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What Is Advance Parole and When Do You Need It?
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Understanding Advance Parole Before You Travel.
Advance parole is a travel document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows certain noncitizens to leave the United States and seek permission to return without first getting a visa for that trip. It is often used by people with a pending immigration application or another immigration status that does not provide its own basis for reentry.
You may need advance parole if you have a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and want to travel while USCIS reviews your case. Certain DACA recipients and people with humanitarian protections may also qualify for travel authorization.
Traveling without the required authorization can affect your immigration case. For some adjustment of status applicants, leaving the United States without advance parole may cause USCIS to treat the pending application as abandoned. Exceptions apply to certain people who maintain specific nonimmigrant statuses.
Advance parole does not guarantee that you will be allowed to return to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes that decision when you arrive at a port of entry. Because travel rules vary by immigration category, confirm which travel document you need before leaving the country.
Whether you need advance parole depends on your immigration status, pending applications, and reason for travel. Different rules may apply in the following situations.
If you have filed Form I-485 to apply for a Green Card from within the United States, you may need advance parole before traveling abroad. Leaving without the required authorization may cause USCIS to treat your adjustment of status application as abandoned. Certain applicants who maintain specific nonimmigrant statuses may be subject to different rules.
Certain DACA recipients may request advance parole for qualifying travel. USCIS considers requests for humanitarian, educational, or employment purposes. DACA recipients generally need to receive advance parole before leaving the United States. Personal travel or tourism alone generally does not qualify.
People with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may be able to request authorization to travel abroad. USCIS uses specific travel authorization procedures for TPS beneficiaries, so the required document may differ from the advance parole document issued to other applicants. TPS beneficiaries should check which travel authorization applies to their situation, especially if they have another immigration application pending.
Some people with pending humanitarian immigration matters may qualify for advance parole or another USCIS travel document. Eligibility depends on the type of immigration benefit involved and the person’s circumstances. A pending application alone does not give you permission to travel abroad and return. Check the travel requirements that apply to your immigration category before leaving the United States.
Having advance parole does not remove every risk connected with international travel. Before leaving the United States, consider your current immigration status, pending applications, travel history, and whether you have any immigration court proceedings.
Advance parole and a visa are different immigration documents.
Advance parole allows certain noncitizens to travel abroad and seek permission to return to the United States without obtaining a visa for that trip.
A nonimmigrant visa allows a person to request entry under a specific visa category, such as a student or temporary worker classification.
Advance parole does not grant immigration status or guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the United States.
Some adjustment of status applicants who maintain certain nonimmigrant statuses may be able to travel without advance parole without abandoning their Form I-485. Because exceptions apply, having a pending adjustment application does not mean the same travel rule applies to everyone.
Before leaving the United States, check that:
Your travel document will be valid for the planned trip.
Your travel dates fall within the document’s validity period.
You understand whether travel could affect any pending immigration applications.
You have the documents needed to request parole when you return.
You have considered whether removal proceedings or other immigration issues could affect your return.
Advance parole allows you to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request parole. It does not guarantee that you will be allowed back into the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes the decision when you return.
The application process depends on the immigration category that makes you eligible for travel authorization. In many advance parole cases, applicants use Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records.
Confirm that you are eligible. Determine whether advance parole is available based on your immigration status or pending application. The requirements vary for adjustment applicants, DACA recipients, and people with humanitarian immigration matters.
Complete the required Form I-131 filing. Provide the information USCIS requests about your immigration situation and proposed travel. Make sure you use the current version of the form and instructions that apply to your filing category.
Gather your supporting documents. USCIS may require evidence of your identity, immigration status, pending application, and reason for travel. The documents required depend on why you are requesting advance parole.
Pay the filing fee, if required. Whether a fee applies depends on your filing category and circumstances. Check the current USCIS fee schedule before submitting the application.
Submit your application. Follow the USCIS filing instructions for your eligibility category, including the correct filing method and address.
Complete biometrics, if required. USCIS may ask you to provide fingerprints, a photograph, or other identifying information. Follow the instructions in any appointment notice you receive.
Wait for a decision. Processing times vary, so check current USCIS processing information when planning possible travel. If you need to travel because of an urgent situation, USCIS has procedures for requesting expedited or emergency travel documents in qualifying circumstances.
Review your document before traveling. If USCIS approves your application, check the document’s validity dates and whether it permits one or multiple uses before making travel plans.
Do not assume that filing Form I-131 gives you permission to travel. If advance parole is required for your situation, wait until USCIS approves the request and issues the appropriate travel document before leaving the United States.
Advance parole does not guarantee that you will be allowed to return to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes the final decision at the port of entry, and travel can have different effects depending on your immigration history and pending applications.
Legal guidance may be useful before traveling if:
You are in removal or deportation proceedings or have a prior removal order.
You have a history of unlawful presence or other immigration violations.
You are unsure whether leaving the United States could affect a pending application.
You have DACA and are unsure whether your reason for travel qualifies.
You need to travel because of an urgent or emergency situation.
You are unsure which travel document applies to your immigration status.
If you are unsure how international travel could affect your immigration case, consider speaking with an immigration attorney before making travel plans.
USCIS may issue an emergency travel document in certain urgent situations, such as a serious illness, death, or other pressing need to travel. The requirements depend on the circumstances, and you may need to provide evidence showing why immediate travel is necessary.
Filing Form I-131 does not, by itself, give you permission to travel. If advance parole is required for your situation, leaving the United States before USCIS approves the request may affect your pending immigration application.
The validity period depends on the document USCIS issues. Before traveling, check the expiration date and whether the document allows one trip or multiple trips. Your planned travel and return should fall within the authorization provided on the document.
Yes. Filing Form I-131 does not guarantee approval. USCIS reviews whether you qualify for the requested travel document and may ask for additional evidence before making a decision. If advance parole is required for your situation, do not assume you can travel simply because your application is pending.
When you return, you present your travel documents at a U.S. port of entry. Advance parole allows you to seek parole into the United States, but it does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter. U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes that determination when you arrive.
