Instructions for Application for Travel Document Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS Form I-131 OMB No. 1615-0013 Expires 03/31/2016 What Is the Purpose of This Form? This form is for applying to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the following travel documents: 1. Reentry Permit A Reentry Permit allows a permanent resident or conditional resident to apply for admission to the United States upon returning from abroad during the permit's validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or consulate. 2. Refugee Travel Document A Refugee Travel Document is issued to a person in valid refugee or asylee status, or to a permanent resident who obtained such status as a refugee or asylee in the United States. Persons who hold asylee or refugee status and are not permanent residents must have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States after travel abroad, unless they possess an Advance Parole Document. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer at the U.S. port-of- entry will determine your admissibility when you present your travel document. 3. Advance Parole Document Parole allows an alien to physically enter into the United States for a specific purpose. A person who has been "paroled" has not been admitted to the United States and remains an "applicant for admission" even while paroled. DHS, as a matter of discretion, may issue an Advance Parole Document to authorize an alien to appear at a port-of- entry to seek parole into the United States. The document may be accepted by a transportation company in lieu of a visa as an authorization for the holder to travel to the United States. An Advance Parole Document is not issued to serve in place of any required passport. WARNING: The document does not entitle you to be paroled into the United States; a separate discretionary decision on a request for parole will be made when you arrive at