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What is a Refugee Travel Document?
Home » What is a Refugee Travel Document?
July 5, 2021
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues Refugee Travel Documents to persons with refugee or asylum status (and in some cases to lawful permanent residents who obtained their permanent residence through refugee or asylum status).
Who Needs a Refugee Travel Document
You must have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States if you:
- Have refugee or asylum status but are not a lawful permanent resident (green card holder); or
- Are a derivative asylee or refugee.
If you do not obtain a travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.
Lawful permanent residents who obtained their status through refugee or asylum status may also apply for a travel document. Although permanent residents can generally enter the United States with the green card (after an absence of less than one year), a travel document may be needed to enter other countries. In this way, the travel document is much like a passport.
An asylum “applicant” cannot obtain a Refugee Travel Document. Instead, asylum applicants may apply for an Advance Parole Document . Advance Parole allows certain aliens to return to the United States without a visa after traveling abroad.
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document . You should file a Form I-131 before you leave the United States and expect processing times of approximately three months. However, it may take longer. Expedited processing may be available for your situation.
Should you need to leave the United States before USCIS grants the travel document or you want to apply outside the United States, please consult with an immigration attorney .
Mistakes on your Form I-131 can cause costly delays or a denial.
Period of validity.
A Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to one year. During this time you can use the document multiple times.
USCIS will not renew your travel document. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a new one with Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
Traveling to the Country of Persecution
Traveling back to the country where you experienced past persecution or claim a fear of future persecution is highly discouraged.
RECOMMENDED: Dangers of Refugee/Asylee Travel to Home Country
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- Entering and staying in the UK
- Travel and identity documents for foreign nationals
Home Office travel documents: caseworker guidance
Immigration staff guidance on checking migrants' identity.
Travel documents: Home Office travel documents (accessible)
Travel documents: home office travel documents.
PDF , 653 KB , 52 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff on the types of Home Office travel documents (HOTD) and:
- who qualifies for each type
- how applicants can apply for an HOTD
- how much they cost
- how applications are handled
- how applicants can change an HOTD
We are aware this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these.
Read more about our accessible documents policy .
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Travel Documents Assistance
Book an appointment for travel document assistance here, before applying for a travel document:.
This service is provided for individuals with refugee status only.
Before your meeting prepare 2 passport sized photos and your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit).
Please ensure your bank account has the sufficient funds to make the transaction, as all payments are made online.
Preparation Guides before your Travel Document meeting
Before completing your travel document, you will need to have the following checklist of documents. Please download a checklist below and bring these documents to any meetings about applying for a travel document.
- English Travel Document Checklist
- Farsi Travel Document Checklist
- Arabic Travel Document Checklist
If your travel document is late:
Please be aware, travel documents are taking 6 months to process by the Home Office during the pandemic. If you have a compassionate reason to travel, such as illness of a relative, please bring medical evidence to the drop in and we can help you in contacting the home office to speed up your application.
Applying for a travel document from home:
In order to assist individuals with completing applications for travel documents, we have created a helpful How to Guide in order that you can do this from your own home.
Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in English.
Travel Doc How to Guide
Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in Farsi.
Farsi Travel Document Guide
Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in Arabic.
Arabic Travel Document Guide
Completing a Travel Document Part 1
Completing a travel document part 2, how to get help:.
For assistance with completing this, please book an appointment using the link below. Appointments for travel documents take place between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesdays at 129 Princess Road, Moss side, M14 4RB
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Apply for a Home Office Travel Document
You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if:
- you are not British
- you cannot use or get a passport from your country's national authorities
- your country's national authorities cannot give you a new passport
It may take longer than usual to get a decision on your application. This is because of the home invasion of Ukraine. Do not book travel until you get your travel document.
If you have already applied
If you changed address after you submitted your application, contact the Home Office immediately to let them know. If you do not, your documents may be sent to the wrong address. Email the Home Office travel document enquiries team with 'Change of address' and your name in the subject line.
- Home Office travel document enquiries email (external link)
Eligibility
To apply you must be living in the UK because of one of the following:
- you have permission to stay as a refugee (external link)
- you have humanitarian protection and it has been officially accepted that you have a fear of your country's national authorities
- you are not recognised as a citizen of any country (a 'stateless person') and you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain')
- you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain'), but you cannot get a passport or travel document from your country's national authorities
You must be in the UK when you apply.
How to apply (external link)
Report and replace your travel documents (external link)
Refugee travel document (external link)
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
I-131, Application for Travel Document. ALERT: On Jan. 31, 2024, we published a final rule in the Federal Register, that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective April 1, 2024. Applications and petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees or we will ...
Overview. You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if: you are not British. you cannot use or get a passport from your country's national authorities. your country's national ...
2. Application Type. a. I am a permanent resident or conditional resident of the United States, and I am applying for a reentry permit. b. I now hold U.S. refugee or asylee status, and I am applying for a Refugee Travel Document. c. I am a permanent resident as a direct result of refugee or asylee status, and I am applying for a Refugee Travel ...
In most cases, a refugee or asylee may use the Refugee Travel Document for travel in place of a passport. The Refugee Travel . Document is similar in appearance to a U.S. passport. How do I apply for a Refugee Travel Document? To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file . Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Filing instructions and forms
Home Office travel document application form TD112 BRP; ... A person accepted as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees places that ...
The process to apply for a travel document is generally the same for all 5 types of travel documents. You can apply for a travel document with USCIS by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. You can specify the type of travel document you request in Part 2 of the form. Read the instructions for Form I-131 for more information on ...
Complete Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, available at uscis.gov/i-131, following the instructions below. If any fields are not applicable, print or type N/A. Write "ATTN: FRTF PIP" in capital letters at the top of the first page of each Form I-131. Part 1 - This section is for information about the petitioner/self-petitioner.
Applicants should only seek to file Form I-131 application for a Refugee Travel Document if they are able to demonstrate that an emergent situation led them to depart the United States without first seeking the appropriate travel documents. B. If you are outside of the United States. and: 1. have valid refugee or asylee status; or. 2.
this Part.) If you are filing for a Re-entry Permit or Refugee Travel Document, you must be in the United States. to file this application. 1.a. I certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the. United States of America, that this application and the. evidence submitted with it is all true and correct.
In order to apply for a refugee travel document, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the Form I-131 page of www.uscis.gov to download the most recent Form I-131 for free. In addition to filling out the Form I-131, you must submit the following with your application:
Certain non-citizens can file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to obtain various travel documentation. The application has different uses depending on the non-citizen's immigration status in the United States. When filing, applicants may request the following types of travel documents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ...
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. You should file a Form I-131 before you leave the United States and expect processing times of approximately three months. However, it may take longer. Expedited processing may be available for your situation.
Next, you're asked what type of Travel Document you would like. Because you're a refugee, click 'Refugee Travel Document' then 'Save and Continue' CHECK YOUR STATUS. If you don't have 'Refugee Leave to Remain', you might not be able to get a Travel Document. If you have a different status, such as 'HP Leave to Remain'
Here are the documents you're required to submit: Evidence that you hold refugee or asylee status (photocopies of signed orders by an immigration judge would do) An official photo ID that contains your name and date of birth. Two passport-sized photographs that meet all the requirements. Filing fee receipts.
INS Form I-571. United States Refugee Travel Document* I-766 Employment Authorization Document with the code A05. None: I-688B Employment Authorization Document with the provision of law 274a.12(a)(5) This is an older version of the employment authorization document but it is still in use. Order of an Immigration Judge Granting Asylum under ...
Each applicant must file a separate application for a travel document. NOTE: Do not file Form I-131 if you are seeking release from immigration custody and you want to remain in the United States as a parolee. You should contact ICE about your request. Reentry Permit.
A refugee travel document is like a passport. It is a document for international travel. Note that if you travel to your home country, your refugee or asylum status may be terminated. People get refugee status or asylum status because they would be in danger to return to their home country. If you go back to your home country, the U.S ...
convention travel document (CTD) stateless person's document (SPD) certificate of travel (COT) one-way document (IS137). All HOTDs must be applied for individually. Children cannot be included in parents' applications or documents. All applications for a HOTD are considered by the travel documents section (TDS).
UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff on the types of Home Office travel documents (HOTD) and: We are aware this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can ...
Book an appointment for travel document assistance here Book an appointment Before applying for a Travel Document: This service is provided for individuals with refugee status only. Before your meeting prepare 2 passport sized photos and your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit). Please ensure your bank account has the sufficient funds to make the transaction, as all payments are made online. …
A requestor who timely applied for a travel document and requested expedited processing, but their case remains pending, and they now must travel within 15 days for a pressing or critical professional, academic, or personal commitment. To ask about emergency processing of a travel document, call the Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767 ...
Apply for a Home Office Travel Document. You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if: you are not British. you cannot use or get a passport from your country's national authorities. your country's national authorities cannot give you a new passport. It may take longer than usual to get a decision on your application.