Application for Travel Document

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 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.

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• Picking pending I-485 (5.A) when the I-485 is denied or has been withdrawn.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.

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.

U-status I-918 receipt number.

V-status receipt number.

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

I-817 Family Unity receipt number.

Class of admission for current parolee.

Explanation when AP basis is other.

Item 1 family name; matches passport spelling.

• Romanizing or transliterating differently than the passport, which causes USCIS RFEs.

Item 1 given name.

Item 1 middle name.

Item 2 first 'other name' family.

• Forgetting maiden names. USCIS background checks pick those up and missing them produces RFEs.

Item 2 first 'other name' given.

Item 2 first 'other name' middle.

Item 2 second 'other name' family.

Item 2 second 'other name' given.

Item 2 second 'other name' middle.

Item 2 third 'other name' family.

Item 2 third 'other name' given.

Item 2 third 'other name' middle.

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

Item 3 mailing street.

• Listing only a P.O. box without filling item 4 (physical address).

Item 3 mailing unit type.

Item 3 mailing unit number.

Item 3 mailing city.

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

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

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

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

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

Item 4 physical address in-care-of.

Item 4 physical street.

Item 4 physical unit type.

Item 4 physical unit number.

Item 4 physical city.

Item 4 physical state.

Item 4 physical ZIP.

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

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

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

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.

Item 6 country of birth.

Item 7 country of citizenship or nationality.

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

Item 8 sex.

Item 9 date of birth.

Item 10 SSN.

Item 11 USCIS Online Account number.

Item 12 class of admission (COA).

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.

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

Item 15 eMedical U.S. Parolee ID.

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.

Part 3 item 1 ethnicity.

Part 3 item 2 race (multi-select).

Part 3 item 3 height feet.

Part 3 item 3 height inches.

Part 3 item 4 weight in pounds.

Part 3 item 5 eye color.

Part 3 item 6 hair color.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Part 4 item 3c: disposition of last AP.

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.

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.

Part 4 item 6a: explanation of incorrect information.

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

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

Part 4 item 7b: embassy / consulate city.

Part 4 item 7b: embassy / consulate country.

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

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

Part 4 item 9a: notification street.

Part 4 item 9a: notification unit type.

Part 4 item 9a: notification unit number.

Part 4 item 9a: notification city.

Part 4 item 9a: notification state.

Part 4 item 9a: notification ZIP.

Part 4 item 9a: notification country.

Part 4 item 9b: notification daytime phone.

Part 4 item 9c: notification email.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Part 6 item 4a: acquired a new nationality.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Part 7 item 2: purpose of trip.

• Vague purposes (visit family) prompt RFEs. Be specific (visit ailing parent, attend wedding, business trip).

Part 7 item 3: countries to be visited.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Part 8 item 3b: embassy / consulate country.

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

Part 10 item 1: daytime phone.

Part 10 item 2: mobile phone.

Part 10 item 3: email.

Part 10 item 4: applicant signature.

• Signing electronically. USCIS requires a wet-ink signature on the printed form.

Part 10 item 4: signature date.

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