The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has posted revised instructions for Form I-131 Application for Travel Document (Form I-131). The form itself has not been revised, but revision of the instructions is an indication that the form may be revised in the future. The revised instructions are available on the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-131instr.pdf

Form I-131 is used to apply for certain travel documents, specifically advance paroles, refugee travel documents, and reentry permits. Currently, lawful permanent residents applying for a reentry permit as a travel document are not required to appear for biometrics processing (typically, to submit fingerprints and photographs) at an Application Support Center. Also, a permanent resident must be in the United States when a reentry permit application is filed with USCIS but there is no requirement that s/he remain in the U.S. for a specific time while the application is pending.

The revised USCIS instructions now include a requirement that permanent residents must submit biometrics when applying for a reentry permit, and also suggest that permanent residents should remain in the U.S. until they submit biometrics. USCIS processing time for issuance of a biometrics appointment notice is variable, but typically takes several weeks after filing. Following these instructions would mean that permanent residents must remain in the U.S. several weeks after submitting a reentry permit application. For more information on the revised instructions, please contact our office for a consultation.

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