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How To Expedite Travel Documents

October 2, 2023

Author: New York Russian Speaking Immigration lawyer Alena Shautsova

If you are not a US citizen yet, you most likely have certain anxiety attached to possible international travel: you may be worried about being allowed to enter the US upon return, or if you can even qualify for travel documents, or if you will be able to return to the US after a prolonged stay abroad.

These are all common questions asked by both green card holders and those for whom the laws of the US allow to apply for a travel permit while they are in the process of receiving a status. For example, people granted asylum or a refugee status in the US can travel abroad only using an asylee/refugee travel document; persons in TPS status, adjustment of status pending, T status, or DACA may request advance parole which will allow them to return upon temporary travel abroad; persons with green cards who may stay abroad for longer than 6 months would want to file for a re-entry permit to avoid issues at the border.

 Almost all travel documents such as advance parole, re-entry permit, and refugee/asylee travel documents are filed for using form I 131 found at www.usics.gov. It is the same form that is used by different applicants for different purposes. The filing fee for the form will depend on the purpose or the type of travel authorization one is requesting. For example, today, for an advance parole one will have to pay $575, for a refugee travel document most applicants will pay $220, and for a re-entry permit: $660.

Typically, form I 131 is filed with USCIS by mail, and processing times vary upon the type of the document requested, and vary from 3.5 months to 6-9 months. But what if your need to travel is quite urgent and you cannot wait for such a long time? Then, depending on the type of document you request and the circumstances, you may request that USCIS expedite the issuance of travel documents.

There are two ways one can go about it. If your application with USCIS  had been filed already, and the travel needs from less urgent turned into very urgent, you can submit and expedite the request with USCIS asking to process the already filed application. Your request will have to comply with the expedited guidelines that can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.

You will have to demonstrate that failure to process the document fast will result in:

·       Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to:

o   Timely file the benefit request, or

o   Timely respond to any requests for additional evidence;

  • Emergencies and urgent humanitarian reasons;
  • Nonprofit organization (as designated by the Internal Revenue Service) whose request is in furtherance of the cultural or social interests of the United States;
  • U.S. government interests (such cases identified as urgent by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, Equal Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or other public safety or national security interests); or
  • Clear USCIS error.

If USCIS agrees with you, your document will be issued pretty quickly, but still, it will take about 30 days to get processed!

But, there is a different way as well. What if the need to travel appeared within the past 48 hours due to some sort of emergency? Then (and it is true, especially for advance paroles), you may request that your travel document be issued to you in person at a local USCIS field office. For that, you first have to request an appointment at a local USCIS field office either by calling USCIS customer service number or using the online scheduling tool: https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2. If your request for the appointment is confirmed, you will have to appear at the local USCIS office with your filing fee, filled out form I 131, proof of emergency, a copy of your ID, passport, and 2 passport-style photos, as well as proof of your eligibility to seek advance parole (a copy of receipt for pending I 485 form, affirmative asylum, or having a DACA or TPS status for example). A local USCIS officer will decide if your request warrants merit, and if agrees with you, you will receive advance parole on that very day. 

Interviews for Green Card Process Will be More Frequent

August 29, 2017

Interviews for Green Card Process Will be More Frequent

Author: New York Immigration Attorney Alena Shautsova

Several months after President Trump took office, it can be said that Immigration enforcement is steering in the direction of tightening the rules and enforcement. So far, the regulations and laws have not been changed much, but  was is changing is the way the laws and regulations are administrated.

For example, USCIS has recently announced that it will start calling for interview all employment based green card applicants, as well as derivative asylum applicants ( form I 730). Previously, such applications were decided on paper without meeting of the applicants. Now, an interview will be a must. In addition, USCIS stated that it will also expand the interview for other types of permanent resident applications.

Another change that came is that now, advance parole (form I 131) has to be applied for and received in the United States. If a person leaves the United States prior to receiving the approval, such an application will be considered abandoned.

President Trump administration is also likely to end DACA program. It is unclear how this program will be ended: with or without a grace period, with or without referring all beneficiaries to ICE…

It means, that now then ever, an applicant will have to gt prepared for the interview to make sure that he/she will be able to overcome any and all doubts an officer have and prove his/her eligibility. A preparation for an interview starts with reviewing of the eligibility requirements, documents, and of course, a consultation with an attorney who will try to foresee and prevent likely issues.  It is important to choose an attorney who is familiar with the recent USCIS “trends” and who can advocate for her client zealously.

U.S. Immigration Fingerprints Abroad

April 25, 2016

U.S. Immigration Fingerprints  Abroad

Author: US Immigration attorney Alena Shautsova

Almost all immigration applications require that an applicant comply with the biometrics requirement and appear for a fingerprinting procedure in the US.  Previously, U.S. Immigration fingerprints were not collected abroad.

This is especially true for such important applications as Re-Entry Permit for lawful permanent residents , Advance Parole and Refugee/Asylee Travel documents. All these applications should be submitted to USCIS using form I-131. After the submission, according to the instructions, the approved documents (that look almost like passports) can be shipped overseas. For example, due to an urgent travel an applicant cannot remain in the US and have to leave before he/she receives the document. In such cases, USCIS can send the document either to the overseas consulate or a specified address abroad. What the instructions do not say is that prior to departure, the applicant must appear for fingerprinting appointment in the US. For years, there was no exception to this rule, and one would miss such an appointment and depart the US, would face significant difficulties coming back as there was no way for the applicant to comply with the biometrics procedure overseas.

Recently, USCIS allowed applicants to comply with the biometrics requirement outside the US. Biometrics collection for certain applications, such as a Form I-131, Application for Reentry Permit, may be taken at a USCIS office abroad, even if the collection was originally scheduled at an ASC office in the United States. This is available to residents of countries where USCIS has an international office. For example, Russia, Germany.

Only those can demonstrate urgent and severe circumstances will be allowed to comply with the procedure overseas. In addition, the applicant would have to demonstrate that he/she tried to expedite or reschedule the fingerprinting appointment.  It means that one who has I-131 pending and has to leave the country urgently, still has to show his/her attempts to comply with the regular procedure.

Examples of urgent circumstances may include: an urgent job assignment, a need to take care of a family member that requires urgency, etc.

The new procedure will help thousands who previously did not have a choice and had to either miss an important presence overseas or forego US immigration benefits or jeopardize their status to comply with U.S. Immigration fingerprints abroad.

 

Travel on Advance Parole Is not “Departure”

April 30, 2013

A person traveling on advance parole may still return to the US without triggering the unlawful presence bars. Citing Matter of Arrabally, the Eleventh Circuit held that the petitioner was not inadmissible under §212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II), because she left the United States pursuant to a grant of advance parole.
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Can I Travel Outside The US With Advance Parole

December 18, 2012

A holder of the TPS status is allowed to apply for advance parole: a document authorizing the alien to travel abroad and return to the United States.

Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) grants the Attorney General authority to parole into the United States aliens seeking admission “on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.” 8 CFR § 212.5(f) authorizes USCIS to grant advance parole to aliens who will travel without a visa, by issuing “an appropriate document authorizing travel.”

The significance of the parole is that if a person entered without inspection, received a TPS or DACA status, traveled on parole and was in fact paroled back to the US, the person is no longer an EWI, and, can adjust status to one of the permanent resident.

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Advance Parole Must be Asked in Advance

October 13, 2012

Advance Parole is a permission to return to the United States after trip abroad that is issued to a person who cannot obtain a visa or otherwise doesn’t qualify to be admitted to the country.

Advance Parole is typically  applied for by persons with TPS status, pending applications for adjustment of status, and now the DACA beneficiary.

To request an advance parole a person should file an application on form I-131 and wait got biometrics appointment. There is a fee associated with  the filing, which currently is $360.

The situation gets complicated when a person who needs an advance parole has already left the country. Generally, the document has to be filed by a person located in the United States.  It can be filed on behalf of somebody who is overseas, but the applicant should be located in the US. However, practice shows that in urgent circumstances, where severe hardship may result from person’s inability to come to the United States, a field DHS office may consider the request and help the applicant. It must be noted that in this situation, the parole is more likely to be granted as a Humanitarian parole, The situation gets complicated when a person who needs an advance parole has already left the country. Generally, the document has to be filed by a person located in the United States.  It can be filed on behalf of somebody who is overseas, but the applicant should be located in the US. However, practice shows that in urgent circumstances, where severe hardship may result from person’s inability to come to the United States, a field DHS office may consider the request and help the applicant. It must be noted that in this situation, the parole is more likely to be granted as a Humanitarian parole, which can be applied for by a person in or out of the country. To read more about Humanitarian Parole visit the USCIS page  .

If you have immigration concerns, consult a skilled New York immigration lawyer  and find out about your options.
The Law Office of Alena Shautsova is an Immigration law firm serving clients in Brooklyn, New York City, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and surrounding communities.