Question about the travel document I-131

[Tani81 0]

Hi,

 

I am in the process of applying my green card through marriage. I am aware that there is a travel permit that I can get while my green card application is in the process. I believe it is called i-131 but I am not 100% sure. I want to know how long it takes to get this permit to travel outside US and how long is it valid for? Once approved, am I allowed to travel any country or one permit is only valid for one country etc. Also, will it affect my green card application in any way?

 

Please advise. 

[Fe.Ta 874]

20 minutes ago, Tani81 said:

Hi,

 

I am in the process of applying my green card through marriage. I am aware that there is a travel permit that I can get while my green card application is in the process. I believe it is called i-131 but I am not 100% sure. I want to know how long it takes to get this permit to travel outside US and how long is it valid for? Once approved, am I allowed to travel any country or one permit is only valid for one country etc. Also, will it affect my green card application in any way?

 

Please advise. 

Yes, it is called the I-131 Travel Document.

Here is the link:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-131

 

Did you not apply for this when you did the AOS?  Normally, people submit AOS/EAD/AP together to get the Employment Authorization (EAD) and AP (Advance Parole/Travel Document) while they wait for the GC, especially now that it is taking longer.

 

If you only did the I-485, I would suggest you to the I-131 and I-765 (https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/employment-authorization-document), so you can be able to work and travel while your I-485 AOS/GC is being processed.

 

If you visit the USCIS website, it will tell you how long each of those are taking depending on the office you end up with.  (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)

 

You can also check the approval estimates in VJ.  (https://www.visajourney.com/times/)

 

You can travel to any country that allows a US passport to enter without a visa.  Essentially, the travel document and your original passport become a version of a US passport when combined.

 

It will not affect your GC in any way, especially since it is common and recommended to submit all three.  Usually, it is better to do them around the same time.

 

We hope that helps!
 

[OldUser 6,476]

16 minutes ago, Fe.Ta said:

You can travel to any country that allows a US passport to enter without a visa.  Essentially, the travel document and your original passport become a version of a US passport when combined.

I don't believe it's true the way it's written. Whether you need a visa or not depends only on foreign (non US) passport you have. Travel document allows coming back to the US only.

 

For example, if you're an Indian citizen and applied for travel document, you need Schengen visa to travel to Germany.

 

If you're French citizen and applied for travel document, you can travel to Germany visa free as always.

Edited December 4, 2022 by OldUser

[Fe.Ta 874]

Just now, OldUser said:

I don't believe it's true the way it's written. Whether you need a visa or not depends only on foreign (non US) passport you have. Travel document allows coming back to the US only.

Thank you!

[powerpuff 6,604]

16 minutes ago, Fe.Ta said:

You can travel to any country that allows a US passport to enter without a visa.  Essentially, the travel document and your original passport become a version of a US passport when combined.

While that would be great, that is not possible.

 

43 minutes ago, Tani81 said:

Once approved, am I allowed to travel any country or one permit is only valid for one country etc.

You can travel anywhere you want. Entry to those countries is subject to the passport you hold, so you might need a visa. 
 

Current processing time for I-131 is 11.5 to 13 months 

[Fe.Ta 874]

Just now, powerpuff said:

While that would be great, that is not possible.

 

You can travel anywhere you want. Entry to those countries is subject to the passport you hold, so you might need a visa. 
 

Current processing time for I-131 is 11.5 to 13 months 

Yes, OldUser responded.  I can't update the post.  Thanks.

Edited December 4, 2022 by Fe.Ta
NA

[powerpuff 6,604]

~~ Topic moved from AOS work/ tourist / student visas to Working & Traveling during US immigration where AP questions are discussed ~~

[Tani81 0]

Thanks everyone. This forum is extremely helpful. Wish I had found out about it sooner.