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TRAVEL DOCUMENT – ADVANCE PAROLE,

What is a Travel Document and Who Needs One?

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need permission to return to the United States after traveling abroad. This permission is granted through a travel document. You should apply for one of the following travel documents before you leave the United States:

Advance Parole:

If you have applied for immigration benefits, you may need Advance Parole to be able to return to the United States if you travel abroad. It may be sought by, but not limited to, asylum applicants, parolees, people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and people who are applying to Adjust to Permanent Resident Status. Advance Parole may be given at the discretion of the District Director or the Service Center Director having jurisdiction over your place of residence. If you do not apply for Advance Parole before you leave the country, you will abandon your application with the INS and you may not be permitted to return to the United States. (Please note: This requirement does not apply to people who have applied to adjust to permanent resident status and are maintaining H-1 status (temporary workers in specialty occupations) or L-1 status (intra-company transferees), or their dependents in H-4 or L-2 status.)

Advance parole may also be sought by people who need to travel to the United States temporarily for a humanitarian emergency. Advance authorization for parole cannot be used to circumvent normal visa issuing procedures or processing delays. Someone in the United States may file such Humanitarian Parole application for you, or you may file for yourself.