How to fill form i-131? A detailed step-by-step guide

Navigating the U.S. immigration process can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to traveling abroad or securing lawful entry for yourself or loved ones. Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, plays a vital role in granting the documentation needed to travel internationally without jeopardizing an existing immigration status or application.

Whether you are a lawful permanent resident seeking a Reentry Permit, a refugee or asylee needing a Refugee Travel Document, or an individual requesting Advance Parole, understanding how to properly fill out Form I-131 is a crucial step. In this article, we delve into each section of the form, highlight the relevant requirements, and offer practical tips to help you submit a well-prepared application that aligns with current U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidelines.

How to fill Form I-131?

1. GATHER THE LATEST FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS

• Make sure you have the most recent version of Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (and the official instructions) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

• Read the form instructions in full to verify eligibility and confirm which supporting documents are required for your particular application type (e.g., Reentry Permit, Refugee Travel Document, TPS Travel Authorization, Advance Parole, etc.).

• If you have any doubts about your eligibility or how to fill the form, consult an experienced immigration attorney.

2. COMPLETE THE TOP PORTION (“START HERE”) AND PART 1. APPLICATION TYPE

a. At the very top of Page 1

• If an attorney or accredited representative is preparing or representing you, they will attach Form G-28. The “Action Block” and “For USCIS Use Only” sections are for government use—leave those blank.

b. “START HERE” / Application Type

• Select the box that describes the specific document or benefit you are seeking:
  1. Reentry Permit (Part 1., Item 1.): For lawful permanent residents or conditional permanent residents who want to travel abroad and return without risking abandonment of status.
  2. Refugee Travel Document (Part 1., Items 2. or 3.): For individuals who hold valid refugee/asylee status or who became a lawful permanent resident based on having had refugee/asylee status.
  3. Travel Authorization Document (TPS) (Part 1., Item 4.): For Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries who need permission to travel and be admitted back into TPS status.
  4. Advance Parole Document (Part 1., Item 5.): For those inside the U.S. who need permission to re-enter the U.S. after travel abroad (e.g., pending I-485, pending asylum, DACA, etc.), or CNMI long-term residents needing permission to travel to other parts of the U.S.
  5. Initial Parole (Part 1., Item 6.): For those outside the U.S. requesting a parole document under a specific USCIS program, or on other humanitarian/significant public benefit grounds.
  6. Parole in Place or Re-Parole (Part 1., Items 7. through 11.): For those inside the U.S. who need an initial grant of parole in place, or who were previously paroled and need a new period of parole.
• Carefully read each category and select only the one that applies to your situation. If necessary, provide additional details (for example, a specific parole program name or your pending petition receipt number).

3. PART 2. INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

a. Item 1. Full Name

• Write your family name (last name), given name (first name), and middle name (if any) exactly as they appear on your official documents.

b. Item 2. Other Names Used

• List any aliases, maiden names, or other legal names you have used.

c. Item 3. Current Mailing Address

• Provide a complete U.S. mailing address if you are in the United States (or safe mailing address if you are a refugee/asylee who cannot safely receive mail at your home address).
• Include “In Care Of (c/o)” if someone else (friend, attorney) is receiving mail for you.

d. Item 4. Current Physical Address

• If different from your mailing address, enter the place where you actually live.
• If it is the same, write it again or indicate it is the same.

e. Items 5. – 12. Other Information

• Provide your Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if any (for example, A-12345678).
• Enter your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy), country of birth, country of citizenship/nationality, U.S. Social Security Number (if you have one), sex, USCIS Online Account Number (if applicable), and your “class of admission” (e.g., “LPR,” “F-1,” “TPS,” etc.) if known.

f. Items 13. – 15. (If physically present in the U.S.)

• Provide your most recent I-94 number (if any) and its expiration date.
• If you have a parole document from prior travel (especially for TPS or humanitarian parole), provide your U.S. Parolee ID (USPID), if you have it.

g. Items 16. – 27. Information About Someone Else (If applying on behalf of another person)

• Only complete these if you are requesting parole (or another document) for someone other than yourself.
• Provide that individual’s name, address, date of birth, etc. If you are filing solely for yourself, leave these items blank.

4. PART 3. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF THE PERSON WHO WILL RECEIVE THE DOCUMENT

• Provide the requested details about race, ethnicity, height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
• This should be the physical description of whoever is the intended recipient of the travel document or parole.

5. PART 4. PROCESSING INFORMATION

a. Items 1. – 3. Exclusion/Deportation/Removal Proceedings and Prior Documents

• Indicate whether you (or the person on whose behalf you are applying) have been in any kind of removal proceedings.
• If you have previously been issued a Reentry Permit, Refugee Travel Document, or Advance Parole Document, answer “Yes” and give details about the last document issued (date issued, disposition, etc.).

b. Item 4. and 5. Replacing a Previously Issued Document

• Answer whether you want to replace a previously issued Reentry Permit / Travel Document because it is lost, was not received, or has incorrect information.

c. Items 6.a. – 6.b. If Replacing a Document

• Select what was incorrect (e.g., name, date of birth, etc.), or explain if it was lost/stolen.
• Provide the receipt number for the original I-131 that resulted in the lost/incorrect document.

d. Items 7.a. – 9.c. Where to Send the Reentry Permit or Refugee Travel Document

• Indicate if you want your finalized permit/document sent to a U.S. address or to a U.S. Embassy/Consulate or USCIS office abroad.
• If sending abroad, specify which embassy or consulate and provide an address where USCIS should send the notification to pick it up.

Important: If you are applying for Advance Parole or TPS Travel Authorization, you will skip the “Reentry Permit/Refugee Travel Document” mailing questions that do not apply to you.

6. PART 5. COMPLETE ONLY IF APPLYING FOR A REENTRY PERMIT

• If you checked Part 1., Item 1. for a Reentry Permit, fill this section.

1. Total Time Spent Outside the U.S. in the Past 5 Years
   • Check the box that corresponds to how many months/years you have been outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident (or the last 5 years, whichever is shorter).
2. (Not directly numbered on the form but appears under Part 5.)
   • Additional questions may appear, depending on eligibility. Answer them according to your circumstances.

7. PART 6. COMPLETE ONLY IF APPLYING FOR A REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENT

• If you checked Part 1., Items 2. or 3., fill this section.

1. Country from Which You Are a Refugee or Asylee
2. Do You Plan to Travel to That Country?
   • If “Yes,” you typically must explain why. Travel back to the country of claimed persecution can raise questions about whether you fear returning there.
3. Items 3.a. – 3.c.
   • Answer if you have returned to that country before, applied for or received benefits from that government, or hold a passport from there. Provide explanations in the Additional Information section (Part 13) if you answer “Yes.”
4. Item 4.
   • Indicate if you have obtained another nationality since gaining asylee/refugee status.
5. Item 5.
   • Confirm if you are applying for the document before leaving the U.S.
6. Item 6.a. – 6.c.
   • If you are outside the U.S. when filing, specify your current location and list other countries you visited since leaving.

8. PART 7. INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPOSED TRAVEL (ONLY FOR ADVANCE PAROLE)

• Fill this out if you checked Part 1., Item 5. for an Advance Parole Document (e.g., pending I-485, DACA, TPS, etc.).

1. Date of Intended Departure
   • Estimate when you plan to leave the U.S.
2. Purpose of Trip
   • Provide a brief but clear explanation (e.g., family emergency, job assignment, educational program, humanitarian reason).
3. Countries You Intend to Visit
   • List them all; use Part 13. Additional Information if you need more space.
4. Number of Trips
   • Indicate whether you need a single-use or multiple-use travel document.
5. Expected Length of Trip
   • Provide an estimate in days.

9. PART 8. COMPLETE ONLY IF APPLYING FOR INITIAL PAROLE, PAROLE IN PLACE, OR RE-PAROLE

• If you checked Part 1., Items 6. – 11. (various parole categories), complete this section.

1. Explain How You Qualify
   • Provide a statement explaining the urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit for requesting parole, or why you are eligible under a special parole program (e.g., Filipino WWII Veterans Parole, IMMVI, etc.). Attach relevant supporting documents (e.g., invitation letters, medical documents, humanitarian evidence).
2. Expected Length of Stay in the United States
   • If the individual is outside the U.S., give an estimate.
3. Items 3.a. – 3.b. (If outside the U.S.)
   • Provide intended arrival date and the location of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate or USCIS office where the parole document (once approved) will be sent for pick-up.

10. PART 9. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION FOR NEW PERIOD OF PAROLE (RE-PAROLE)

• This section allows you to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if you are applying for re-parole. If so:

1. Check “Yes” if you are requesting an EAD with your re-parole application.
2. Make sure you also provide the necessary information or attachments required for obtaining an EAD under that parole category (consult the instructions or your attorney).

11. PART 10. APPLICANT’S CONTACT INFORMATION, CERTIFICATION, AND SIGNATURE

• Provide your daytime telephone number, mobile phone number, and email address (if available).
• Certification: Read the statement carefully. By signing, you attest under penalty of perjury that all information is true and correct.
• Signature: Sign in black ink. Enter the date (mm/dd/yyyy) you signed.

Important: USCIS will reject the entire form if it is not signed.

12. PART 11. INTERPRETER’S CONTACT INFORMATION, CERTIFICATION, AND SIGNATURE

• If someone interpreted the questions and your answers (i.e., you do not fully understand English), that person must complete this part.
• The interpreter certifies their language proficiency, provides contact information, and signs.

13. PART 12. CONTACT INFORMATION, CERTIFICATION, AND SIGNATURE OF PREPARER (IF ANY)

• If anyone helped you complete the form (other than an interpreter), such as an attorney, accredited representative, or another individual, they must complete this section.
• The preparer affirms the information is complete, true, and correct, and provides a signature, contact info, and date.

14. PART 13. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Use this space if you need more room to elaborate on answers from previous sections.
• You can also attach a separate sheet of paper if you need even more space. On each additional sheet:

• Type or print your full name and A-Number (if any) at the top.
• State which Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number the additional answer refers to.
• Sign and date each additional sheet.

15. REVIEW, ATTACH REQUIRED EVIDENCE, AND SUBMIT

a. Double-Check All Responses

• Ensure all required fields are answered. Incomplete applications can be delayed or rejected.

b. Attach Supporting Documents

• This varies by the type of document you are requesting but can include:
  • A copy of your Permanent Resident Card (front and back) if applying for a Reentry Permit.
  • Evidence of refugee/asylee status (e.g., I-94, approval notice) if requesting a Refugee Travel Document.
  • A copy of any document showing your current lawful status if requesting Advance Parole.
  • Evidence of the humanitarian or significant public benefit basis for parole, if requesting parole or re-parole.
  • Two identical passport-style color photographs (if required for your category) taken within 30 days of filing.
  • Other evidence listed in the official Instructions (e.g., fee waiver approval if applicable, ID documents, proof of pending applications, etc.).

c. Pay the Correct Filing Fee(s)

• Check the USCIS website or instructions for the fee schedule. Some categories may require biometrics fees in addition to the form filing fee. An incorrect fee amount may lead to rejection.

d. Mail to the Correct Address

• Consult the “Where to File?” section on the USCIS site or in the form instructions, as the mailing address depends on which specific document you are requesting and your location.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. Sign the Form: Unsigned forms are automatically rejected.
2. Travel Warnings: Leaving the U.S. while certain applications (e.g., Form I-485, Form I-589) are pending may cause those applications to be considered abandoned if you do not have a valid Advance Parole.
3. Keep Copies: Always keep a copy of the entire application and all supporting evidence.
4. Check for Updates: Policies and filing instructions can change. Always verify any updates directly at www.uscis.gov/i-131.

DISCLAIMER

This overview is a general guide, not legal advice. If you have any complex issues—such as removal proceedings, criminal history, extended absences, or confusion about eligibility—or if you are unsure about how to complete any part of Form I-131, consider consulting a qualified immigration attorney.

By diligently following the above steps, carefully reading the official instructions, and providing all relevant evidence, you will maximize your chances for a smooth application process when filing Form I-131.