The ability to travel internationally is vital to many religious workers, so maintaining proper travel documents is essential. While in their R-1 status, religious workers need to ensure if they are traveling abroad that they have valid R-1 visas to allow them re-entry into the United States. However, once the I-485 Adjustment of Status application has been submitted and the wait for the green card begins, new restrictions arise around travel. While the application for the green card is pending, leaving the United States means abandoning the application unless an additional form has been filed, the I-131 Application for Travel Document.

Filing the I-131 Application for Travel Document while a religious worker’s adjustment of status application is pending provides them a different travel document that is used instead of the visa, the Advanced Parole document. The Advanced Parole document can be issued one of two ways: either as its own document (I-512L), or as a combination document along with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. If a combination card is issued, the card will contain the following inscription “serves as I-512 Advanced Parole.” When the I-131 application is approved, USCIS will first send an approval notice which lists the validity period for the travel document and informs the recipient of the notice that the actual card itself will be mailed out shortly. This approval notice is not the official travel document and should not be used as one. A separate document, either the I-512L advance parole travel document or the EAD combo card, will be mailed out after the notice is received.

Traditionally the Advanced Parole document has been issued with a validity period of one year, with the ability to renew the document so long as the application for the green card is still pending. However, USCIS has recently announced that the Advanced Parole documents can be issued with a validity period of up to five years.

Technically speaking, the individual may travel for as long as the card is issued, but there are some warnings to keep in mind before planning long trips. The adjustment of status (AOS) process requires a biometric appointment, so if the AOS applicant receives his or her Advance Parole document and leaves the United States before their biometrics appointment, they could be forced to make a quick trip home to make the appointment. Further, this adjustment of status is employment-based, so prolonged absences can lead to Requests for Evidence from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) inquiring whether the job is still being performed or the job position is still being offered. As a general rule of thumb, trips of six months or less allow for plenty of time to travel while still being able to return to the United States and timely respond to any potential issues that arise.

If you have any questions, please contact your RIS assigned attorney.