I-131 processing time 2026: how long it takes
How long the I-131 travel permit takes (advance parole, travel documents and parole in place) according to the official USCIS median, and which request is yours.
Source: USCIS quarterly report — accessed Oct 19, 2026
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I-131 median processing time
| Period | Category | Median (months) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 | Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records | 14.4 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Application for Advance Parole Document for Aliens Inside the United States | 5.8 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Parole in Place | 14.6 |
I-131 key facts
- Form I-131 is used to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, TPS travel authorization document, Advance Parole Document or advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents. (Source)
- If you are a TPS beneficiary in the United States and your I-131 to travel is approved, USCIS issues you Form I-512T. (Source)
- If you are inside the United States without having been admitted, you may use Form I-131 to apply for parole in place based on urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. (Source)
- Online filing of Form I-131 is only available for certain application types; under 5.A (pending Form I-485), the I-485 receipt number must begin with IOE. (Source)
One form, several requests
Form I-131 bundles requests that have little in common: advance parole for someone waiting on a green card, a reentry permit, a refugee travel document, travel authorization for a TPS beneficiary, and parole in place or re-parole for people already in the country. USCIS publishes its median in several rows, and the gap between them is significant.
So the first step is to identify your request type and look up that row. Advance parole filed with an adjustment of status is, in the quarterly report, among the faster ones; general travel documents and parole in place move more slowly.
The other key point is not leaving the country too early. For TPS beneficiaries or people with a pending initial application, USCIS warns in the instructions about certain risks if you are abroad while it reviews your case. If you have an urgent need to travel, USCIS points to its expedite requests and emergency travel pages.
If you are renewing parole under a specific program, such as the ones for certain Ukrainians or Afghans, check that program’s page: generally the DHS component that first authorized parole decides the renewal, unless DHS or USCIS provide other filing instructions.
Check the edition date before you mail it: USCIS lists the current edition on the form page, and every page you send must come from that same edition.
More about this form
Frequently asked questions
Which row of the table is mine?
If you requested advance parole with a pending adjustment of status, the advance parole inside the United States row; parole in place has its own row; reentry permits, refugee travel documents and similar requests fall under the general I-131 row.
Can I travel while I wait?
Leaving the United States with a pending case can have immigration consequences. USCIS explains the risks in its instructions and on its travel documents page; read them before you go.
Can I file Form I-131 online?
Only for certain application types. With a pending I-485, USCIS requires the I-485 receipt number to begin with IOE to file online.
Official sources
- USCIS — Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
- USCIS quarterly report (FY2026 Q3) → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
