Emergency Travel
Re-entry Permit
A permanent resident that has sufficient cause to remain outside the United States for more than one year may apply for a Reentry Permit. The application for issuance of a Reentry Permit, Form I-131, must be submitted prior to departure from the United States. Form I-131, with supporting documentation and fee, must be mailed to the following address:
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131
Reentry Permits are valid for two years from issuance and cannot be extended or revalidated. Permanent Resident Cards cannot be extended or reissued outside the United States. Failure to return to the United States within the validity of either of these residency documents may jeopardize permanent residence status.
Persons who have remained outside the United States for more than one year without a valid Reentry Permit, or beyond the validity of a Reentry Permit, may be eligible to apply for returning resident status.
Advance Parole
Travel outside of the United States may have severe consequences if you are in the process of adjusting your status (applying for a green card). In general, if you are seeking immigrant status (a green card) and depart the United States without the appropriate documentation (i.e. advance parole) you may be inadmissible to the United States upon return.
If you are experiencing an extremely urgent situation, you may visit your local office to request an emergency advance parole document. You should bring the following items:
- A completed and signed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
- Two passport-style photos
- Evidence to support the emergency request (e.g. medical documentation, death certificate)
- Fee
You must apply for the travel document before leaving the United States. Generally, an applicant for a travel document must also complete biometrics capture at an Application Support Center (ASC) prior to departure from the United States. Failure to do so may cause the applicant to lose permission to reenter the country and lead to the denial of any other applications pending. You are encouraged to make an infopass appointment first.
USCIS is issuing employment and travel authorization on a single card for certain applicants. An applicant may receive this card when he or she files an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, and an Application for travel document, Form I-131, concurrently with or after filing Form I-485.
The card looks similar to the current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) but will include text that reads, "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole." A card with this text will serve as both an employment authorization and Advance Parole document.