USCIS Forms · Updated 2026
Form I-131: Advance Parole (Travel Document)
How a marriage-based adjustment applicant requests permission to travel while the green card case is pending. What Advance Parole is, what it costs in 2026, and why it is not the same as a reentry permit.
Summary
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, is how the immigrant spouse in a marriage-based adjustment of status (AOS) case requests Advance Parole: travel permission to leave and re-enter the United States while the I-485 green card application is still pending. It is not a reentry permit (that document is for people who already hold a green card). When filed together with a pending I-485, the 2026 fee is $630 (no longer free since the April 2024 fee rule), and it is often filed concurrently with the I-485 so travel permission is ready if it is needed. Leaving the U.S. before Advance Parole is approved can be treated as abandonment of the I-485, so talk to an attorney before any travel.
At a glance
| What it is | The application a marriage-based adjustment applicant uses to request Advance Parole: travel permission to leave and re-enter the U.S. while the green card case is pending |
| Who files it | The immigrant spouse (the applicant and beneficiary of the green card petition) |
| USCIS filing fee | $630 when filed together with a pending Form I-485. Not free since the April 2024 fee rule. |
| Form edition | 01/20/25. Use the current edition from uscis.gov/i-131. |
| What it is not | Not a reentry permit. A reentry permit is for people who already hold a green card, not for applicants with a pending case. |
| When it is filed | Often filed at the same time as the I-485 (concurrently), so travel permission is in place if it is needed later |
Fees and editions are current as of May 2026. Always verify at uscis.gov/i-131 before filing.
What Form I-131 is, in plain English
Form I-131 is the Application for Travel Document. In a marriage-based green card case filed from inside the United States, the immigrant spouse uses it to ask for Advance Parole. Advance Parole is travel permission: a document that lets the applicant leave the U.S. and be allowed back in while the I-485 (the green card application, also called adjustment of status, or AOS) is still being decided.
Without an approved Advance Parole document, leaving the country during a pending case is risky. USCIS can treat the departure as if the applicant gave up on the application. The Advance Parole document exists so that applicants who genuinely need to travel have an authorized way to do it.
The person filing is the immigrant spouse, who is the applicant (the one asking for the travel document) and the beneficiary (the person the green card petition is filed for). The sponsoring U.S. citizen or green card holder does not file this form.
Advance Parole is not a reentry permit
Form I-131 covers more than one kind of travel document, and the labels get mixed up often. For a marriage-based adjustment applicant, only one of them is the right choice.
Advance Parole (what you want)
For people with a pending application, including a marriage-based I-485. It lets the applicant travel and return while the case is still open. This is the document the immigrant spouse requests on Form I-131.
Reentry permit (not for a pending case)
For people who already hold a green card and want to preserve permanent resident status during a long trip abroad. A spouse with a still-pending I-485 is not yet a green card holder, so a reentry permit is the wrong application type for them.
For the exact field where this choice is made, see Part 1, Item 5: application type (advance parole vs reentry permit).
The 2026 fee and how it is filed
When Form I-131 for Advance Parole is filed together with a pending Form I-485, the fee is $630. Before the April 2024 fee rule, this travel request was free when filed with the green card application. That is no longer the case: most marriage-based applicants now pay the $630 for the I-131 on top of the I-485 fee.
The I-131 is commonly filed at the same time as the I-485 (concurrently), even by applicants with no immediate travel plans. Filing early means the Advance Parole document can be ready if a need to travel comes up while the case is pending, rather than starting a separate request later.
Always download a fresh copy
The current edition is 01/20/25. USCIS periodically releases new form editions and rejects packets that use an outdated version. Download the current edition of Form I-131 from uscis.gov/i-131 on the day you compile the packet and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of the form.
Traveling before Advance Parole is approved
The rule is straightforward to state: leaving the United States before Advance Parole is approved can be treated by USCIS as abandonment of the pending I-485. Whether any exception applies depends on the applicant's specific facts and immigration history, which is exactly the kind of question to bring to a licensed immigration attorney before booking any travel.
Get advice before you travel
Travel decisions during a pending case carry real consequences and turn on the details of each situation. This page states the general rule only. For guidance on a specific trip or set of facts, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
For the dates USCIS asks about on the form, see Part 7, Items 1 and 5: intended departure date and length of trip. For a broader walkthrough of travel while a case is pending, see the Travel during adjustment of status guide.
Questions on this form
Field-by-field breakdowns of the specific I-131 items that trip applicants up, with the exact logic USCIS uses to read each answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-131 used for in a marriage green card case?
In a marriage-based adjustment of status case (the green card path for spouses already inside the U.S., usually called AOS), the immigrant spouse files Form I-131 to request an Advance Parole document. Advance Parole is travel permission that lets the applicant leave and re-enter the United States while the I-485 green card application is still pending. It is filed by the immigrant spouse, who is the applicant and the beneficiary of the petition.
How much does Form I-131 cost in 2026?
When Form I-131 for Advance Parole is filed together with a pending Form I-485, the fee is $630. Under the fee rule that took effect in April 2024, this is no longer free when filed with the green card application. Many applicants file it concurrently with the I-485 as a precaution in case they need to travel later.
Is Advance Parole the same as a reentry permit?
No. Advance Parole is travel permission for someone with a pending application, such as a marriage-based adjustment applicant. A reentry permit is a different document, also requested on Form I-131, for people who already hold a green card and want to preserve permanent resident status during long trips abroad. A marriage-AOS applicant requests Advance Parole, not a reentry permit.
Who files Form I-131 in a marriage green card case?
The immigrant spouse files Form I-131. In this case the immigrant spouse is the applicant (the person asking for the travel document) and the beneficiary (the person the green card petition is filed for). The sponsoring U.S. citizen or green card holder does not file the I-131 for Advance Parole.
What happens if you travel before Advance Parole is approved?
Leaving the United States before Advance Parole is approved can be treated by USCIS as abandonment of the pending I-485 application. Whether any exception applies depends on the specific facts and immigration history of the applicant. Anyone considering travel before Advance Parole is granted should consult a licensed immigration attorney first.
Which edition of Form I-131 should I use?
Use the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-131. USCIS rejects packets that use an outdated edition, so download the current version from uscis.gov/i-131 on the day you compile the packet and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of the form.
Key takeaways
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Form I-131 is how a marriage-based adjustment applicant requests Advance Parole: travel permission to leave and re-enter the U.S. while the I-485 green card application is pending.
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Advance Parole is not a reentry permit. A reentry permit is for people who already hold a green card; Advance Parole is for applicants with a pending case.
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The immigrant spouse files the I-131. That person is both the applicant and the beneficiary of the petition.
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The fee is $630 when the I-131 is filed together with a pending I-485. It has not been free since the April 2024 fee rule.
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Many applicants file the I-131 concurrently with the I-485 so travel permission is ready if they end up needing it.
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Leaving the U.S. before Advance Parole is approved can be treated as abandonment of the I-485. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney before any travel.
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Use the 01/20/25 edition and verify the current edition at uscis.gov/i-131 before filing.
How Green Card Genius fits
Green Card Genius is self-help immigration software built specifically for marriage-based green card cases. The software walks you through plain-English questions, builds your USCIS forms (including the I-131 and I-485) based on your answers, and assembles the full packet for you to review and sign. The one-time fee is $99, and the Denial Protection Guarantee returns the $99 service fee if USCIS denies the application. Government filing fees go directly to USCIS and are separate.
Start your application for $99 →Green Card Genius is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
This guide 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, including travel during a pending application, consult a licensed immigration attorney. Information is current as of May 2026; verify fees and form editions at uscis.gov before filing.
Filing the I-485 too?
The I-131 is usually filed alongside the green card application. See the full I-485 guide for fees, the concurrent forms, and the timeline.
Continue reading
- 01I-131 Application Type (Part 1, Item 5): Advance Parole vs. Reentry Permit (2026)
- 02I-131 Date of Intended Departure and Length of Trip (Part 7, Items 1 and 5) (2026)
- 03Can I Travel While My Green Card is Pending?
- 04Form I-485: Application to Adjust Status (2026 Guide)
- 05Marriage Green Card by Country: Country-Specific Guides (2026)
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