What Are the Various Form I-131 Types A, B, C, D, E, and F?

USCIS Form I-131 is the application for a Travel Document, which allows individuals to re-enter the United States in most cases after temporary international travel.

The different application types (A, B, C, D, E, and F) refer to the various types of Travel Documents that can be requested on this specific form.

The description of each type of application is found on the form itself, at part 2:

Below is a brief overview of each type of I-131 filing:

Application Type A: re-entry permit: A Reentry Permit allows a lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission to the United States upon returning from abroad during the permit’s validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.

Application Type B and C: A Refugee Travel Document is issued to an individual in valid refugee or asylee status, or to a lawful permanent resident who obtained such status as a refugee or asylee in the United States. Individuals who hold asylee or refugee status and are not lawful permanent residents must have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States after travel abroad, unless they possess an Advance Parole Document. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer at the U.S. port-of-entry will determine your admissibility when you present your travel document.

Application Type D: Advance Parole for pending I-Form I-485; pending Form I-821; or approved Form I-821D

Parole allows an alien to physically enter into the United States for a specific purpose. An individual who has been “paroled” has not been admitted to the United States and remains an “applicant for admission” even while paroled. DHS, as a matter of discretion, may issue an Advance Parole Document to authorize an alien to appear at a port-ofentry to seek parole into the United States. The document may be accepted by a transportation company in lieu of a visa as authorization for the holder to travel to the United States. An Advance Parole Document is not issued to serve in place of any required passport.

Application Type E and F: Advance Parole for persons outside the US. The granting of an Advance Parole Document for individuals outside the United States is an extraordinary measure used sparingly to allow an otherwise inadmissible alien to travel to the United States and to seek parole into the United States for a temporary period of time due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit (significant public benefit parole is typically limited to law enforcement or homeland security-related reasons). An
Advance Parole Document cannot be used to circumvent normal visa-issuance procedures and is not a means to bypass delays in visa issuance.

Although the same USCIS form is used, each application type has its own eligibility requirements and documentation requirements, so it is critical to prepare the correct types of evidence for the specific application type before submitting Form I-131. If you have questions about submitting FORM I-131, we have answers! Feel free to contact our law office.