Applying for travel documents can seem daunting, but understanding the process, especially the possibility of online applications, can significantly streamline the experience. This guide clarifies the various types of travel documents, parole options, and, most importantly, whether you can apply for them online.
This article provides information on travel documents, parole documents, or arrival/departure records and whether you can apply for a travel document online.
Travel Documents Explained
Form I-131 allows you to apply for various travel documents, including:
- Re-entry Permit: For lawful permanent residents planning to travel outside the U.S. for an extended period.
- Refugee Travel Document: For refugees and asylees.
- TPS Travel Authorization Document: For beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
- Advance Parole Document: Allows certain individuals with pending immigration applications to travel abroad without jeopardizing their status.
- Advance Permission to Travel: For Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents.
If you are a TPS beneficiary in the United States who wishes to travel outside the United States and your Form I-131 is approved, you will be issued Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by an Alien to the United States. For those with a pending initial TPS application (Form I-821), the approved Form I-131 will result in a Form I-512L, Advance Parole Document.
Before traveling outside the United States, TPS beneficiaries or those with a pending initial TPS application should carefully read the Form I-131 Instructions. Missing important requests for evidence or other notices, or being denied TPS while you are outside the United States are risks you may face if you are outside the United States while we are considering your TPS re-registration or initial application.
For more comprehensive details, you can visit the Travel Documents page on the USCIS website. For urgent travel needs, the Expedite Requests and Emergency Travel pages offer guidance.
Understanding Parole: Initial and Re-Parole
Parole allows individuals who are otherwise inadmissible to temporarily enter the United States. There are two main types:
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Initial Parole: Granted to individuals outside the U.S. based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Your initial parole document may be a boarding foil that is placed in your passport, or it may be a Form I-512L travel document.
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Parole in Place: For those already in the U.S. without having been formally admitted.
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Re-Parole: An additional period of parole for individuals already paroled into the U.S. If authorized, you will be issued a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with a new Admit Until Date or Parole Until Date.
The DHS component that initially authorized parole has jurisdiction over any request for re-parole, unless DHS or USCIS provides alternate filing instructions. See the Memorandum of Agreement between USCIS, ICE, and CBP for more information about each agency’s jurisdiction over re-parole requests. Form I-131 includes filing instructions for specific types of re-parole requests processed by USCIS. Re-parole requests may fall under existing programs or processes like those for certain Afghans and Ukrainians paroled into the United States, or the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.
Important Note Regarding TPS and Parole: According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), if you were previously granted parole and are later admitted into the U.S. under TPS after traveling with a TPS travel authorization, this admission will render you ineligible for a new period of parole (re-parole).
Can I Apply for a Travel Document Online?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers the option to file certain forms online, which streamlines the application process. To check if you can apply for a specific travel document online, visit the File Online page on the USCIS website. This page provides a comprehensive list of forms that are eligible for online filing.
Applying for Re-Parole for Ukrainians
If you are a Ukrainian citizen or an immediate family member paroled into the United States after Feb. 24, 2022, you may be eligible for re-parole. USCIS encourages eligible Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to submit their re-parole requests no earlier than 180 days (6 months) before the expiration of their current period of parole. You can find your parole expiration date on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you were paroled into the United States.
Submitting during this window reduces the risk that your current period of parole and employment authorization will expire before you receive a decision on your re-parole request. If you submit a request for re-parole more than 180 days before the expiration of your current period of parole, USCIS may reject or deny your re-parole application without refunding the filing fees.
Key Takeaways
- Form I-131 is used for various travel documents like re-entry permits and advance parole.
- Parole allows temporary entry into the U.S. for humanitarian reasons or public benefit.
- Check the USCIS website to see if you can apply for your travel document online.
- Eligible Ukrainians applying for re-parole should apply within the 180-day window before their current parole expires.
By understanding these processes, you can navigate the complexities of travel documents and parole with greater confidence. Always refer to the official USCIS website for the most up-to-date information and instructions.
