Travel Document USCIS: A Guide to Apply for Advance Parole
Traveling outside the United States as an immigrant can be quite challenging, especially when you have an application for adjustment of status pending with USCIS. In such cases, USCIS requires immigrants to possess travel documents to allow them to temporarily leave the U.S. and reenter without being considered to have abandoned their adjustment of status application.
One such travel document is the Advance Parole, which allows an individual to apply for re-entry into the U.S. after traveling internationally. In this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about applying for advance parole with USCIS.
What is Advance Parole?
Advance Parole is a legal document that allows immigrants with pending applications for permanent residence or other immigration benefits to leave the U.S and return without impacting their application or legal status. An applicant may be granted advance parole multiple times and for a variety of reasons, such as medical emergencies, business purposes, or personal reasons.
Why is Advance Parole Required?
Individuals with pending adjustment of status applications can be considered to have abandoned their application if they leave the US without obtaining advance parole. Such abandonment would result in the rejection of their adjustment application, making the individual ineligible for permanent residence or other immigration benefits.
Hence, applicants are required to obtain advance parole before leaving the U.S. or territories. Only under certain circumstances, as stipulated by law, can applicants travel abroad without advance parole and still preserve their adjustment of status.
How to Apply for Advance Parole?
To apply for advance parole, the applicant must submit a properly completed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to USCIS. The applicant must also attach the supporting documents with the application.
The supporting documents include evidence that the applicant is in the process of obtaining permanent residency, evidence of a pending adjustment of status application, valid passport, evidence of reasons for travel, and proof of financial support.
The processing time for advance parole applications varies depending on the case. However, it usually takes between two to five months to process. Applicants can also opt for premium processing, which requires an additional fee but guarantees a processing time of fifteen days.
Conclusion
In conclusion, obtaining advance parole is necessary for applicants who have pending applications for adjustment of status or other immigration benefits. Without advance parole, the applicant’s pending application may be considered abandoned, resulting in rejection and leaving the applicant ineligible for permanent residency.
Applicants must submit a properly completed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, along with supporting documents to apply for advance parole. The processing time for the application varies from case to case, but opting for premium processing can expedite the process.
We hope this article has provided useful insights into the process of obtaining advance parole and the importance of having one.
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