refugee travel letter

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• For U.S. Citizens/Lawful Permanent Residents

Advance Parole, Reentry Permit, and Refugee Travel Documentation for Returning Aliens Residing in the U.S

How to File The alien must file Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document, complete with supporting documentation, photos and applicable fees. This form can be downloaded from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) website. See the application for specific filing instructions.

How to File For a Re-Entry Permit If the alien is a permanent resident or conditional resident, he or she must attach:

• A copy of the alien registration receipt card; or
• If he has not yet received his alien registration receipt card, a copy of the biographic page of his passport and the page of his passport indicating initial admission as a permanent resident, or other evidence that the alien is a permanent resident; or
• A copy of the approval notice of a separate application for replacement of the alien registration receipt card or temporary evidence of permanent resident status.

How to File For Advance Parole An alien in the United States and applying for an Advance Parole document for him or herself must attach:

• A copy of any document issued to the alien by DHS showing present status in the United States;
• An explanation or other evidence demonstrating the circumstances that warrant issuance of Advance Parole.
• If the alien is basing his or her eligibility for Advance Parole on a separate application for adjustment of status or asylum, he must also attach a copy of the filing receipt for that application.
• If the alien is traveling to Canada to apply for an immigrant visa, he or she must also attach a copy of the consular appointment.

How to File For a Refugee Travel Document If the alien is a refugee or asylee applying for a refugee travel document, he or she must attach:

• A copy of the document issued by DHS showing the alien's refugee or asylee status and indicating the expiration of such status.

Where to File Where to file the Form I-131 depends upon the benefit sought. See the form instruction page for details.

When to File The alien must apply for the travel document before leaving the United States. Failure to do so may cause the alien to lose permission to re-enter the country, and lead to the denial of any other applications.

Refugee Travel Document Guide: How to Get a Refugee Travel Document

If you are in the United States in refugee or asylum status, you will need to apply for a refugee travel document if you wish to travel outside of the United States. A refugee travel document is a small booklet, similar to a passport, and is used by refugees and asylees to reenter the United States after traveling abroad. If you are in the U.S. on refugee or asylum status and you leave without a refugee travel document, you may be unable to reenter the U.S., or you may be placed in removal proceedings .

In this guide, I’ll explain how to apply for a refugee travel document. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] .

• What is a Refugee Travel Document and Why Do You Need One?
• Who is Eligible to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document?
• What are the Requirements to Get a Refugee Travel Document?
• How to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document (Step-by-Step)
• How Long is a Refugee Travel Document Valid For?
• Refugee Travel Document Processing Time
• Is There Any Way to Speed-Up the Refugee Travel Document Processing Time?
• What Documents to Submit with Your Refugee Travel Document Application
• What is the Refugee Travel Document Fee?
• Traveling Back to the Country of Claimed Persecution

1. What is a Refugee Travel Document and Why Do You Need One?

A refugee travel document is a small booklet, similar to a passport. It has multiple pages and in certain situations, can be used instead of a passport. If you are lawfully present in the United States in refugee of asylum status, and you plan to travel abroad, you need a refugee travel document to reenter the United States. Without a refugee travel document, you may be unable to reenter the country and you may even face removal proceedings.

Please keep in mind that a refugee travel document does not guarantee that you will be readmitted to the United States. You still must undergo inspection by a Customs and Border Patrol officer.

2. Who is Eligible to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document?

• Individuals in refugee or asylum status
• Lawful permanent residents who obtained their permanent resident status as a refugee or asylee in the U.S.

3. What are the Requirements to Get a Refugee Travel Document?

1. must be a refugee or asylee or lawful permanent resident.

To apply for a refugee travel document, you must either be in the U.S. in refugee or asylum status . Alternatively, you must be a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) who obtained their lawful permanent resident status as a refugee or alysee.

If you have applied for refugee or asylum status and it is not yet approved, you are not eligible for a refugee travel document. If you are in any other status, you are ineligible for a refugee travel document.

2. Must be physically present in the U.S. when your refugee travel document application is filed

To qualify for a refugee travel document, you should be in the United States when your refugee travel document is filed, received, and accepted by USCIS. Additionally, you should remain in the U.S. until your biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment is completed. Leaving the U.S. before your biometrics appointment may result in a denial of your case.

In some cases, you may be eligible to apply for a refugee travel document if you are outside of the United States. To do this, your application must be filed within 1 year of your last departure from the United States. If you are applying from outside of the United States, you will have to include with your application an explanation of why you left the U.S. without first applying for a refugee travel document. The USCIS Overseas District Director with jurisdiction over your region will have discretion regarding whether to approve or deny your application. For this reason, it is best practice to apply for a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S.

3. Must file Form I-131, submit the required supporting documents, and attend a biometrics appointment

To be eligible for a refugee travel document you must submit a Form I-131 to USCIS and include the required documentation with your case. We will discuss this in more detail later in this guide.

To qualify for a refugee travel document, you must also attend a mandatory biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment is where your digital fingerprints are taken.

4. How Long is a Refugee Travel Document Valid For?

A refugee travel document is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.

5. How to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document (Step-by-Step)

Step 1. file form i-131 along with supporting documents.

To apply for a refugee travel document, you must file a Form I-131 with USCIS. The Form I-131 is Application for Travel Document. As mentioned earlier, it is best practice to be physically present in the U.S. when this form is filed. Otherwise, there is greater potential for the application to be denied.

Step 2. Attend Biometrics Appointment

After the I-131 is filed, USCIS will send you a notice requiring you to attend a mandatory biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment I where your digital fingerprints are recorded. This is a mandatory step to get a refugee travel document.

6. Refugee Travel Document Processing Time

This answer is best divided into 4 separate segments:

1. Issuance of USCIS Receipt Notice (1 to 3 Weeks from Filing)

Once you file the Form I-131 with USCIS, you are issued a receipt notice. The receipt notice is the confirmation from USCIS that your application was received and accepted. In addition, the receipt notice contains a unique receipt number. You can use your receipt number to track the progress of your application through the USCIS case status checker . You should receive the receipt notice within 1 to 3 weeks of filing the refugee travel document application.

2. Issuance of Biometrics Appointment Notice (6 Weeks from Filing)

About 6 weeks after filing your refugee travel document application, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice from USCIS. The biometrics appointment notice contains the time, date, and location of the biometrics appointment. This notice also contains instructions regarding what you must bring with you to the biometrics appointment. If needed, you may reschedule the biometrics appointment by following the instructions on the appointment notice.

3. Biometrics Appointment Date (8 Weeks from Filing)

Your actual biometrics appointment will take place about 8 weeks after filing your refugee travel document application. Make sure to bring a valid I.D. along with the actual biometrics appointment notice with you to the appointment (along with any other documents specified on the appointment notice).

4. Issuance of Refugee Travel Document (2 to 5 Months from Filing)

Your actual refugee travel document will be issued about 2 to 5 months from the date you file the Form I-131. You may choose to have the travel document delivered to your U.S. address, to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad, or to your immigration lawyers office (if you are working with an immigration lawyer).

You are not required to remain in the U.S. until you receive the physical travel document. If necessary, you may leave after completing your biometrics appointment. You can then have the travel document sent to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad as mentioned above.

7. Is There Any Way to Speed-Up the Refugee Travel Document Processing Time?

Yes, in certain situations, USCIS may grant expedited processing of a refugee travel document application. Here is a link that goes over the situations in which USICS may grant expedited processing of a case . It is at the discretion of USCIS whether or not to expedite a case.

Here are some reasons USCIS may expedite a case:

• Severe financial loss to a company or individual
• USCIS error
• Compelling USCIS interest
• Humanitarian reasons

8. What Documents to Submit with Your Refugee Travel Document Application

The specific documents you should submit with your refugee travel document application will depend on your particular case. With that disclaimer, here are some general document you should include:

• Copy of valid government issued photo I.D. (such as passport, lawful permanent resident card, driver’s license)
• Copy of USCIS document showing your status as a refugee or asylee and the date the status expires.
• 2 passport photos

9. What is the Refugee Travel Document Fee?

There are 2 fees associated with applying for a refugee travel document:

• I-131 Filing Fee: ($135 for people age 16 and older and $105 for people under 16 years old)
• Biometrics Fee: $85 (the biometrics fee is only required for people from the ages of 14 to 79 years old)

10. Traveling Back to the Country of Claimed Persecution

Traveling back to your country of claimed persecution can have severe consequences to your refugee or asylum status in the United States.

If you have asylum status in the United States and you travel back to your country of claimed persecution, your asylum status may be terminated. Traveling back to your country of claimed persecution could be seen as a change of circumstances surrounding your grant of asylum. Alternatively, it could be seen as a demonstration that your fear of persecution is not genuine. In addition, it may be seen that you have voluntarily availed yourself of the protection of your country of nationality.

Due to these potential consequences, it is best practice to avoid travel back to your country of claimed persecution.

11. Conclusion

A refugee travel document is necessary if you are in refugee or asylum status in the U.S. and you plan to leave the country. Without a refugee travel document, travel outside of the U.S. could result in an inability to return to the U.S. and may also result in being placed in removal proceedings. For these reasons, a refugee travel document is highly important. If you need assistance applying for your refugee travel document, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] . I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer, and I would be happy to help you.

• USCIS Expedite Criteria
• INA Act 208 - Asylum
• USCIS Case Status Tracker
• USCIS – Form I-131
• USCIS Fact Sheet Re: Traveling Outside the United States as an Asylum Applicant, an Asylee, or a Lawful Permanent Resident Who Obtained Such Status Based on Asylum Status
• I-131 Instructions  

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Home » Refugee Travel Document

Refugee Travel Document

Most refugees , asylees , or persons who have become a permanent resident as a result of being a refugee or asylee in the U.S. need to apply for a Refugee Travel Document if planning to travel outside the U.S. Unless you are in possession of a valid advance parole document, attempting to reenter the U.S. without a Refugee Travel Document will result in you being inadmissible. However, the travel document does not relieve you of any U.S. immigration law requirements. Because you are still subject to an immigration inspection at the port of entry to determine admissibility into the U.S., mere possession of a Refugee Travel Document does not guarantee you admission into the U.S., You may additionally be subject to a “secondary inspection” in which you will be taken into a separate room and asked questions.

Eligibility

You can apply for a Refugee Travel Document if you are in the U.S. as a:

• Refugee or asylee and have valid status
• Became a permanent resident in the U.S. through your refugee or asylee status.

You cannot apply for a refugee travel document:

• If you currently have a Refugee Travel Document, unless the past document has been returned to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or you can prove it was lost; or
• If a notice was published in the Federal Register that prohibits the issuance of such a document for travel to the area where you plan to travel.
• The validity of a Refugee Travel Document is for one year or to the date the refugee or asylee status expires, whichever comes first.
• A Refugee Travel Document may not be extended.

A separate application form, fees and set of documents are required for each applicant (including yourself and each of your family members) who needs to travel.

• The application fee must be sent with the application. There is also a biometric fee. Fee details
• A Form I-131 , Application For Travel Document Sample I-131
• Photos Submit 2 identical photographs .
• Copy of an official photo identity document that shows your name, photo, and date of birth. e.g., a government issued valid driver’s license, identity page of passport, permanent resident card, or any other official identity document.
• A Form I-94 cannot be used as a photo identity document.
• Include a copy of the document showing your refugee or asylee status and the expiration date of such status you received from USCIS or former INS.

New Immigrants Insurance

Filing the application.

Application filing instructions

USCIS Phoenix or Dallas Lockbox, based on where you live:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam or the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia

USCIS Dallas Lockbox

E-Notification

If you are filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may elect to receive an email and/or text message (SMS) notifying you that your application has been accepted. You must complete a Form G-1145 , E-Notification of your application.

Biometric Services Requirement

Applicants between the age of 14 and 79 years must be fingerprinted. Sometime after the USCIS receives your application, they will notify you in writing of the time and location where you must go to get fingerprinted, and if necessary, take your photograph and signature.

If you do not appear for your biometric appointment, your application will be denied.

If your application is denied, you will receive a letter from the USCIS explaining how to appeal. The appeal must be done within 33 days after receiving the denial letter and filed on a Form I-290-B . Mail a Form I-290-B to the office that made the original decision. Once the appeal form and fee are processed, the case is then referred to the Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU) in Washington, DC.

You must be physically present in the U.S. when filing the application. Leaving the U.S. before a decision has been decided does not affect the application. However, you may request your Refugee Travel Document to be sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office abroad when you file the application. There is a place on the Form I-131 to furnish the information necessary to receive the Refugee Travel Document outside of the U.S. However, under certain circumstances if you did not apply for a Refugee Travel Document before departure you may be eligible to apply abroad. This is decided at the discretion of the district director having jurisdiction over a port-of-entry or pre-inspection station where an alien is an applicant for admission or an overseas district director having jurisdiction over the place where an alien is physically present granted:

• Applicant must submit a Form I-131, with the appropriate fee;
• You did not plan to abandon your refugee status at the time of departure from the U.S. concluded by the district director;
• You did not participate in any activities that would jeopardize your refugee or asylee status while outside the U.S.;
• You have been outside the U.S. for less than one year since your last departure.

Invalidation

The travel document will be invalid if you obtained it by making a false representation or concealment in the application or if you are removed or deported from the U.S. If the United Nations Convention of July 28, 1951, cease to apply or shall not apply to you as provided in Article 1C, D, E or F of the Convention than the Refugee Travel Document is invalid.

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Follow-to-Join Refugees and Asylees

Important notice about presidential proclamation 9645, important announcement: follow-to-join refugee case processing now centralized.

Due to processing changes, follow-to-join refugee cases processed by Department of State embassies and consulates will only be processed at embassies or consulates offering immigrant visa services, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) international field offices.  This will mean that cases currently being processed at posts that only adjudicate nonimmigrant visa applications will be transferred and follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries may need to travel to another country in order to be interviewed.  If your case is being transferred, you will be notified by the Department of State. 

The list of U.S. embassies and consulates below reflect some of the processing locations that will no longer process follow-to-join refugee cases, along with the newly designated embassy, consulate , or USCIS international field office to which the cases will be transferred.  For example, a follow-to-join refugee case arising in the consular district of the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali, will now be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. 

For a more complete list, you can visit Visa Issuing Posts in order to confirm whether an embassy or consulate nearest to your residence will process your follow-to-join refugee case. If the location provides “All” visa services, then your follow-to-join refugee case can be processed there, unless there is a USCIS international field office in that country.  Locations marked only as “NIV” will no longer process follow-to-join refugee cases.  Embassies or consulates that only offer nonimmigrant visa (NIV) services will note the designated processing post for immigrant visas (and follow-to-join refugees) on their websites https://www.usembassy.gov/ .  

Please note that the change only impacts follow-to-join refugees.  Follow-to-join asylees can still be processed at locations offering just NIV services.

Is there a process for beneficiaries located in a country without a Dept. of State presence (e.g., Afghanistan)?

USCIS is working closely with the Department of State (DOS) to identify how to process Form I-730 petitions in locations abroad where there is not a U.S. government presence. In situations where the Form I-730 beneficiary has departed a country without the U.S. government presence, we ask that Form I-730 petitioners and beneficiaries provide updated information on the beneficiary's location so either USCIS or DOS can process them in a third country. USCIS has revised the  Form I-730 webpage  with information on contacting USCIS or DOS if the beneficiary’s address has changed. To update your or your spouse or child’s address in the United States, submit a  Form AR-11 online . If the beneficiary is located outside of the United States, you should also contact the  National Visa Center (NVC)  and the U.S. embassy or consulate or USCIS international field office processing the case. Find contact information for USCIS international field offices at the  International Immigration Offices  webpage. Find contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate at the DOS US Embassy webpage, which includes details on whether the U.S. embassy or consulate is open for interviews and additional processing.

What if I was already interviewed?

If you have not been issued a boarding foil, then your case file will be transferred to the regional processing location noted above or on the Visa Issuing Posts page.  

How will I know if my case has been transferred?

The Department of State will notify you if your case is transferred to another location.

What if I choose to have my case transferred to another location, since I am unable to travel to this NEW designated location?

Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries may request to process their cases at another immigrant visa processing U.S. embassy or consulate that is different than the one designated.  If you would like to have your case transferred to a different embassy, consulate, or USCIS international field office, then you must provide justification for the case transfer and show that you can legally be present in the country while your case is being processed.  You will first need to submit a request directly with the National Visa Center (NVC) through the Ask NVC online submission form.  You should select the “How can I request to have my interview scheduled at a different U.S. Embassy overseas?” in the question dropdown list.  In the box entitled “Additional comments or questions not in the above list”, you should include a justification for requesting the different location and note that it is in regards to “follow-to-join refugee centralization.”

Can I use my still valid medical exam at a new processing location?

Yes, the results of a still valid medical exam completed in another location can be transferred to another embassy, consulate, or USCIS international field office.

Spouse and Unmarried Minor Children Abroad Following to Join a Refugee or Asylee in the United States

Welcome to the webpage dedicated to follow-to-join refugee and asylee processing. You have come to this webpage if you have a USCIS approved I-730 petition, and you received an email or letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) telling you that your petition was sent overseas for processing. Find the subject in the list below and click to visit that section of the page.

Overview – Follow-to-Join Refugees and Asylees

Follow-to-join overseas processing steps, overseas interview appointment scheduling, documentation needed for the overseas interview, medical examination and vaccination requirements, how long will it take to process a case overseas.

• Ineligibilities - What if a Beneficiary is Ineligible?

Case Inquiries

Using a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, a person who has been granted asylum or refugee status in the United States (the petitioner) may petition to have his or her spouse and/or unmarried children, who are called beneficiaries, join him or her in the United States. Overseas, the beneficiaries of Forms I-730 filed by asylees in the United States are known as  follow-to-join asylees . Beneficiaries of Forms I-730 filed by refugees are known as  follow-to-join refugees .

1.  Petition Filing:  An individual (petitioner) who was granted asylum in the United States as a principal asylee or who was resettled to the United States as a principal refugee can file an I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, within the first two years of arrival, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on behalf of his or her spouse and unmarried child(ren) (beneficiary). Further details on petition filing are available on the USCIS website under  Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition .

2.  National Visa Center (NVC) Pre-Processing Case Assignment:  If the beneficiary of an approved petition is located overseas, USCIS sends the approved Form I-730 petition to the  National Visa Center (NVC) . NVC then forwards the case file to the overseas location where the beneficiary will interview. NVC sends the petitioner a letter or email telling him/her which office will interview the beneficiary, how to get in touch with that office, and what steps to take next.   

3.  Beneficiary Interview:  The beneficiary will be interviewed by either a Department of State consular officer or USCIS officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas. This interview will confirm the beneficiary’s identity, claimed relationship to the petitioner, and eligibility to travel to the United States. During the interview process, the beneficiary must provide ink-free, digital fingerprint scans. The beneficiary interview requires careful preparation, including having all required original documents available for the interview. Some beneficiaries also must complete a  medical examination  prior to interview. See the “Documentation Needed for the Overseas Interview” section below for details on what to bring to the interview.

4.  Approval to Travel as a Follow-to-Join Refugee or Follow-to-Join Asylee:  The interviewing officer will tell the beneficiary if he or she has been found eligible to travel to the United States.

5.  After Interview Processing:  Some cases require further  administrative processing , which takes additional time after the beneficiary’s interview. Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries, for example, undergo post-approval processing to arrange for sponsorship by a voluntary resettlement agency in the United States upon arrival. (NOTE: All follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries are required to have a sponsorship assurance from a resettlement agency before travel to the United States in order to receive refugee benefits.)

6.   Issuance of Boarding Foil and Travel Packet:  An officer will place a boarding foil in the approved beneficiary’s passport or other travel document. The beneficiary also will receive a sealed envelope – called a "travel packet" – containing the documents for review by a DHS immigration official when the beneficiary enters the United States.

7.  Travel Arrangements : The beneficiary must enter the United States before the expiration date printed on the boarding foil. The officer who conducted the interview will advise the beneficiary about travel arrangements to the United States. Typically, follow-to-join asylee beneficiaries are instructed to make their own travel arrangements. Travel arrangements for follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries, on the other hand, are required to be arranged and managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries who arrive in the United States without IOM coordination will not receive the reception and placement benefits to which they are entitled.

8.   Entering the United States : The boarding foil issued to the beneficiary allows him or her to travel to the U.S. port of entry to request permission to enter the United States. However, the boarding foil does not guarantee entry into the United States. The DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the U.S. port-of-entry have the authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Upon arrival at the port-of-entry, the beneficiary must give the CBP officer his or her passport (or other travel document) with boarding foil and the unopened/sealed travel packet envelope. Beneficiaries should review important information about admission and entry requirements on the CBP website under  Travel .

All follow-to-join refugee and asylee beneficiaries must be interviewed by a USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer at a U.S. Embassy. When a case is ready for interview, the embassy will send the applicant or petitioner a letter with instructions explaining how to schedule an interview appointment. 

Failure by a beneficiary to schedule an interview appointment will result in processing delays. It is critical that the overseas office conducting the beneficiary interview has the current contact information – including physical and mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses – for the petitioner, beneficiary, and if applicable, the representative of record on the case.

For interviews conducted by the Consular Section: Please follow the instructions the U.S. Embassy sends you and the guidance in the below section titled “Documentation Needed for the Overseas Interview.” You can also visit  Interview Preparation – Interview Guidelines  for general information on how to prepare for an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  Important: Not all of the documents required for immigrant visa applicants are necessary for beneficiaries of I-730 petitions. The information on this link should be used as a general outline of what an interview is like.

For interviews conducted by an overseas USCIS office: After the interview is scheduled, the USCIS office will send the beneficiary a confirmation notice, which will outline the requirements that the beneficiary must fulfill before his or her interview.

1.  The original and a photocopy of the following civil documents for each beneficiary, as applicable. These documents confirm the beneficiary’s identity and relationship to the petitioner in the United States:

    a. Birth certificate;

    b. Marriage certificate;

    c. Certified adoption decree;

    d. Divorce certificate         (if needed to prove the legal termination of previous marriages);

    e. Death certificate         (if needed to prove the legal termination of previous marriages); and

    f. Documentation of any legal name change.

    g. Six photographs of the beneficiary         (see the photograph requirements); and

    h. A photocopy of the biographical data page of the beneficiary’s passport, if available.

Note: Documents written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. When the beneficiary is interviewed overseas, the interviewing officer may ask for additional information, such as photographs and other proof that the relationship with the U.S. petitioner is genuine. 

2.  One or more travel document(s) , such as a passport, with a validity date at least six months beyond the beneficiary’s intended date of entry into the United States and/or picture identity card (for example, a refugee travel document).

3.  Other evidence of relationship between the beneficiary and petitioner, such as photographs, available school records, family correspondence, phone bills, documentation demonstrating financial support, and other proof that the relationship is genuine.

4.  Completed Medical Examination Report , which will be provided by an embassy-approved panel physician after the beneficiary has successfully completed a medical examination and vaccinations (see below). 

Important Notice : Follow-to-join asylee beneficiaries must complete their medical exam  before  their interviews with a USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer, and they are responsible for paying the cost of the medical examination. Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries typically are instructed to complete their medical exams after their interviews, and the U.S. Government pays all costs associated with the medical examination.

Before the issuance of a follow-to-join refugee or asylee boarding foil, every beneficiary, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination, which  must be performed by an authorized panel physician. See  Medical Examination  for more information. You can find a list of approved panel physicians by country on our Interview Preparation – Interview Guidelines web page. 

Follow-to-join refugee and asylee beneficiaries are encouraged to get certain vaccinations. Although vaccinations are not required prior to travel to the United States, they will be required when adjusting status to that of lawful permanent resident. Beneficiaries are therefore encouraged to fulfill these vaccination requirements at the time of the medical examination. See  Vaccination Requirements for IV Applicants  for the list of vaccinations.

Once a case has been transferred by NVC to the appropriate USCIS office or U.S. Embassy Consular Section, the length of time needed to complete the case varies according to its circumstances, and cannot be predicted with any accuracy. (It is important to provide correct postal addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses for both the petitioner and the beneficiary to the U.S. Embassy or USCIS office processing the case. See  Case Inquiries  below). Some cases require further  administrative processing , which takes additional time after the beneficiary’s interview.

Please visit  My Case Status  on the USCIS website to obtain a status on an I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. If the case has been transferred overseas by NVC, the petitioner or beneficiary may contact the USCIS office or U.S. embassy processing the case for information.

Ineligibilities

Certain conditions and activities may make the beneficiary ineligible for admission to the United States. If a beneficiary is ineligible, he or she will be informed by the USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer at the time of interview, and advised whether there is a  waiver  of ineligibility and what the waiver process is. Ineligible cases are returned to the USCIS Service Centers that initially approved them for further action.

There is no cost to file a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. There is no cost to schedule a Form I-730 beneficiary interview. 

If petitioners, beneficiaries, or representatives have a question concerning a follow-to-join refugee or asylee case in progress at a USCIS office or U.S. Embassy, first contact the appropriate USCIS office or U.S. Embassy for status information. Case status information also is available on the USCIS website under  My Case Status .

Before making an inquiry, petitioners and representatives should carefully review this website for answers to questions. Because of the volume of inquiries received, USCIS and the Department of State cannot promise an immediate reply to an inquiry.

Department of State contact information is available at  Contact Us . USCIS contact information is available at  Contact Us .

More Information

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Apply for a Home Office travel document

Refugee travel document.

You can apply for a refugee travel document if either:

• you have refugee status in the UK
• you originally came to the UK on a family reunion visa to join someone who has refugee status

How long it will be valid for

If you’re settled in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’), your document will usually be valid for up to 10 years. If you’re 15 or under and settled in the UK, it will usually be valid for up to 5 years.

If you have permission to stay (known as ‘leave to remain’) your document will be valid until the end of your permission to stay in the UK.

Your document may be valid for a shorter time in some cases. For example, because your previous document has been lost.

Countries you can travel to

You can usually travel to all countries except:

• the country you’re from
• any country you sought asylum from

Before you travel

Check which documents you’ll need before you book your travel.

Ask the authorities of the country you’re visiting or travelling through if:

• the country accepts refugee travel documents
• you need a visa to enter the country
• £82 for adults (it’s free if you were born before 1 September 1929)
• £53 for children 15 or under

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ALERT: Afghan Nationals seeking refugee resettlement

Afghan Nationals seeking refugee resettlement:

In general, you must be given access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The following priorities are available to Afghan Nationals:

• Priority-1 Individual Cases: Cases are identified and referred to the program by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a U.S. embassy, or a designated non-governmental organization.
• Priority-2 Groups of special humanitarian concern: On Aug. 2, 2021, the Department of State  announced  a new Priority 2 Designation for certain Afghan nationals and eligible family members. For further information, please visit the  Refugee Processing Center .
• Priority-3 Family Reunification: Spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, or parents of individuals already admitted to the U.S. as refugees or asylees are in this category.

Under United States law, a refugee is someone who:

• Is located outside of the United States
• Is of special humanitarian concern to the United States
• Demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
• Is not firmly resettled in another country
• Is admissible to the United States

A refugee does not include anyone who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

For the legal definition of refugee, see section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

You must receive a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for consideration as a refugee. For more information on the referral criteria, see the  USRAP Consultations and Worldwide Processing Priorities  page.

If you receive a referral, you will receive help filling out your application and then be interviewed abroad by a USCIS officer who will determine whether you are eligible for refugee resettlement. For more information about eligibility, see our Refugee Eligibility Determination page.

Your case may include your spouse, child (unmarried and under 21 years of age), and in some limited circumstances, other family members. You may include a same-sex spouse in your application provided that you and your spouse are legally married.  As a general matter, USCIS looks to the law of the place where the marriage took place when determining whether it is valid for immigration law purposes. Same-sex partners who are not married but who are qualified to access the U.S. Refugee Admissions under one of the three designated worldwide processing priorities may have their cases cross-referenced  so that they can be interviewed at the same time and, if approved by USCIS, resettled in the same geographic area in the United States.

There is no fee to apply for refugee status. The information you provide will not be shared with your home country.

For more information about USRAP and the referral process, see our USRAP Consultations and Worldwide Processing Priorities page.

If you are approved as a refugee, you will receive a medical exam, a cultural orientation, help with your travel plans, and a loan for your travel to the United States. After you arrive, you will be eligible for medical and cash assistance. For more information on benefits available to refugees, please see the  Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement  page.

If you are a refugee in the United States and want your family members who are abroad to join you, you may file  Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition , for your spouse and unmarried children under 21. You must file within two years of your arrival to the United States unless there are humanitarian reasons to excuse this deadline. For more information about bringing your family to the United States, see our  Family of Refugees and Asylees  page.

You may also be eligible to file an Affidavit of Relationship for your spouse, child (unmarried, under 21), or parents. The Affidavit of Relationship is the form used to reunite refugees and asylees with close relatives who are determined to be refugees but are outside the United States. The Affidavit of Relationship records information about family relationships and must be completed in order to begin the application process for relatives who may be eligible to enter the United States as refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. For information on the current nationalities eligible to file, see U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees & Migration .

As a refugee, you may legally work as soon as you arrive in the United States. When you are admitted to the United States you will receive a Form I-94 containing a refugee admission stamp. We will also create a digital  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , for you.  After you are admitted to the United States, we will adjudicate your Form I-765. We will generally produce your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) within one to two weeks after we approve your application. We will mail your EAD via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail to your address of record. The time frame for you to receive your EAD card may vary, depending on delivery times. While you wait for your EAD, you can present your Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, to your employer as proof you can legally work in the United States. 

For more information on employment in the United States, see our guide How Do I Show My Employer That I Am Authorized to Work in the United States? (PDF, 686.31 KB) .

If you are admitted as a refugee, you must apply for a Green Card one year after coming to the United States. To apply for permanent residency, file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status . There is no fee for refugees to file the Form I-485. In addition, refugees do not have to pay for fingerprinting/biometrics fees.

For more information on obtaining a Green Card, see our Green Card for Refugees page.

If you have refugee status and want to travel outside the United States, you will need to obtain a Refugee Travel Document in order to return to the United States. If you do not obtain a Refugee Travel Document in advance of departure, you may be unable to re-enter the United States. If you return to the country from which you fled, you will have to explain how you were able to return safely.

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• Advance Parole, Reentry Permits and Travel Documents (Form I-131)

Do you have a sample I-131 cover letter?

Home » Do you have a sample I-131 cover letter?

July 30, 2021

Always keep your cover letter short and simple. Include the vital information such as your name and alien registration number. Be concise when explaining the purpose of the letter.

Sample I-131 Cover Letter

CitizenPath has created a sample I-131 cover letter for several situations. There for four cover letter samples below. Select the one that most closely matches your need and modify it for your use.

Sample Cover Letter for Advance Parole

If you’ve already submitted your adjustment of status application without a request for advance parole, you may do so while it is still pending.

As an adjustment applicant, it is generally unnecessary to “justify” the purposes of your travel. Provided USCIS has granted an advance parole document, you may make temporary trips (ideally less than 90 days) outside the United States to see family and friends, vacation, or conduct business. However, other statuses (e.g. DACA) may require more extensive justification and supporting evidence to obtain advance parole.

If you plan to request a combo card (combined EAD and AP one a single card), review this article for an additional sample cover letter for combo card requests .

Sample Cover Letter for Reentry Permit

Use these sample cover letters for Form I-131 as a guide. Do not submit any of these letters without updating them to fit your specific situation. It’s not mandatory to submit a cover letter when you file Form I-131, but a cover letter can help to clarify the purpose of the application and why your application may require special attention.

Mistakes on your Form I-131 can cause costly delays or a denial.

Where to address your cover letter.

Your I-131 cover letter should be addressed to the same USCIS office that will receive your application package. Filing addresses for Form I-131 vary based on the type of application (advance parole, reentry permit or refugee travel document). After you have prepared your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, you can refer to the custom filing instructions from CitizenPath for the USCIS mailing address, filing fee and additional documents to submit.

Immigration Form Guides Form I-90       Form I-129F       Form I-130       Form I-131       Form I-131A       Form I-134       Form I-485       Form I-751       Form I-765       Form I-821D       Form I-864       Form N-400       Form N-565       Form N-600

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