I-131 Instructions Table of Changes

TABLE OF CHANGES – INSTRUCTIONS

I-131, Application for Travel Document

OMB Number: 1615-0013

11/21/2022

Reason for Revision: Fee Rule

Project Phase: NPRM OMB Review

Legend for Proposed Text:

• Black font = Current text

• Red font = Changes

Expires 10/31/2025

Edition Date 10/31/2022

Current Page Number and Section	Current Text	Proposed Text
Pages 2-8, Who May File Form I-131?	[Page 7] … NOTE: A derivative beneficiary can only receive benefits under any of the specific Family Reunification Parole policies if the principal beneficiary receives benefits. A separate application and fee for each individual principal and derivative beneficiary is required. Applications for a principal beneficiary and any of his or her derivative beneficiaries must be submitted in one package when mailed to USCIS. …	[Page 7] … NOTE: A derivative beneficiary can only receive benefits under any of the specific Family Reunification Parole policies if the principal beneficiary receives benefits. A separate application for each individual principal and derivative beneficiary is required. Applications for a principal beneficiary and any of his or her derivative beneficiaries must be submitted in one package when mailed to USCIS. …
Page 9, General Instructions	[Page 9] … Each application must be properly signed and accompanied by the appropriate fee. (See the What is the Filing Fee section of these Instructions.) A photocopy of a signed application or a typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. If you are under 14 years of age, your parent or legal guardian may sign the application on your behalf. [new] Evidence. You must submit all required initial evidence along with all the supporting documentation with your application at the time of filing. …	[Page 9] … Each application must be properly signed and accompanied by the appropriate fee. A photocopy of a signed application or a typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. If you are under 14 years of age, your parent or legal guardian may sign the application on your behalf. Filing Fee. See Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/forms, for specific information about the fees applicable to this form. Evidence. You must submit all required initial evidence along with all the supporting documentation with your application at the time of filing. …
Pages 9-13, General Requirements	[Page 13] … a. All applicants for a Refugee Travel Document or a Reentry Permit must complete biometrics at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) or, if applying for a Refugee Travel Document while outside of the United States at an overseas USCIS facility. If you are between ages 14 through 79 and you are applying for a Refugee Travel Document or a Reentry Permit, you must also be fingerprinted as part of USCIS biometrics services requirement. After you have filed this application, USCIS will notify you in writing of the time and location for your biometrics services appointment. Failure to appear to be fingerprinted or for other biometrics services may result in a denial of your application. b. All applicants for Reentry Permits and/or Refugee Travel Documents between the ages of 14 through 79 are required to pay the additional $85 biometrics services fee. (See the What Is the Filing Fee section of these Instructions.) c. An individual outside the United States who is seeking an Advance Parole Document for humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, including under one of the Family Reunification Parole policies, and who is between ages 14 through 79, must be fingerprinted as part of the USCIS biometrics services requirement. Depending on the individual’s location, USCIS or the Department of State will advise the location for the biometrics services appointment. … d. Non-profit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States Department of Defense or National Interest Situation. (Note: The request must come from an official United States Government entity and state that a delay will be detrimental to the U.S. Government.)	[Page 13] … a. All applicants for a Refugee Travel Document or a Reentry Permit must complete biometrics at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) or, if applying for a Refugee Travel Document while outside of the United States at an overseas USCIS facility. If you are between ages 14 through 79 and you are applying for a Refugee Travel Document or a Reentry Permit, you must also be fingerprinted as part of USCIS biometrics services requirement. After you have filed this application, USCIS will notify you in writing of the time and location for your biometrics services appointment. Failure to appear to be fingerprinted or for other biometrics services may result in a denial of your application. [deleted] b. An individual outside the United States who is seeking an Advance Parole Document for humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, including under one of the Family Reunification Parole policies, and who is between ages 14 through 79, must be fingerprinted as part of the USCIS biometrics services requirement. Depending on the individual’s location, USCIS or the Department of State will advise the location for the biometrics services appointment. … d. Non-profit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States Department of Defense or National Interest Situation. (Note: The request must come from an official United States Government entity and state that a delay will be detrimental to the U.S. Government.)
Pages 14-15, What Is the Filing Fee?	[Page 14] What Is the Filing Fee? Reentry Permit: The filing fee for a Reentry Permit is $575. A biometrics services fee of $85 is required for applicants ages 14 through 79. Refugee Travel Document: The filing fee for a Refugee Travel Document for an applicant age 16 or older is $135. The fee for a child younger than 16 is $105. A biometrics services fee of $85 is required for applicants ages 14 through 79. Advance Parole Document for Individuals Who Are Currently in the United States (including individuals whose cases were deferred pursuant to DACA): The filing fee for an Advance Parole Document for an individual who is currently in the United States is $575. The biometrics services fee is not required. Advance Parole Document for Individuals Outside the United States, Including Under Family Reunification Parole Policies: The filing fee for an Advance Parole Document for an individual who is outside the United States is $575. The biometrics services fee is not required. The filing fee may be waived based upon a demonstrated inability to pay. Applicants should file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, when filing Form I-131 to ensure such requests are supported in accordance with 8 CFR 103.7(c). Advance Permission to Travel for CNMI Long-Term residents: The filing fee for Advance Permission to Travel for a CNMI Long-Term Resident who is currently in the CNMI is $575. The biometric services fee is not required. Please note the filing fee may not be waived for this category. NOTE: If you filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and you paid the Form I-485 application fee required, then no fee is required to file a request for an Advance Parole Document or Refugee Travel Document on Form I-131 if your Form I-485 is still pending, if: 1. You now hold U.S. refugee or asylee status, and are applying for a Refugee Travel Document (see Part 2. Application Type, Item Number 1.b. of Form I-131); or 2. You are applying for an Advance Parole Document to allow you to return to the United States after temporary foreign travel (see Part 2. Application Type, Item Number 1.d. of Form I-131). Under these circumstances, you may file Form I-131 together with your Form I-485, or you may submit Form I-131 at a later date. If you file Form I-131 separately, you must also submit a copy of your Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence that you filed and paid the fee for Form I-485 required on or after July 30, 2007. Replacement Travel Document: If you are filing to replace a travel document that was lost, stolen, mutilated, or contains erroneous information, such as a misspelled name, a filing fee is required. NOTE: If you are requesting a replacement Advance Parole Document as an adjustment applicant filed under the fee structure implemented July 30, 2007, then the full filing fee will be required; however, no biometrics services fee is required. Incorrect Card: No fee is required if you are filing to correct a USCIS error on your travel document. If USCIS did not cause the error, you must pay the application fees. NOTE: The filing fee and biometric services fee are not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this application. DO NOT MAIL CASH. You must submit all fees in the exact amounts. Use the following guidelines when you prepare your checks or money orders for the Form I-131 filing fee and biometric services 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 [Page 15] 2. Make the checks or money orders payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security NOTE: Spell out U.S. Department of Homeland Security; do not use the initials “USDHS” or “DHS.” 3. If you live outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for instructions on the method of payment. Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us a check, USCIS will convert it 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 your bank will show it on your regular account statement. You will not receive your original check back. We will destroy your original check, but will keep a copy of it. If USCIS cannot process the EFT for technical reasons, you authorize us to process the copy in place of your original check. If your check is returned as unpayable, USCIS will re-submit the payment to the financial institution one time. If the check is returned as unpayable a second time, we will reject your application and charge you a returned check fee. How To Check If the Fees Are Correct Form I-131’s filing fee and biometric services fees are 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 following one of the steps below. 1. Visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov, select “FORMS,” and check the appropriate fee; or 2. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 and ask for fee information. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. Fee Waiver You may be eligible for a fee waiver under 8 CFR 103.7(c).  If you believe you are eligible for a fee waiver, complete Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver (or a written request), and submit it and any required evidence of your inability to pay the filing fee with this application. You can review the fee waiver guidance at www.uscis.gov/feewaiver.	[deleted]
Page 15, Where to File?	[Page 15] Where to File? …	[Page 15] Where to File? …
Page 17, Paperwork Reduction Act	[Page 17] 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 1.90 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the application, preparing statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the application. The collection of biometrics is estimated to require 1.17 hours. The collection of passport-style photographs is estimated at 0.50 hours. 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, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No .1615-0013. Do not mail your completed Form I-131 to this address.	[Page 17] 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 1.717 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the application, preparing statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the application. The collection of biometrics is estimated to require 1.17 hours. The collection of passport-style photographs is estimated at 0.50 hours. 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, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No .1615-0013. Do not mail your completed Form I-131 to this address.

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