Definition
An official document — like Advance Parole or a Refugee Travel Document — that lets certain non-citizens leave and re-enter the U.S. without losing status.
A travel document is any official document issued by USCIS that lets certain non-citizens leave and re-enter the United States without losing their immigration status. The most common types are advance parole (for people with pending applications), re-entry permits (for green card holders traveling for extended periods), and refugee travel documents.
All of these are applied for using Form I-131, but they serve different purposes for different groups of people. The type you need depends entirely on your current immigration status and why you need to travel.
Leaving the U.S. without the right travel document can be catastrophic for your immigration case. If you have a pending adjustment of status and leave without advance parole, your application is automatically abandoned. If you're a green card holder gone for over a year without a re-entry permit, you may lose your permanent resident status. The stakes are high.
related terms
A travel document that lets green card holders leave the U.S. for up to two years without losing their permanent resident status.
A travel permit that lets you leave the U.S. and come back without abandoning your pending green card application.
The form you file to get a travel document (like Advance Parole) so you can leave and re-enter the U.S. while your case is pending.
Someone with a green card — they can live, work, and travel freely in the U.S. and are on the path to citizenship.
The process of converting a 2-year conditional green card into a permanent one — required for people who got their green card through marriage.
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