International Services

• About OIS

  • Hours and Location
  • Mission and Goals
  • Organizational Chart
  • Meet our Staff
  • Emergency Contact Information
  • Contact Us

• International Center

  • Programs & Events
  • IC History
  • Student Groups
  • Bloomington Worldwide Friendship

• Student & Scholar Advising

  • Students

    • F-1 Students
    • J-1 Students
    • Orientation

  • Faculty, Staff, & Visitors

    • J-1 Scholars
    • H-1B Employees
    • Permanent Residence
    • Short-term Visitors
  • Living in the U.S.
• Site Map

• Indiana University

  • About IU
  • Bloomington
  • Indianapolis
  • East
  • Fort Wayne
  • Kokomo
  • Northwest
  • South Bend
  • Southeast

 Login  Prepaid Long Distance  Campus Map  Statistical Reports  Donate to OIS  iOffice 2.0

⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Faculty, Staff, & Visitors ⇒ Permanent Residence ⇒ Travel outside the US after Application for Immigrant Visa

Travel outside the US after Application for Immigrant Visa

After the application for permanent residence (green card) is submitted to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there is a considerable wait before permanent residence is granted.  During this time, you must be careful about travel outside the US or you may inadvertently cancel your PR application.

Every applicant for permanent residence except some persons in H or L status (see below) will need advance permission from the USCIS before a trip outside the United States.

Application for this “advance parole” includes the following documentation for each application.

1. Form I-131, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7.  Download Form I-131 from www.uscis.gov.
   • Part 2: check item “d” in Part 2 of the Form.
   • Part 3, #1: state “various trips during the year.”
   • Part 4: state “various trips during the year.”
   • Part 7: state “Adjustment applicant” and check the box for “more than one trip.”  No additional documentation is needed.
   • You do not complete Parts 5 and 6.
2. Two (2) color photographs [USCIS Guidelines].
3. The fee for an initial or renewal application is covered by the I-485 fee, except for those applicants who filed their I-485 before the July 31, 2007 fee increase.  Those who filed before July 31, 2007 must pay a fee of $305 for any application or renewal of advance parole.
4. Copy of USCIS receipt for I-485 (application for permanent residence) unless Form I-131 is submitted at same time as I-485.
5. Copy of identification page from passport.
6. Applications that are not filed with the I-485 must include a copy of the I-485 receipt, and should be sent to the service center which provided the receipt.

Approval will be given on Form I-512 (Authorization for Parole or Conditional Entry of an Alien into the US).  Approval will be given for one year, and will be valid for multiple entries during the immigrant visa processing period.

Processing of Advance Parole varies from approximately 2–4 months.  If you have an urgent situation and must travel, contact International Services.

If you are an F-1, J-1, J-2, O-1, or TN and you have any form of employment authorization based on your visa status, you must also apply for employment authorization on form I-765 when you file for advance parole.

Travel and re-entry on a parole document ends previous F-1, J-1, J-2, O-1, or TN status, including any employment authorized by that status.  After your entry on the parole document, you must have the laminated employment authorization document (EAD) issued by USCIS to adjustment applicants even to continue the previously authorized employment.  Since processing of the EAD generally takes 3 months through the service center, we strongly advise filing the I-131 and I-765 at the same time.

An H-1 working only for the H-1 employer on a valid H petition will not need to obtain an EAD after travel with Advance Parole as long as s/he is continuing the employment authorized by H status upon return.

We suggest showing both the Advance Parole and the valid H petition at the port of entry.

People in H-1 and H-4 status have the option of traveling without advance parole if they have the following documentation:

1. Valid passport with valid H visa.  (No visa is required for Canadian citizens.  For others, if you do not have a valid H visa stamp in your passport, you would need to apply for a new one at an American Consulate or Embassy if you are not using Advance Parole.)
2. Original USCIS approval notice (I-797) showing valid H status;
3. Letter from employer listed on I-797 approval notice confirming that person continues in the same position for which H status was obtained; and

Not all Hs are eligible to use this simplified travel provision.  You must obtain Advance Parole if you have:

1. used an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for an outside employer;
2. are an H-4 dependent who has used an EAD based on a PR application; or
3. are the dependent of an H-1 who has used an EAD for an outside employer.