I-131 Purpose of Trip, Countries, and Number of Trips (Part 7, Items 2, 3, 4) in 2026

The travel document form asks why you intend to travel, which countries you intend to visit, and how many trips you will use the document for. If you have no firm plans, these describe your intent, not a confirmed itinerary.

Quick answer

Filing advance parole with no firm plans? Part 7, Item 2 (Purpose of trip), Item 3 (countries you intend to visit), and Item 4 (number of trips) ask for your intent, not a confirmed itinerary. You can describe a general purpose (such as visiting family or a possible work trip), list the countries you think you may travel to, and select More than one trip, because advance parole is normally valid for multiple entries within its validity period.

Summary

On Form I-131, Part 7, Item 2 asks for the Purpose of trip, Item 3 asks you to list the countries you intend to visit, and Item 4 asks how many trips you intend to use this document for (One Trip or More than one trip). These appear in Part 7, the section you complete when you are applying for an Advance Parole Document (advance permission to travel abroad and return while a green card case is pending) under Part 1, Item 5. All three ask for your intended travel, so an applicant (the person whose green card case is pending) filing as a precaution with no firm plans can describe a general purpose, list likely destinations, and select More than one trip. Advance parole, once issued, is typically valid for multiple entries within its printed validity period rather than for a single trip.

Where it is on the form	Part 7 (Information About Your Proposed Travel). Item 2 is Purpose of trip. Item 3 is the list of countries you intend to visit. Item 4 is how many trips you intend to use this document for (One Trip or More than one trip). You complete Part 7 only when you selected the Advance Parole Document box in Part 1, Item 5.
Item 2: Purpose of trip	A short text description of why you intend to travel. The field asks for your intent, so a general purpose (such as visiting family abroad or a possible work trip) is what goes here when no specific trip is booked.
Item 3: Countries you intend to visit	A list of the countries you think you may travel to. If you are not sure, you can list the destinations that are most likely. Part 13 (Additional Information) is available if you run out of space.
Item 4: Number of trips	A choice between One Trip and More than one trip. Advance parole is normally valid for multiple entries within its printed validity period, so an applicant who may travel more than once can select More than one trip.
No firm plans	Common for marriage-based applicants who file advance parole as a precaution. The instructions ask what you intend, so you describe a general purpose, list likely countries, and pick the number of trips that matches your intent. None of these answers requires a booked itinerary.

Who this page is for

This page covers filling in three Part 7 fields, Items 2, 3, and 4, when you are applying for advance parole (advance permission to travel abroad and return while your green card case is pending) on the basis of a pending marriage-based Form I-485 (the adjustment of status application that asks USCIS to grant your green card from inside the United States). It does not cover whether you should travel. Leaving the United States while a green card application is pending can affect your case, and that question depends on your specific facts. If you are deciding whether to travel, read our travel-during-pending guide and consider speaking with a licensed immigration attorney.

What the purpose, countries, and trips fields look like on the form

All three fields sit in Part 7, the section you complete only if you selected the Advance Parole Document box in Part 1, Item 5. Item 2 is the purpose of the trip, Item 3 is the countries you intend to visit, and Item 4 is the number of trips (One Trip or More than one trip). Item 1 (departure date) and Item 5 (length of trip) are covered on our travel-dates page.

Form I-131, Part 7 (Information About Your Proposed Travel) : Items 2 through 4, including Purpose of trip, List the countries you intend to visit, and How many trips do you intend to use this document, as they appear on edition 01/20/25 — Form I-131, Part 7, Items 2, 3, and 4. Edition 01/20/25. Source: USCIS.

Verbatim · Part 7 header and field labels (Form I-131, edition 01/20/25, page 10)
“Part 7. Information About Your Proposed Travel (Complete only if you are applying for an Advance Parole Document (Part 1., Item Number 5.).)”
2. Purpose of trip. (If you need extra space to complete this section, use the space provided in Part 13. Additional Information.)
3. List the countries you intend to visit. (If you need extra space to complete this section, use the space provided in Part 13. Additional Information.)
4. How many trips do you intend to use this document? (One Trip · More than one trip)

The instructions describe the whole Part 7 block in one place:

Verbatim · Part 7, Item Numbers 1 to 5 (Form I-131 Instructions, edition 01/20/25, page 21)
“Item Numbers 1. - 5. Information About Proposed Travel. You must indicate when you intend to depart the United States, the purpose for your trip, which countries you intend to visit while you are abroad, how many trips you intend to use this document for, and the expected length of the trip in days.”

Always complete the current edition downloaded from uscis.gov/i-131; USCIS rejects outdated editions.

What if I have no firm plans?

All three items ask for what you intend, not what you have booked. The form heading calls Part 7 your proposed travel, and the instructions describe these items as the purpose for your trip, which countries you intend to visit, and how many trips you intend to use this document for. Intend and proposed are intent words. Nothing on the form or in the Part 7 instructions asks for a flight confirmation, a hotel reservation, or proof of a fixed itinerary.

Many marriage-based applicants file advance parole defensively: they request the travel document while their green card case is pending so the option to travel exists if something comes up (a family emergency abroad, a possible work trip, a wedding), even though no trip is on the calendar yet. If that is you, you still answer Item 2, Item 3, and Item 4 with a good-faith description of your intent. For Item 2, a general purpose such as visiting family or a possible work trip is a fair description. For Item 3, list the countries you think you may travel to. If you are unsure of the exact destination, listing the most likely countries is reasonable, and Part 13 (Additional Information) is there if you need more room.

For Item 4, advance parole is normally valid for multiple entries within its printed validity period rather than for a single trip. An applicant who may travel more than once during that period can select More than one trip so the document matches that intent. As with the other Part 7 items, your selection describes what you intend at the time you file; it does not commit you to taking any specific number of trips, or to traveling at all.

Filing advance parole with your green card packet?

Our software fills Form I-131 alongside your I-485 and I-765, asks plain questions about your travel plans, and fills Part 7 the right way whether or not you have a trip booked.

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What USCIS does with the purpose, countries, and number of trips

USCIS uses the proposed-travel information to understand the trip you are requesting the Advance Parole Document for and to adjudicate the request. The purpose, the countries you list, and the number of trips describe the travel you intend; they are the applicant's stated intent, not a guarantee. USCIS does not pre-approve a specific destination or a specific number of crossings, and the document, once issued, is valid for its printed validity period. Whether you are actually paroled back into the United States is a separate decision made by an officer at the port of entry when you return, regardless of the purpose, countries, or trip count you wrote in Part 7.

Related guides

Form and pathway context

Frequently asked questions

What do I write for Purpose of trip if I have no specific plans?

Part 7, Item 2 asks for your intended purpose, so a general description is acceptable when no trip is booked. Something like visiting family abroad or a possible work trip describes your intent. The field captures what you intend, not a confirmed reason tied to a booked flight.

Which countries do I list if I am not sure where I will travel?

Part 7, Item 3 asks you to list the countries you intend to visit. If you are unsure, list the destinations you think are most likely. The field records your intent at filing, and Part 13 (Additional Information) is available if you need more space.

Should I select One Trip or More than one trip on Form I-131?

Part 7, Item 4 asks how many trips you intend to use the document for. Advance parole is normally valid for multiple entries within its printed validity period, so an applicant who may travel more than once can select More than one trip. The choice describes your intent and does not commit you to a set number of trips.

Where are the purpose, countries, and number-of-trips fields on Form I-131?

They are in Part 7, Information About Your Proposed Travel. You complete Part 7 only if you selected the Advance Parole Document box in Part 1, Item 5. Item 2 is Purpose of trip, Item 3 is the list of countries you intend to visit, and Item 4 is how many trips you intend to use the document for.

Does USCIS need proof of the trip purpose or destinations I list?

No. Part 7 and its instructions ask you to describe your proposed travel, not to attach a reservation, itinerary, or proof of the countries listed. The purpose, countries, and number of trips are your stated intent, not documents you must support with a booking.

Key takeaways

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The purpose, countries, and number-of-trips fields are Form I-131, Part 7, Item 2 (Purpose of trip), Item 3 (List the countries you intend to visit), and Item 4 (How many trips do you intend to use this document?). You complete Part 7 only when applying for an Advance Parole Document under Part 1, Item 5.
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The Part 7 instructions describe these items as the purpose for your trip, which countries you intend to visit, and how many trips you intend to use the document for; all ask for intent, so a general description is what goes here when no trip is booked.
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Marriage-based applicants often file advance parole defensively, with no firm plans. A general purpose, a list of likely countries, and a trip-count selection that matches your intent are all acceptable answers.
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Item 4 offers One Trip or More than one trip. Advance parole is normally valid for multiple entries within its printed validity period, so an applicant who may travel more than once can select More than one trip.
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Whether you are paroled back into the United States is decided by an officer at the port of entry when you return, separate from the purpose, countries, or trip count you wrote in Part 7.

This page is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Green Card Genius is self-help immigration software, not a law firm, and does not provide legal representation. Immigration law and USCIS policy change frequently. For advice on a specific case, consult a licensed immigration attorney. Form I-131, edition 01/20/25. Last verified May 2026.

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