Application for Travel Document

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 may only be used to apply to U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) for the following travel
documents and must not be used to request release from
immigration custody:
1. Re-entry Permit - A reentry permit allows a permanent
resident or conditional resident to apply for admission to
the United States upon returning 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 aslyee or refugee status and are not permanent
residents must have a refugee travel document to return to
the United States after temporary travel abroad.
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 A and B 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. After filing your application for
Reentry Permit, USCIS will inform you in writing
when to go to your local Application Support Center
(ASC) for your biometrics appointment. (See
Biometric Services Requirement).
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y

You must be physically present in the United States
when you file the Re-entry Permit application.
However, a Re-entry 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.
Departure from the United States before a decision is
made on an application for a Re-entry Permit usually
does not affect the application. However, where
biometric collection is required and the applicant
departs the United States before the biometrics are
collected, the application may be denied.
With the exception of having to obtain a returning
resident visa abroad, a Re-entry 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 Re-entry
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 Re-entry Permit.
1. Generally, a Re-entry 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 Re-entry 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 Re-entry Permit may not be extended.
C. A Re-entry 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 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 Re-entry 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. After filing your application
for a Refugee Travel Document, USCIS will inform
you in writing when to go to your local USCIS
Application Support Center (ASC) for your biometrics
appointment.
You should apply for a refugee travel document before
you leave the United States. 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. Departure from the United States before a
decision is made on the application for a Refugee
Travel Document usually does not affect the
application. However, where biometric collection is
required and the applicant departs the United
States before the biometrics are collected, the
application may be denied.
Travel Warning Regarding Voluntary Re-availment
WARNING to asylees who travel to the country of
claimed persecution:
If you applied for asylum on or after April 1, 1997, your
asylum status may be terminated if the government determines
that you have voluntarily availed yourself of the protection of
your country of claimed persecution. See Section 208(c)(2)(D)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §
1158(c)(2)(D).

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 2

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 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 Re-entry Permit
and remain outside the United States for one year or
more, it may be determined that you have abandoned
your permanent resident status.
3. Advance Parole Document.

Travel Warning Regarding Unlawful Presence
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, 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 have been granted Temporary
Protected Status or another 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.
3. 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. NOTE: If a refugee or asylee who returns to
the United States with an Advance Parole
Document is paroled into the United States at a port
of entry upon return, he or she will not be returned
to his or her refugee or asylee status. A refugee or
asylee who returns to the United States with a valid
Refugee Travel Document may be admitted to the
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 3

United States to resume his or her refugee or asylee status. For
additional information on Refugee Travel Documents, see
Pages two and three of these instructions.
WARNING: If you have a pending application for asylum,
and you return to the country of claimed persecution, it will be
presumed that you abandoned your asylum application, unless
you can show that there were compelling reasons for your
return. See 8 C.F.R. § 208.8.
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.
Note: Do not use this form if you are seeking
release from immigration custody and you want to
remain in the United States as a parolee. You
should contact US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) about your request.

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 or for fingerprinting. (See Biometric Services
Requirement). 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. Re-entry 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.
If you are applying for a:
B. Refugee Travel Document.
You must attach a copy of the document issued to
you by USCIS 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
USCIS 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 USCIS receipt as evidence
that you filed the adjustment application;

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 4

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 DHS 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.
g. Two completed fingerprint cards (FD-258). You
must indicate your Alien Registration Number
(A#) on the fingerprint card and ensure that the
completed cards are not bent, folded or creased.
The fingerprint cards must be prepared by a U.S.
Embassy or U.S. Consulate, USCIS office or
U.S. Military Installation.
2. Photographs.
A. If you are outside the United States and filing for a
refugee travel document, or if you are in the United
States and filing for advance parole document.

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: Because of the current USCIS scanning
process, if a digital photo is submitted, it needs to be
produced from a high resolution camera, which has
at least a 3.5 mega pixel.
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.
3. Biometric Services Requirement
If you are between age 14 through 79 and you are applying
for a Refugee Travel Document or Re-Entry Permit, you
must be fingerprinted as part of USCIS biometric services
requirement. After you have filed this application, USCIS
will notify you in writing of the time and location where you
must go to be fingerprinted. If necessary, USCIS may also
take your photograph and signature. Failure to appear to be
fingerprinted or for other biometric services may result in a
denial of your application. All applicants for Re-entry Permit
and/or Refugee Travel Documents between the ages of 14
through 79 are required to pay the additional $80.00
biometric fee. (See "What is the Filing Fee" on page eight).

You must submit two identical color photographs of
yourself taken within 30 days of the filing of this
application.

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 5

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.

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.

Translations. Any document containing foreign language

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.

Expedite Request Instructions.

Expedited applications for Reentry Permit or Refugee
Travel Document. When mailing in this request please
notate the outside of the envelope with the word
EXPEDITE. It is recommended that two pre-paid, selfaddressed express mailers, e-mail addresses and a fax
number be provided with any expedite request for the
Reentry Permit or Refugee Travel Document. If the
expedite request is granted and you provide prepaid, selfaddressed express mailers, we will use the pre-paid mailers
to send you the ASC appointment notice and travel
document upon completion. If you do not provide pre-paid
mailers, the appointment notice and travel document will
be sent via regular mail.

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. Re-entry Permits.
If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident or a Conditional
Permanent Resident and are applying for a Re-entry
Permit, file your Form I-131 with the Nebraska Service
Center at the address below:
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 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 USCIS Chicago Lockbox
Facility is found on Form I-485):

USCIS Lockbox Addresses:
For United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
For private courier (non-USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: FBASI
427 S. LaSalle - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605-1029
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
Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 6

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 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 Texas Service Center
using the following address:
USCIS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851182
Mesquite, TX 75185-1182
F. 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
For dependent spouse or dependent child covered
under the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act
(HRIFA) outside the US: If you are the spouse or child
of a principal HRIFA applicant and are seeking
advance parole to enter the United States to file for
adjustment of status as a permanent resident, you may
file your Form I-131 using the following address:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87245
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
G. 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
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. Beneficiaries outside of the U.S. seeking parole due
to extraordinary, emergent, humanitarian
circumstances should 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

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 7

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 fee for this application is $305.00 and may not be waived,
(see NOTE that follows for when this fee may not apply). The
biometric fee is $80.00 for applicants ages 14 through 79 who
request a Refugee Travel Document or Re-Entry Permit,
unless the applicant resides outside the U.S. at the time of
filing their form. See 8 CFR 103.2(e)(4)(ii)(A)). The
application fee and biometrics services fee may be paid with
one $385.00 check. Persons financially unable to pay the
required biometric services fee may submit a fee waiver
request,with supporting documentation, as described in 8 CFR
103.7(c). USCIS will inform you regarding the approval or
denial of your fee waiver request.
NOTE: If you filed a Form I-485, Application to Register
Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on or after July 30,
2007 and you paid the I-485 application fee required, then no
fee is required to file a request for Advance Parole or for a
Refugee Travel Document on Form I-131. You may file the
I-131 for Advance Parole or for a Refugee Travel Document
concurrently with your I-485, or you may submit the I-131 for
Advance Parole or a Refugee Travel Document at a later date.
If you file Form I-131 for advance parole or a refugee travel
document separately, you must also submit a copy of your
Form I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence that you
filed and paid the fee for the Form I-485 required on or after
July 30, 2007.
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.

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. 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
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

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."

Form I-131 Instructions (Rev. 10/26/07)Y Page 8

Processing Information.

USCIS Forms and Information.

Any Form I-131 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee(s), 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.

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.

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

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.

will be checked for completeness, 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.

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 one hour and 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. 10/26/07)Y Page 9