I-131A Instructions Table of Changes

TABLE OF CHANGES – Instructions

Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation

OMB Number: 1615-0135

10/10/2019

Reason for Revision: 2019 Fee Rule.

Legend for Proposed Text:

• Black font = Current text

• Red font = Changes

Expires 02/28/2021

Edition Date 02/13/2019

Current Page Number and Section	Current Text	Proposed Text
Page 1, What Is the Purpose of Form I-131A?	[Page 1] What Is the Purpose of Form I-131A? United States laws impose penalties on carriers who bring to the United States an individual who is not in possession of a valid passport and any required visa. If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or conditional permanent resident (conditional LPR) of the United States traveling overseas temporarily, you may ordinarily use your Permanent Resident Card or a Reentry Permit, in place of a visa. If you are not in possession of a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card or Reentry Permit (for example, your card or permit was lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated), you may experience difficulties when you attempt to return to the United States. [new] This application allows individuals in this situation to apply for a Travel Document (Transportation Letter or Boarding Foil). If the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the applicant remains an LPR or conditional LPR, DHS may, as a matter of discretion on a case by case basis, provide a Travel Document. The Travel Document may be a foil placed in the applicant’s passport or a boarding letter. If DHS provides a Travel Document, the applicant may present the document to the carrier destined for the United States. Generally, a Travel Document is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. Warnings 1. A Travel Document only allows you to demonstrate to the commercial carrier that you are not required to provide a visa at the time that you apply for admission or otherwise seek lawful entry into the United States at a U.S. Port-of-Entry (POE); it is not a guarantee of admission to, or other form of entry into, the United States. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will carry out all the required inspection procedures, including determining admissibility or ability to enter, upon your arrival at a POE. 2. DHS may revoke or terminate your Travel Document at any time, with or without notice. That revocation or termination could have implications for your travel. Need to Replace or Renew Permanent Resident Card If you no longer have your Permanent Resident Card, or it has expired, you must apply for a new Permanent Resident Card. The issuance of a Travel Document does not take the place of obtaining a new Permanent Resident Card. To apply for a replacement or renewal of your Permanent Resident Card, you must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/I-90 for more information. [new]	[Page 1] What Is the Purpose of Form I-131A? [no change] If you are not an LPR or a conditional LPR, but you received an advance parole document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or travel endorsement on an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), and your document was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged while you are traveling overseas temporarily, you may also experience difficulties when you attempt to return to the United States. Parole allows an alien to physically enter the United States for a specific purpose. An individual who has been “paroled” has not been admitted to the United States and remains an “applicant for admission” even while paroled. This application allows individuals in these situations to apply for Carrier Documentation (Transportation Letter or Boarding Foil). If the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the applicant remains an LPR or conditional LPR, or had previously received an advance parole document or travel endorsement on an Employment Authorization Document that is still valid, DHS may, as a matter of discretion on a case by case basis, provide a Carrier Document. The Carrier Document may be a foil placed in the applicant’s passport or a boarding letter. If DHS provides a Carrier Document, the applicant may present the document to the carrier destined for the United States. Generally, a Carrier Document is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. Warnings 1. A Carrier Document only allows you to demonstrate to the commercial carrier that you are not required to provide a visa at the time that you apply for admission or otherwise seek lawful entry into the United States at a U.S. Port-of-Entry (POE); it is not a guarantee of admission to, or other form of entry into, the United States. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will carry out all the required inspection procedures, including determining admissibility or ability to enter, upon your arrival at a POE. 2. DHS may revoke or terminate your Carrier Document at any time, with or without notice. That revocation or termination could have implications for your travel. Need to Replace or Renew Permanent Resident Card If you no longer have your Permanent Resident Card, or it has expired, you must apply for a new Permanent Resident Card. The issuance of a Carrier Document does not take the place of obtaining a new Permanent Resident Card. To apply for a replacement or renewal of your Permanent Resident Card, you must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/I-90 for more information. Need to Replace Advance Parole Document If you no longer have your Employment Authorization Document with travel endorsement and you choose to replace it, you must file Form I-765 and Form I-131 with USCIS.  The issuance of a Carrier Document does not take the place of obtaining a new Employment Authorization Document.  Visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/I-765 and www.uscis.gov/I-131 for more information.  If you no longer have your Form I-512/I-512L, Advance Parole Document, and are still in the United States, you must file Form I-131 with USCIS.
Pages 1-2, Who May File Form I-131A?	[Page 1] Who May File Form I-131A? You may file Form I-131A to apply for a Travel Document if: … [Page 2] 5. You are not in possession of a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card or Reentry Permit (for example, your card or permit was lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated) or other authorization to apply for admission to, or otherwise seek lawful entry into, the United States. [new] Who is NOT eligible to receive a Travel Document? DHS retains the discretion to determine, on a case by case basis, to whom it is appropriate to provide a Travel Document. Some of the reasons that DHS may decline to provide you with a Travel Document are: 1. You are physically present in the United States; 2. You are no longer a LPR or conditional LPR of the United States; or 3. You were issued a Travel Document and it is still valid, unless the prior document was returned to DHS or was lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated. [new] If you have an expired 1) Permanent Resident Card (with a 10-year expiration date) or 2) Permanent Resident Card (with a two-year expiration date) and valid Form I-797, Notice of Action, indicating that status is extended, you may use these documents to return to the United States, and you do not need to file Form I-131A. …	[Page 1] Who May File Form I-131A? You may file Form I-131A to apply for a Carrier Document if: … [no change] 5. You are not in possession of a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card or Reentry Permit (for example, your card or permit was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged) or other authorization to apply for admission to, or otherwise seek lawful entry into, the United States. You may also file Form I-131A if you meet all of the following criteria: 1. You received an Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) with travel endorsement; 2. The Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or an  Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with travel endorsement has not been revoked; 3. You wish to return to the United States after a temporary absence prior to the expiration of that Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L), and Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with travel endorsement;  4. You are not in possession of a valid, unexpired Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with travel endorsement because it was lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged. Who is NOT eligible to receive a Carrier Document? DHS retains the discretion to determine, on a case by case basis, to whom it is appropriate to provide a Carrier Document. Some of the reasons that DHS may decline to provide you with a Carrier Document are: 1. You are physically present in the United States; 2. You are no longer a LPR or conditional LPR of the United States; 3. You were issued a Carrier Document and it is still valid, unless the prior document was returned to DHS or was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged; or 4.  Your Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with travel endorsement has expired or will expire, or is revoked, prior to your date of return to the United States.  NOTE:  Form I-131A should not be used to apply for or replace Humanitarian Parole. Please see the Form I-131 Instructions if you seek to apply for Humanitarian Parole. [no change] …
Pages 2-4, General Instructions	[Page 2] … Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/I-131A or contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for the most current information about where to file this application. …	[Page 2] … Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/I-131A or go to travel.state.gov for information on contacting the nearest Visa Section or Consular Section in your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for the most current information about where to file this application. …
Page 4, What Evidence Should You Submit?	[Page 4] … 2. Evidence of your LPR or conditional LPR status (if available) (for example, a copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), your immigrant visa, or the CBP admission stamp in your passport); …	[Page 4] … 2. If you are permanent resident, evidence of your LPR or conditional LPR status (if available) (for example, a copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), your immigrant visa, or the CBP admission stamp in your passport). If you are not a permanent resident, but have advance parole, evidence of your advance parole, if available (for example a copy of your Advance Parole Document (Form I-512/Form I-512L) or a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with travel endorsement; …
Page 4, What Is the Filing Fee?	[Page 4] What Is the Filing Fee? The filing fee for Form I-131A is $575. No biometric services fee is required for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) applicants. The fee for this application must be paid online via the USCIS online filing system at www.uscis.gov, by selecting “FORMS,” and navigating to Form I-131A. The fee may be paid via credit card, debit card or U.S. bank account via Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment system. NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this application. There is no waiver of the filing fee for Form I-131A. How To Check If the Fees Are Correct Form I-131A’s filing fee is current as of the edition date in the lower left corner of this page. However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can verify that the fees are correct by visiting the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov, select “FORMS,” and check the appropriate fee.	[Page 4] What Is the Filing Fee? The filing fee for Form I-131A is $1,010. The fee for this application must be paid online via the USCIS online filing system at www.uscis.gov, by selecting “FORMS,” and navigating to Form I-131A. The fee may be paid via credit card, debit card or U.S. bank account via Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment system. Note that Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation, is a different form from I-131, Application for Travel Document. If you are submitting Form I-131, you CANNOT pay the fee online. NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this application. [delete] How To Check If the Fees Are Correct The listed fee of $1,010 for the Form I-131A is correct as of the edition date of this form located in the lower left corner of this page. However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can verify that the fees are correct by visiting the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov, select “FORMS,” and check the appropriate fee.
Page 14, USCIS Forms and Information	[Page 5] USCIS Forms and Information To ensure you are using the latest version of this application, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov where you can obtain the latest USCIS forms and immigration-related information. Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/I-131A or contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for the most current information about where to file this application. If you would like to ask for information in person, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices for contact information regarding the USCIS office in the country where you are located. If there is no USCIS office in the country where you are located, please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in your area to find the appropriate contact and appointment information. Instead of waiting in line for assistance at your local USCIS office, you can schedule an appointment online at www.uscis.gov. Select “Schedule an Appointment” and follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment. Once you finish scheduling an appointment, the system will generate an appointment notice for you.	[Page 5] USCIS Forms and Information To ensure you are using the latest version of this application, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov where you can obtain the latest USCIS forms and immigration-related information. Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/I-131A or contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for the most current information about where to file this application. If you would like to ask for information in person, please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in your area to find the appropriate contact and appointment information. [Delete]

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