Travel Documents are used by immigrants residing in the United States who may need permission to return to the United State prior to travel abroad. There are two types of Travel Documents, which all immigrants should be aware of before making arrangements to take international trips abroad, Advance Parole and Reentry Permit.

Advance Parole is permission by the INS of an applicant to travel abroad without abandoning an INS application that has been filed for immigration benefits.

Advance Parole may be sought by people who are apply to adjust to permanent residence, people with Temporary Protected Status, asylum applicants, parolees and many other categories of immigrants. Please Note: if you leave the United States before applying for an Advance Parole you will abandon your application with the INS and you may not be permitted to return to the United States. This provision does not apply to non-immigrants maintaining an H-1 or L-1 status and their dependants in H-4 or L-2 status who have applied for adjustment of status.

In some limited circumstances Advance Parole can be sought by a person seeking to temporarily travel to the United States for a humanitarian emergency. The person seeking advance parole or someone in the United States may file this humanitarian parole application. Please note that humanitarian parole is granted at the discretion of the INS and will only be granted for a humanitarian emergency. This form of parole is not to be used to circumvent the normal visa issuing procedures or processing delays.

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Lawful permanent residents or conditional permanent residents who wish to travel abroad for more than one year must obtain a reentry permit. A lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident who travels abroad for more than one year without a reentry permit is deemed to have abandoned their permanent status an may not be permitted to return to the United States.

Reentry Permits are valid for up to two years. For good cause showing an applicant can file subsequent reentry permits to extend their stay abroad. However, an applicant who resides abroad for more than one year will break the period of continuous residence required to become a United States citizen even if a reentry permit is issued.

Reentry Permits are also issued to lawful permanent residents who cannot get a national passport from their country of nationality, but wish to travel abroad and subsequently return to the United States. An application for a reentry permit must be made prior to traveling abroad.

To apply for a Travel Document you must submit INS Form 131 (Application for Travel Document). This document can be obtained on the INS website or you may pick up a copy at your local INS field office. In addition you are required to submit the appropriate INS fees and pictures. Please read the instructions for INS Form 131 carefully before submitting the application to reduce delays in processing.

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Applications for Advance Parole must be personally filed with your local INS office at least three weeks prior to the date of travel. Applications for Reentry Permits should all be mailed to the Nebraska Service Center.

“The INS wants to Know
Where you have Moved!”

Prior to 1980 the INS had required that immigrants annually notify the INS of their current address by filing a form in January. The INS eliminated annual reporting in 1980 but still requires the reporting of any address change within 10 days of the change.

All aliens who are fourteen years of age or older and who had not been registered and fingerprinted under the Alien Registration Act and have resided in the United States for more than thirty days are required to notify the INS of every change in address, within 10 days of the change.

To report a change of address the alien must file Form AR-11 and mail it to the following address:

Immigration and Naturalization Service
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134

Reporting a change of address has long been one of the least enforced

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regulations of the INS. However, under current times it is suggested that all aliens comply with the regulation, especially those seeking additional immigration benefits, including adjustment of status and naturalization.

What is the Penalty for Failing to Notify the INS of My Change of Address?

Under the law, willful failure to give written notice to the INS of a change of address within 10 days of the change is a misdemeanor crime. If convicted, an alien (or parent or legal guardian of an alien under age 14) can be fined up to $200 or imprisoned for up to 30 days, or both. In addition, the alien may be subject to removal from the United States. In addition it may jeopardize an alien’s attempt to seek future immigration benefits from the INS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

In future articles I will attempt to dedicate a portion of my article to discuss requested topics and answer specific questions of my readers. Therefore if you have any topics you wish me to discuss or questions you would like answered about the immigration laws of the United States please e-mail them to me at paulrajan@aol.com with the subject, “Immigration Question”

Dec 2002 Priority Dates
1	08/Apr/1999	EB1	C
2A	22/Sep/1997	EB2	C
2B	08/Apr/1994	EB3	C
3	22/Dec/1996	Other	C
4	08/Dec/1990	4	C
		5	C