embassy delivery.
    • Filer types abbreviation; spell out country.
    Embassy Notify Choice
    warning

    Part 4 item 8: where to send the embassy pickup notification.

    • Filer leaves blank after picking embassy delivery.
    • Filer picks alt address with no contact information.
    Notify In Care Of
    none

    Part 4 item 9a: notification address in-care-of.

    • Filer fills with own name.
    • Filer types 'self'.
    Notify Street
    blocker

    Part 4 item 9a: notification street.

    • Filer types only number without street name.
    • Filer abbreviates street type non-standardly.
    Notify Unit Type
    none

    Part 4 item 9a: notification unit type.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit number is filled.
    • Filer types unit number in this field.
    Notify Unit Number
    none

    Part 4 item 9a: notification unit number.

    • Filer leaves blank when unit type is filled.
    • Filer prefixes with '#' which can confuse the optical reader.
    Notify City
    blocker

    Part 4 item 9a: notification city.

    • Filer abbreviates city name (LA instead of Los Angeles).
    • Filer types neighborhood instead of city.
    Notify State
    warning

    Part 4 item 9a: notification state.

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer types full state name in a small field.
    Notify Zip
    warning

    Part 4 item 9a: notification ZIP.

    • Filer leaves blank when address is in U.S.
    • Filer enters ZIP+4 with no separator.
    Notify Country
    warning

    Part 4 item 9a: notification country.

    • Filer types abbreviation; spell out country name in full.
    • Filer leaves blank when address is outside U.S.
    Notify Phone
    warning

    Part 4 item 9b: notification daytime phone.

    • Filer leaves blank.
    • Filer types non-numeric symbols beyond + and parentheses.
    Notify Email
    warning

    Part 4 item 9c: notification email.

    • Filer types domain only without local-part.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Time Outside Us
    blocker

    Part 5 item 1: time outside U.S. since LPR (or last 5 years).

    • Picking 'less than 6 months' when the applicant has spent more time abroad. USCIS will compare to CBP entry / exit records.
    • Picking '> 1 year' on first reentry permit application without realizing risk of LPR abandonment.
    Rtd Country Of Origin
    blocker

    Part 6 item 1: country of refugee or asylee origin.

    • Filer types country of last residence rather than country of feared persecution.
    • Filer types historical country name.
    Rtd Plan To Travel To Origin
    blocker

    Part 6 item 2: plan to travel to country of origin yes / no.

    • Picking yes without explanation; travel back to the country you fled often raises USCIS questions about whether you have abandoned status.
    • Picking no when the trip itinerary clearly transits or visits the country.
    Rtd Returned
    blocker

    Part 6 item 3a: ever returned to country of origin.

    • Filer answers no when prior trips returned through a third country into the country of origin.
    • Filer answers yes for transit only; explain on overflow.
    Rtd Passport Renewal
    blocker

    Part 6 item 3b: applied for or obtained a national passport, renewal, or entry permit from country of origin.

    • Filer answers no when applicant maintained the country-of-origin passport.
    • Filer treats expired passport as 'no'; renewing it is the trigger.
    Rtd Received Benefits
    blocker

    Part 6 item 3c: received any benefit from country of origin.

    • Filer answers no when applicant received pension, healthcare, or property rents from country of origin.
    • Filer answers yes for benefits received before refugee/asylee grant.
    Rtd Acquired New Nationality
    blocker

    Part 6 item 4a: acquired a new nationality.

    • Filer answers no when applicant naturalized in a third country.
    • Filer treats lawful permanent residence in third country as nationality.
    Rtd Reacquired Nationality
    blocker

    Part 6 item 4b: reacquired country-of-origin nationality.

    • Filer answers no when applicant restored nationality of country of origin.
    • Filer treats holding the document without active use as 'no'.
    Rtd Other Country Status
    blocker

    Part 6 item 4c: granted refugee or asylee status in any other country.

    • Filer answers no when applicant has been granted asylum elsewhere.
    • Filer answers yes for residency that is not asylum.
    Rtd Filing Before Departure
    blocker

    Part 6 item 5: filing for RTD before departing the U.S.?

    • Filing from outside the U.S. without first filing in the U.S. Refugees and asylees should file before departure when at all possible.
    • Picking yes after departure has already happened.
    Rtd Currently Outside Us
    warning

    Part 6 item 6a: currently outside U.S.

    • Filer leaves blank after answering 'no' to item 5.
    • Filer answers yes when transiting through a U.S. airport (still in U.S. for filing purposes).
    Rtd Current City
    warning

    Part 6 item 6b: current city if outside U.S.

    • Filer leaves blank after answering yes to currently outside U.S.
    • Filer types country in city field.
    Rtd Current Country
    warning

    Part 6 item 6c: current country if outside U.S.

    • Filer leaves blank after answering yes to currently outside U.S.
    • Filer types abbreviation.
    Ap Departure Date
    blocker

    Part 7 item 1: date of intended departure.

    • Putting a departure date before the AP is realistically expected to issue. AP processing takes several months; do not book travel until the document is in hand.
    Ap Purpose
    blocker

    Part 7 item 2: purpose of trip.

    • Vague purposes (visit family) prompt RFEs. Be specific (visit ailing parent, attend wedding, business trip).
    • Filer types 'tourism' for a humanitarian purpose; specify the humanitarian basis.
    Ap Countries
    blocker

    Part 7 item 3: countries to be visited.

    • Filer types continent or region; list specific countries.
    • Filer omits transit countries.
    Ap One Or Multiple
    blocker

    Part 7 item 4: one trip vs more than one trip.

    • Filer picks 'one trip' when multiple are planned; pick 'more than one' to avoid filing again.
    • Filer picks 'more than one' for an obvious single trip; USCIS may scrutinize.
    Ap Trip Length
    blocker

    Part 7 item 5: expected length of trip in days.

    • Filer types weeks or months; the field expects days.
    • Filer types unrealistic durations (years).
    Parole Explanation
    blocker

    Part 8 item 1: explain qualification for parole / parole-in-place / re-parole.

    • Filing a generic narrative that does not tie to a specific parole basis (FRTF, military PIP, etc.). Specify the program.
    Parole Length Of Stay
    warning

    Part 8 item 2: expected length of stay in U.S.

    • Filer types weeks or months when days are expected.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Parole Arrival Date
    warning

    Part 8 item 3a: date of intended arrival to U.S.

    • Filer uses DD/MM/YYYY (international format).
    • Filer types only year.
    Parole Embassy City
    warning

    Part 8 item 3b: embassy / consulate city for notification.

    • Filer types country in city field.
    • Filer leaves blank when applying under items 6-7.
    Parole Embassy Country
    warning

    Part 8 item 3b: embassy / consulate country.

    • Filer leaves blank when applying under items 6-7.
    • Filer types abbreviation.
    Request Reparole Ead
    info

    Part 9 item 1: request EAD with new period of parole.

    • Filer leaves blank when re-paroling under items 10-11.
    • Filer requests EAD without paying the EAD-bundled fee.
    Applicant Phone
    blocker

    Part 10 item 1: daytime phone.

    • Filer leaves blank.
    • Filer types phone number with non-numeric formatting.
    Applicant Mobile
    none

    Part 10 item 2: mobile phone.

    • Filer duplicates daytime phone in mobile field.
    • Filer leaves blank if they have one.
    Applicant Email
    none

    Part 10 item 3: email.

    • Filer types personal email that is not regularly checked.
    • Filer leaves blank.
    Applicant Signature
    blocker

    Part 10 item 4: applicant signature.

    • Signing electronically. USCIS requires a wet-ink signature on the printed form.
    Applicant Signature Date
    blocker

    Part 10 item 4: signature date.

    • Filer uses DD/MM/YYYY (international format).
    • Filer types only year.
    G28 Attached
    none

    Top of page 1: G-28 attorney representation checkbox.

    • Filer checks box without attaching G-28.
    • Filer leaves blank when an attorney is filing.

    Ezel is a self-help tool. Ezel is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. You are the filer. Review the form carefully before submitting it to the court, and consult a licensed attorney if you have questions about your case. For free legal help, contact your local legal aid office or court self-help center.

    Sources

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