Application for Travel Document
I-131 · Application for Travel Document
Requests a travel document — Advance Parole (AP) while I-485 is pending, a Re-entry Permit, or refugee travel documents.
Processing time varies by case
USCIS processing time depends on the form, the category you filed under, the office or service center handling it, and the specific facts of your case — and it changes over time. MyCases does not publish averaged processing-day or approval-rate estimates across cases.
Check official USCIS Processing TimesAlways rely on the official USCIS page and the written notices you receive.
Purpose and process
The most common use is AP filed with I-485 for travel while the case is pending.
Green-card holders planning a single trip abroad longer than one year usually need a Re-entry Permit.
Who files it
Adjustment-of-status applicants, LPRs planning long absences, and refugees / asylees.
Official references
Common USCIS statuses for this form
Case Was Received
USCIS has accepted delivery of your filing, logged it, and generated a receipt number beginning with a three-letter service center code. The status confirms that your package and fee were received; it does not mean an officer has read a single page. It also fixes two things that matter later: the received date (which is normally your priority date in preference categories) and the office responsible for the case.
Case Was Approved
USCIS approved the application. This is a decision status and the outcome is favorable, but approval is not the same as having the document in hand: most categories still go through card production, notice mailing, or transfer to another agency, each with its own status. The legally operative item is the written I-797 approval notice that follows; the online status is only a signal that it is coming.
Advance Parole Document Was Produced
The Advance Parole travel document is being produced.
Document Was Mailed To Me
The document has been handed off to USPS.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel while I-485 is pending?
Not without Advance Parole. Even after filing I-131 and receiving the receipt, leaving before the AP is issued can be treated as abandonment of the I-485 for most applicants.
How fast is AP right now?
AP filed with I-485 is currently around 4–8 months in most cases. Standalone Re-entry Permits can take longer.
Can I use AP for multiple trips?
The combo card (I-765 + I-131) generally allows multiple entries during the validity period, but always follow the exact wording printed on the card.
Track your I-131 case
Enter your receipt number. MyCases polls USCIS on a schedule and alerts you the moment the status changes — by email, Telegram or WeChat Work. Free forever.
About this information
- · MyCases is an independent product and is not affiliated with USCIS or any US government agency.
- · Information comes from publicly available USCIS channels.
- · It is informational only — not legal advice, and not a prediction of approval or timing.
- · Official written notices and USCIS records control.