Most refugees or asylees, or persons who have become a permanent resident as a result of being a refugee or asylee in the U.S., will need to apply for a Refugee Travel Document if planning to travel outside the U.S. Attempting to reenter the U.S. without such a document will result in you being inadmissible, unless you are in possession of a valid advance parole document. However, the travel document does not relieve you of any of the requirements of the U.S. immigration laws. Mere possession of refugee travel document does not guarantee admission into the U.S. as you are still subject to immigration inspection at the port of entry to determine admissibility into the U.S. You also may be subject to "secondary inspection" where you will be taken into a separate room and asked questions.

You can apply for refugee travel document if you are in the U.S. as a:

• Refugee or Asylee and have valid status
  
  
• Became a permanent resident in the U.S. through your refugee or asylee status.
  
  

You can't apply for refugee travel document:

• If you currently have a refugee travel document, unless the past document has been returned to the USCIS, or you can prove it was lost; or
  
  
• If a notice was published in the Federal Register that prohibits the issuance of such a document for travel to the area where you plan to travel.
  
  

• The validity of a refugee travel document is for one year or to the date the refugee or asylee status expires whichever comes first.
  
  
• Refugee travel document may not be extended.
  
  

A separate application form, fees and set of documents are required for each applicant (including yourself, each of your family member) who needs to travel.

• Application fee must be sent with the application.
  
  There is also a biometric fee.
  
  Fee details
  
  
• Form I-131, Application For Travel Document
  
  Sample I131
  
  
• Photos
  Submit 2 identical photographs.
  
  
• Copy of an official photo identity document that shows your name, photo and date of birth. e.g., a government issued valid driver's license, identity page of passport, permanent resident card or any other official identity document.
  
  
• Form I-94 can't be used as a photo identity document.
  
  
• Include a copy of the document showing your refugee or asylee status and the expiration date of such status you received from USCIS or former INS.

Application filing instructions

Do not send the application to the address listed in the form's instructions. The mailing location for reentry permit is,

USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68501-7131

For non-USPS (e.g. courier) delivery:

USCIS Nebraska Service Center
850 S. Street
P.O. Box 87131
Lincoln, NE 68508

If the application is denied, you will receive a letter from USCIS explaining how to appeal. Appeal must be done within 33 days after receiving the denial letter and filed on Form I-290-B. Mail Form I-290-B to the office that made the original decision. Once appeal form and fee are processed, the case is then referred to the Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU) in Washington, DC.

You must be physically present in the U.S. when filing the application. Leaving the U.S. before a decision has been decided does not affect the application. Although, you may request your refugee travel document to be sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office abroad when you file the application. There is a place on the Form I-131 to furnish the information necessary to receive the refugee travel document outside of the U.S. However, under certain circumstances if you did not apply for a refugee travel document before departure you may be eligible to apply abroad. It's at the discretion of the district director having jurisdiction over a port-of-entry or a pre-inspection station where an alien is an applicant for admission, or an overseas district director having jurisdiction over the place where an alien is physically present granted:

• Applicant must submit Form I-131, with appropriate fee;
  
  
• You did not plan to abandon your refugee status at the time of departure from the U.S. concluded by the district director;
  
  
• You did not participate in any activities while outside the U.S. that would jeopardize your refugee or aslyee status;
  
  
• You have been outside the U.S. for less than one year since your last departure.
  
  

Travel document will be invalid if you obtained by making a false representation or concealment in the application, or if you are ordered removed or deported from the U.S. If United Nations Convention of July 28, 1951, cease to apply or shall not apply to you as provided in Article 1C, D, E or F of the Convention than the refugee travel document is invalid.