Advance Parole: How to Travel During Adjustment of Status

Anyone in the United States with a pending adjustment of status application (Form I-485) at USCIS faces a critical restriction: leaving the country without prior authorization can be interpreted as abandonment of the process, resulting in automatic denial of the green card. Advance Parole (AP) is the travel document that solves this problem, allowing reentry into the US without jeopardizing the ongoing petition. Understanding the current rules, costs, and recent changes to this mechanism is essential for anyone planning any international travel during adjustment of status.

Advance Parole is not a visa. It is an authorization granted by USCIS that allows the holder to be readmitted to the United States under parolee status while their immigration case is pending. Unlike a nonimmigrant visa, AP serves exclusively as reentry permission tied to an active process, and its validity is conditioned on the continuation of the I-485.

How to apply for the document

Advance Parole is requested through Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document). In most cases, this form is submitted simultaneously with the adjustment of status package, which includes the I-485 and the I-765 (application for employment authorization). Since April 2024, the I-131 requires a separate fee of $630 when filed together with the I-485, in addition to the $260 fee for the I-765.

Upon returning from international travel, the holder presents the Advance Parole document along with their passport to the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) officer at the port of entry. The officer processes admission under parolee status, and the adjustment of status process continues uninterrupted. AP authorizes travel, but does not guarantee reentry: the final admission decision remains with the CBP officer, who may deny entry if there are inadmissibility issues.

Who needs Advance Parole

The general rule is straightforward: anyone with a pending I-485 who intends to travel abroad needs an approved Advance Parole before departure. This includes both family-based and employment-based immigrants. Leaving the US without this document is considered abandonment of the process by USCIS in the vast majority of cases, resulting in denial of the green card application.

There are limited exceptions. Holders of valid H-1B, H-4, L-1, and L-2 visas may, in theory, travel and reenter based on their nonimmigrant visa without abandoning the I-485. However, reentering with a nonimmigrant visa instead of AP may change the status, which has implications depending on the case. The safest guidance is always to obtain Advance Parole before traveling, regardless of current nonimmigrant status.

Combo Card and recent changes

Historically, USCIS issued the so-called Combo Card, a single document that combined the EAD (employment authorization) with Advance Parole. The card contained the inscription “SERVES AS I-512 ADVANCE PAROLE,” indicating it served both for work and travel. This practice simplified applicants’ lives by consolidating both authorizations into a single physical document.

In recent years, USCIS has adopted a decoupling approach to these benefits to speed up processing. In practice, many applicants first receive the EAD card, which authorizes work, but must wait separately for the issuance of the I-512L document to be able to travel. This change makes advance planning of international travel during adjustment of status even more important.

Parole fee and exemptions

In October 2025, DHS implemented a $1,000 fee for individuals admitted to the US under parole, as required by the HR-1 Reconciliation Bill. In January 2026, the amount was adjusted to $1,020 based on the consumer price index. The fee is charged by CBP at the port of entry, and the agency accepts credit and debit cards for payment.

The good news for those in the adjustment of status process: applicants with a pending I-485 who travel with Advance Parole are expressly exempt from this fee. The charge applies to other parole categories, such as humanitarian parole and parole in place, but not to AP linked to adjustment of status. This exemption was confirmed by USCIS in November 2025.

Processing times in 2026

Form I-131 for Advance Parole does not offer a premium processing option. In April 2026, processing times range between 14.5 and 21 months, depending on the service center and case circumstances. Approximately 80% of cases are completed within 14.5 months, but significant delays are not uncommon.

This reality requires that the application be made as far in advance as possible. Any international travel should be planned only after receiving the approved document. Traveling with a pending application but without AP in hand is equivalent to abandoning the green card process.

Emergency AP

In urgent and documented humanitarian situations, it is possible to request emergency processing of Advance Parole. This requires scheduling a visit to a local USCIS office and presenting concrete evidence of the emergency, such as medical certificates, death certificates of immediate family members, or court summonses.

Emergency AP is not guaranteed. USCIS evaluates on a case-by-case basis, and approval depends on the severity of the situation and the quality of the documentation provided. Serious family medical emergencies, death of close relatives, and urgent legal needs abroad are the most frequently accepted scenarios.

Risks and precautions

In addition to the risk of abandoning the process by traveling without AP, there are other important precautions. Inadmissibility issues still apply even with approved Advance Parole. If the applicant has accrued unlawful presence in the US before adjustment of status and leaves the country, the departure may trigger 3- or 10-year inadmissibility bars under INA § 212(a)(9)(B), even with AP in hand.

This situation particularly affects people who entered the US without inspection or who overstayed their authorized period. The decision to travel during adjustment of status should be carefully evaluated in light of the applicant’s complete immigration history. Advance Parole solves the problem of I-485 abandonment, but does not protect against all legal consequences of departure and reentry.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.