Application for Travel Document

EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2005
DIRECT MAIL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSONS FILING FORM I-131
If you live in one of these states or territories, please read this notice to determine your filing location:
ALASKA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, IOWA, KANSAS, MARYLAND, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW MEXICO,
OKLAHOMA, OREGON, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON

AS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AND REMAINS IN EFFECT - EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2004
DIRECT MAIL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSONS FILING FORM I-131
If you live in one of these states or territories, please read this notice to determine your filing location:
ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, ILLINOIS,
INDIANA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW
HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND,
SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN,
WYOMING, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GUAM, PUERTO RICO, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE
UNITED STATES

The mailing address has changed for certain applicants living in the locations above and filing for certain travel
authorization.
This affects aliens who apply for an Advanced Parole Document and who are filing Form I-485 under the following
categories:
Aliens who are immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen, as defined by section 201(b) of the Act, and are filing
based upon an approved, concurrently filed, or pending Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative;
Aliens who are widow/widowers of a U.S. citizen, as described by section 201(b) of the Act (I-360 petition or
an I-797 notice for the I-360 must be filed concurrently);
Aliens described by section 203(a) of the Act as the qualifying relative of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent
resident alien, and are filing based on an approved Form I-130;
Aliens described by section 203(d) of the Act as the derivative relatives of aliens described by section 203(a)
of the Act;
Aliens described by section 101(a)(15)(K) of the Act as the fiancé of a U.S. citizen or the minor child(ren) of
such fiancé, and are filing based on an approved Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e);
Aliens eligible for registry under section 249 of the Act;
Aliens eligible under the Cuban Adjustment Act of November 2, 1965;
Aliens described as special immigrants under sections 101(a)(27)(J), and (K) of the Act (if filing under
section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Act, an I-360 petition may be filed concurrently; if filing under section
101(a)(27)(K) of the Act, I-360 petition or I-797 notice for the I-360 must be filed concurrently);
Aliens described as Amerasians under section 204(f) of the Act (I-360 petition may be filed concurrently);
Aliens who are beneficiaries of an approved Form I-360 as a battered spouse or child;
Aliens who are beneficiaries of Private Bills;
Aliens who are winners of the Diversity Visa lottery;
Aliens from certain former Soviet and Southeast Asian countries who were paroled into the United States as
public interest parolees and are eligible to adjust under Public Law 101-167, "the Lautenberg Amendment;''
Aliens eligible under section 646 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996 (IIRIRA);
Aliens eligible under section 13 of the Act of September 11, 1957; and
Aliens eligible for creation of record under 8 CFR section 264.2.
These aliens must submit their Form I-131, and all supporting evidence to the Chicago Lockbox Facility listed
below.
The Direct Mail address for the aliens mentioned above, applying for an Advanced Parole Document is:
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
Or, for non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. private couriers):
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: FBASI
427 S. LaSalle - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605-1098

OMB No. 1615-0013; Expires 11/30/07

Instructions for Form I-131,
Application for Travel Document

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions

Please read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A #), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper
and indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

Updated Filing Address Information
The filing addresses provided on this form reflect the most
current information as of the date this form was last printed.
If you are filing Form I-131 more than 30 days after the latest
edition date shown in the lower right-hand corner, please
visit our website at www.uscis.gov before you file, and check
the Forms and Fees page to confirm the correct filing address
and version currently in use. Check the edition date located in
the lower right-hand corner of the form. If the edition date on
your Form I-131 matches the edition date listed for Form
I-131 on the online Forms and Fees page, your version is
current and will be accepted by USCIS. If the edition date on
the online version is later, download a copy and use the
online version. If you do not have internet access, call the
National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 to
verify the current filing address and edition date. Improperly
filed forms will be rejected and the fee returned, with
instructions to resubmit the entire filing using the current
form instructions.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
This form is used to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) for the following travel
documents:
1. Reentry Permit - A reentry permit allows a permanent
resident or conditional resident to apply for admission to
the United States upon return from abroad during the
permit's validity, without having to obtain a returning
resident visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.
2. Refugee Travel Document - A refugee travel document
is issued to a person classified as a refugee or asylee, or to
a permanent resident who obtained such status as a result of
being a refugee or asylee in the United States. Persons who
hold such status must have a refugee travel document to
return to the United States after temporary travel abroad
unless he or she is in possession of a valid advance parole
document. A refugee travel document is issued by the
USCIS to implement Article 28 of the United Nations
Convention of July 28, 1951.
3. Advance Parole Document - An advance parole
document is issued solely to authorize the temporary parole
of a person into the United States.

The document may be accepted by a transportation
company in lieu of a visa as an authorization for the holder
to travel to the United States. An advance parole document
is not issued to serve in place of any required passport.
Advance parole is an extraordinary measure used sparingly
to bring an otherwise inadmissible alien to the United
States for a temporary period of time due to a compelling
emergency. Advance parole cannot be used to circumvent
the normal visa issuing procedures and is not a means to
bypass delays in visa issuance.
NOTE: If you are in the United States and wish to travel
abroad, you do not need to apply for advance parole if
both conditions described below in numbers 1 and 2 are
met:
A. You are in one of the following nonimmigrant
categories:
1. An H-1, temporary worker, or H-4, spouse or child
of an H-1; or
2. An L-1, intracompany transferee, or L-2, spouse or
child of an L-1; or
3. A K-3, spouse, or K-4, child of a U.S. citizen; or
4. A V-2, spouse, or V-3, child of a lawful permanent
resident; and
B. A Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent
Residence or Adjust Status, was filed on your behalf
and is pending with the USCIS.
However, upon returning to the United States, you must
present your valid H, L, K or V nonimmigrant visa and
continue to remain eligible for that status.

Who May File This Form I-131?
Each applicant must file a separate application for a travel
document.
1. Reentry Permit.
A. If you are in the United States as a permanent resident
or conditional permanent resident, you may apply for a
reentry permit.
Departure from the United States before a decision is
made on an application for a reentry permit does not
affect the application.
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07) N

Departure from the United States before a decision is
made on an application for a reentry permit does not
affect the application.
You must be physically present in the United States
when you file the application. However, a reentry
permit may be sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate or
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office abroad
for you to pick up, if you request it when you file your
application.
With the exception of having to obtain a returning
resident visa abroad, a reentry permit does not relieve
you of any of the requirements of the United States
immigration laws.
If you stay outside the United States for less than one
year, you are not required to apply for a reentry permit.
You may reenter the United States on your Permanent
Resident Card (Form I-551).
If you intend to apply in the future for naturalization,
absences from the United States for one year or more
will generally break the continuity of your required
continuous residence in the United States. If you
intend to remain outside the United States for one year
or more, you should file a Form N-470, Application to
Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes. For
further information, contact your local USCIS office.
B. Validity of reentry permit.
1. Generally, a reentry permit issued to a permanent
resident shall be valid for two years from the date of
issuance. However, if since becoming a permanent
resident you have been outside the United States for
more than four of the last five years, the permit will
be limited to one year, except that a permit with a
validity of two years may be issued to the
following:
a. A permanent resident whose travel is on the
order of the United States government, other
than an exclusion, deportation, removal or
recission order.
b. A permanent resident employed by a public
international organization of which the United
States is a member by treaty or statute.
c. A permanent resident who is a professional
athlete and regularly competes in the United
States and worldwide.
2. A reentry permit issued to a conditional resident
shall be valid for two years from the date of
issuance, or to the date the conditional resident must
apply for removal of the conditions on his or her
status, whichever date comes first.

3. A reentry permit may not be extended.
C. A reentry permit may not be issued to you if:
1. You have already been issued such a document and
it is still valid, unless the prior document has been
returned to the USCIS, or you can demonstrate that
it was lost; or
2. A notice was published in the Federal Register that
precludes the issuance of such a document for travel
to the area where you intend to go.
NOTICE to permanent or conditional residents who
remain outside the United States for more than one
year: If you do not obtain a reentry permit and remain
outside the United States for one year or more, it may be
determined that you have abandoned your permanent or
conditional resident status.
2. Refugee Travel Document.
A. If you are in the United States in valid refugee or
asylee status, or if you are a permanent resident as a
direct result of your refugee or asylee status in the
United States, you may apply for a refugee travel
document. Generally, you must have a refugee travel
document to return to the United States after temporary
travel abroad.
You must be physically present in the United States
when you file the application. However, a refugee
travel document may be sent to a United States
embassy or consulate or DHS office abroad for you to
pick up, if you request it when you file your
application.
B. Validity of refugee travel document.
1. A refugee travel document shall be valid for one
year.
2. A refugee travel document may not be extended.
C. A refugee travel document may not be issued to you
if:
1. You have already been issued such a document and
it is still valid, unless the prior document has been
returned to the USCIS, or you can demonstrate that
it was lost; or
2. A notice was published in the Federal Register that
precludes the issuance of such a document for travel
to the area where you intend to go.
NOTICE to permanent residents who obtain
permanent residence as a result of their refugee or
asylee status: If you do not obtain a reentry permit
and remain outside the United States for one year or
more, it may be determined that you have abandoned
your permanent resident status.
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07) N Page 2

3. Advance Parole Document.

Travel Warning
Before you apply for an advance parole document,
read this travel warning carefully.
A. If you have been unlawfully present in the United
States for more than 180 days but less than one year
and you leave before removal proceedings are started
against you, you may be inadmissible for three years
from the date of departure.
B. If you have been unlawfully present in the United
States for one year or more, you may be inadmissible
for ten years from the date of departure regardless of
whether you left before, during or after removal
proceedings.
C. Unlawful presence is defined as being in the United
States without having been inspected and admitted or
paroled (illegal entry), or after the period of
authorized stay has expired.
D. However, certain immigration benefits and time spent
in the United States while certain applications are
pending may place you in a period of authorized stay.
These include, but are not limited to, a properly filed
adjustment of status application, Temporary Protected
Status (TPS), deferred enforced departure (DED),
asylum and withholding of removal.
E. Although advance parole may allow you to return to
the United States, your departure may trigger the
three-or ten-year bar, if you accrued more than 180
days of unlawful presence BEFORE the date you
were considered to be in a period of authorized stay.
F. Therefore, if you apply for adjustment of status after
you return to the United States, resume an adjustment
application that was pending before you left, or return
to a status that requires you to establish that you are
not inadmissible, you will need to apply for and
receive a waiver of inadmissibility before your
adjustment application may be approved or your
status continued.
G. Generally, only those persons who can establish
extreme hardship to their U. S. citizen or lawful
permanent resident spouse or parent may apply for the
waiver for humanitarian reasons, to assure family
unity or when it is otherwise in the public interest.
(See sections 209(c), 212(a)(9) and 244(c) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act for more information
on unlawful presence and the available waivers.)

A. If you are outside the United States and need to visit
the United States temporarily for emergent
humanitarian reasons:
1. You may apply for an advance parole document.
However, your application must be based on the
fact that you cannot obtain the necessary visa and
any required waiver of inadmissibility. Parole
under these conditions is granted on a case-by-case
basis for temporary entry, according to such
conditions as prescribed.
2. A person in the United States may file this
application on your behalf. In so doing, he or she
should complete Part 1 of the form with
information about him or herself.
B. If you are in the United States and seek advance
parole:
1. You may apply if you have an adjustment of status
application pending and you seek to travel abroad
for emergent personal or bona fide business reasons;
or
2. You may apply if you are classified as a refugee or
asylee and you seek to travel abroad for emergent
personal or bona fide business reasons, or you are
traveling to Canada to apply for a U.S. immigrant
visa. (See Part 2, Refugee Travel Document on
Page of 2 of these instructions, for additional
information on refugee/asylee travel); or
3. You may apply if you have been granted Temporary
Protected Status or another immigration status that
allows you to return to that status after a brief,
casual and innocent absence (as defined in 8 CFR
244.1) from the United States.
C. An advance parole document may not be issued to
you if:
1. You held J-1 nonimmigrant status and are subject to
the two-year foreign residence requirement as a
result of that status; or
2. You are in exclusion, deportation, removal or
recission proceedings.
D. If you travel before the advance parole document is
issued, your application will be deemed abandoned if:
1. You depart from the United States; or
2. The person seeking advance parole attempts to enter
the United States before a decision is made on the
application.

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 3

General Instructions.
Step 1. Fill Out the Form I-131
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "none."

Step 2. General requirements
1. Initial Evidence.
We may request additional information or evidence, or we
may request that you appear at a USCIS office for an
interview. You must file your application with all the
required evidence. If you do not submit the required
evidence, it will delay the issuance of the document you
are requesting.
All applications must include a copy of an official photo
identity document showing your photo, name and date
of birth. (Example: a valid government issued driver's
license; passport identity page; Form I-551, Permanent
Resident Card or any other official identity document.)
The copy must clearly show the photo and identity
information. A Form I-94, Arrival/Departure
Document, is not acceptable as a photo identity
document.
If you are applying for a:
A. Reentry Permit.
You must attach:
1. A copy of the front and back of your Form I-551,
Permanent Resident Card; or
2. If you have not yet received your Form I-551, a
copy of the biographic page(s) of your passport and
a copy of the visa page showing your initial
admission as a permanent resident, or other
evidence that you are a permanent resident; or
3. A copy of the Form I-797, Notice of Action,
approval notice of an application for replacement of
your Permanent Resident Card or temporary
evidence of permanent resident status.
B. Refugee Travel Document.
You must attach a copy of the document issued to you
by the USCIS or former INS showing your refugee or
asylee status and the expiration date of such status.

C. Advance Parole Document.
1. If you are in the United States, you must attach:
a. A copy of any document issued to you by the
USCIS or former INS showing your present
status in the United States; and
b. An explanation or other evidence showing the
circumstances that warrant issuance of an
advance parole document; or
c. If you are an applicant for adjustment of status, a
copy of the USCIS or former INS receipt as
evidence that you filed the adjustment
application;
d. If you are traveling to Canada to apply for an
immigrant visa, a copy of the U.S. consular
appointment letter.
2. If you are applying for a person who is outside the
United States, you must attach:
a. A statement of how and by whom medical care,
transportation, housing, and other expenses and
subsistence needs will be met; and
b. An Affidavit of Support (Form I-134), with
evidence of the sponsor's occupation and ability
to provide necessary support; and
c. A statement explaining why a U.S. visa cannot
be obtained, including when and where attempts
were made to obtain a visa; and
d. A statement explaining why a waiver of
inadmissibility cannot be obtained to allow
issuance of a visa, including when and where
attempts were made to obtain a waiver, and a
copy of any USCIS or former INS decision on
your waiver request; and
e. A copy of any decision on an immigrant petition
filed for the person, and evidence regarding any
pending immigrant petition; and
f. A complete description of the emergent reasons
explaining why advance parole should be
authorized and including copies of any evidence
you wish considered, and indicating the length of
time for which the parole is requested.
2. Photographs.
A. If you are filing for a reentry permit or a refugee
travel document, or if you are in the United States
and filing for an advance parole document:
You must submit two identical color photographs of
yourself taken within 30 days of the filing of this
application.
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 4

The photos must have a white to off-white background,
be printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be
unmounted and unretouched. NOTE: Digital photos
are not acceptable.
Passport-style photos must be 2" x 2." The photos
must be in color with full face, frontal view on a white
to off-white background. Head height should measure
1" to 1 3/8" from top of hair to bottom of chin, and eye
height is between 1 1/8" to 1 3/8" from bottom of
photo. Your head must be bare unless you are wearing
a headdress as required by a religious order of which
you are a member. Using pencil or felt pen, lightly
print your name and Alien Receipt Number on the back
of the photo.
B. If the person seeking advance parole is outside the
United States:
1. If you are applying for an advance parole document
and you are outside the United States, do not submit
the photographs with your application. Prior to
issuing the parole document, the U.S. embassy or
consulate or DHS office abroad will provide you
with information regarding the photograph
requirements.
2. If you are filing this application for an advance
parole document for another person, submit the
required photographs of the person to be paroled.

Invalidation of Travel Document.
Any travel document obtained by making a material false
representation or concealment in this application will be
invalid.
A travel document will also be invalid if you are ordered
removed or deported from the United States.
In addition, a refugee travel document will be invalid if the
United Nations Convention of July 28, 1951, shall cease to
apply or shall not apply to you as provided in Article 1C, D, E
or F of the Convention.

Where To File?
E-Filing Form I-131
Certain Form I-131 filings may be electronically filed (E-filed)
with USCIS. Please view our website at www.uscis.gov for a
list of who is eligible to e-file this form and instructions.
1. Travel Documents.
If you are applying for a refugee travel document based on
your refugee or asylum status or you are a permanent
resident as a direct result of your refugee or asylee status in
the U.S., file your Form I-131 with the Nebraska Service
Center at the below address:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
2. Reentry Permits.
If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident or a Conditional
Permanent Resident and are applying for a reentry permit,
file your Form I-131 with the Nebraska Service Center at
the below address:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
3. Advance Parole.
A. For adjustment of status applications (Form I-485)
filed with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox Facility:
Submit Form I-131 either concurrently with Form
I-485 or alone to the same address you used to file your
I-485 application (a complete list of the adjustment of
status applications filed with the USCIS Chicago
Lockbox Facility is found on Form I-485):

USCIS Lockbox Addresses:

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original
document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary
legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents
submitted when not required will remain a part of the record,
even if the submission was not required.

For United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

Translations. Any document containing foreign language

For private courier (non-USPS) deliveries:

submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full
English language translation which the translator has certified
as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification
that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign
language into English.

USCIS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

USCIS
Attn: FBASI
427 S. LaSalle - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605-1029

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 5

B. For battered spouses and children applying for
adjustment of status:
If you are filing as a battered or abused spouse or child
and you are filing your I-131 concurrently with Form
I-485 send both forms to the address you will use to file
Form I-485. If you are requesting advanced parole
based on a pending I-485, file your Form I-131 using
the same address you used to file Form I-485.
C. For special immigrant international employees:
If you are a special immigrant international
organization employee or eligible relative and you are
applying for advance parole concurrently with Form
I-485, use the filing address listed on Form I-485 for
both forms. If you are filing a Form I-131 based on a
pending Form I-485, file Form I-131 with the
Nebraska Service Center using the following address:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
D. For aliens granted refugee or asylee status who have
filed or will file an adjustment of status application:
If you have been granted refugee or asylee status and
you are applying for advance parole concurrently with
Form I-485 use the filing address listed on Form I-485
for both forms. If you are filing a Form I-131 based on
a pending Form I-485, file Form I-131 with the Service
Center where your Form I-485 is pending (see
addresses to the Nebraska and Texas Service Centers
below).
E. For Immigrant Investors:
If you are an immigrant investor and you are applying
for advance parole concurrently with Form I-485, use
the filing address lised on Form I-485 for both forms. If
you are filing a Form I-131 based on a pending Form
I-485, file Form I-131 with the Texas Service Center
using the following address:
USCIS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851182
Mesquite, TX 75185-1182
E. For applicants covered under the Haitian Refugee
Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA):
If you are either the dependent spouse or child of a
HRIFA principal or a HRIFA principal who has a Form
I-485 pending you may file your Form I-131 using the
following address:

USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87245
Lincoln, NE 68501-7245
F. For other adjustment of status applications (Form
I-485) filed at a USCIS Service Center including the
following:
1. Based on an underlying Form I-140 petition;
2. Based on an underlying Form I-360 petition not
previously mentioned; or
3. Others not previously mentioned.
If you are applying for advance parole concurrently
with Form I-485, use the filing address listed on Form
I-485 for both forms. If you are filing a Form I-131
based on a pending Form I-485, file Form I-131 with
the Nebraska Service Center or Texas Service Center,
depending on where you live.
1. Nebraska Service Center Filings:
File your Form I-131 with the Nebraska Service
Center if you live in the following states: Alaska,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii,
Idaho, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin or
Wyoming.
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
2. Texas Service Center Filings:
File your Form I-131 with the Texas Service
Center if you live in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma,
Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S.
Virgin Islands, West Virginia and the District of
Columbia.
USCIS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851182
Mesquite, TX 75185-1182

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 6

G. For individuals with Temporary Protected
Status (TPS)
If you have been granted Temporary Protected Status
and you are applying for advance parole, mail Form
I-131 to the Vermont Service Center, regardless of
where you live in the U.S.
USCIS Vermont Service Center
Attn: I-131
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
H. For beneficiaries outside the U.S. making the
request on humanitarian grounds, of a Private Bill,
and in removal proceedings:
If you are:
1. The beneficiary of a Private Bill,
2. In removal proceedings or
3. Outside the U.S. and are applying for advance
parole on humanitarian grounds or the request is
being filed on your behalf.
Then mail Form I-131 to the following address:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: Chief, International Operations Division
(Humanitarian Parole)
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20529
I. Questions Regarding Form I-131.
For additional information about Form I-131, including
how to file your application or filing locations not
mentioned, call the USCIS National Customer Service
Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visit our website at
www.uscis.gov.

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for a Form I-131 is $305.00.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-131 fee:
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:

A. If you live in Guam and are filing your petition there,
make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your petition there, make it payable to Commissioner
of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular
account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.
How to Check If the Fees Are Correct.
The form fee on this form is current as of the edition date
appearing in the lower right corner of this page. However,
because USCIS fees change periodically, you can verify if the
fees are correct by following one of the steps below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms" and check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form
package, if you called us to request the form; or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.

Address Changes.
If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
on-line at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts or by completing and mailing
Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 7

For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail
to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Processing Information.
Any Form I-131 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee, will be rejected with a notice that the Form
I-131 is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and
resubmit the Form I-131. An application or petition is not
considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.

Initial processing. Once a Form I-131 has been accepted, it

will be checked for completness, including submission of the
required initial evidence. If you do not completely fill out the
form, or file it without required initial evidence, you will not
establish a basis for eligibility and we may deny your Form
I-131.

Requests for more information or interview. We may

request more information or evidence, or we may request that
you appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will
return these originals when they are no longer required.

Decision. The decision on a Form I-131 involves a
determination of whether you have established eligiblity for
the requested benefit. You will be notified of the decision in
writing.
What If You Claim Nonresident Alien Status
on Your Federal Income Tax Return?
If you are an alien who has established residence in the United
States after having been admitted as an immigrant or adjusted
status to that of an immigrant, and are considering the filing of
a nonresident alien tax return or the non-filing of a tax return
on the ground that you are a nonresident alien, you should
carefully review the consequences of such actions under the
Immigration and Nationality Act.
If you file a nonresident alien tax return or fail to file a tax
return, you may be regarded as having abandoned residence
in the United States and as having lost your permanent
resident status under the Act. As a consequence, you may be
ineligible for a visa or other document for which permanent
resident aliens are eligible.
You may also be inadmissible to the United States if you seek
admission as a returning resident, and you may become
ineligible for adjustment of status as a permanent resident or
naturalization on the basis of your original entry.

USCIS Forms and Information.
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at 1-800870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and information on
immigration laws, regulations and procedures by telephoning
our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or
visiting our internet website at www.uscis.gov.
As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties.
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this Form I-131, we will
deny the Form I-131 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Privacy Act Notice.
We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-131.

Paperwork Reduction Act.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 55 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0013. Do not mail your application to this
address.

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)N Page 8