Can Asylum Seekers Still Use Advance Parole to Travel?

(UNITED STATES) Asylum seekers in the United States can still apply for advance parole to travel abroad, even during the current processing halt for many other parole programs. The travel document process is open, but it is risky, slow, and tightly controlled. Anyone with a pending asylum case who thinks about leaving the country should move very carefully, follow the rules exactly, and speak with a trusted legal adviser before making plans.

How the 2025 Executive Order Affects Travel

On January 20, 2025, an Executive Order from the White House tried to end “broad, automatic” parole programs. Many people feared this meant all parole, including advance parole, would stop. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this caused wide confusion among asylum applicants and even some lawyers.

However, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) later made clear that individual advance parole documents are still valid for travel. The Executive Order mainly targeted large group or “categorical” parole programs, not the normal, case‑by‑case decisions made on Form I‑131, Application for Travel Document for people like asylum seekers.

That means you may still ask for advance parole while your asylum case is pending. But approval is never promised, and even with approval, there are serious risks when you leave the country.

Step 1: Decide If You Should Travel At All

USCIS advises that asylum seekers should stay in the United States while their applications are pending. Travel is strongly discouraged, even with an approved advance parole document.

Before anything else, ask yourself:

• Is this trip truly urgent or life‑changing?
• Can someone else handle what I need to do abroad?
• Am I ready to risk my asylum case and my ability to come back?

If you can avoid travel, you usually should. Leaving the U.S. can put your case and your future at risk in several ways, which are explained below.

Important: For many asylum seekers, the safest choice is to remain in the United States until the asylum case is finally decided.

Step 2: Filing Form I‑131 for Advance Parole

If you decide you must travel, you first need to file Form I‑131, Application for Travel Document and wait for USCIS to approve it before you leave. This is the only safe path for an asylum seeker who wants to return to the United States after a trip.

You can find the official form and filing instructions on the USCIS website at Form I‑131, Application for Travel Document. USCIS uses the same form for different types of travel documents, so be sure to mark that you are asking for advance parole based on a pending asylum application.

When you file, you should:

1. File at least three months before you plan to travel. The source guidance recommends applying early to allow enough time for processing.
2. Include a clear explanation of why you need to travel, where you will go, and how long you will stay.
3. Attach evidence that supports your reason to travel, such as medical records, death certificates, or other urgent documents if relevant.

You must stay in the United States while USCIS reviews your application. If you leave before advance parole is approved, your asylum case will most likely be treated as abandoned.

Emergency Advance Parole Requests

If you cannot wait three months, you may request emergency advance parole when you have a critical need to travel within 15 days from the date you file.

For emergency cases, be ready to show:

• Proof of the emergency (for example, records of a serious illness or death of a close family member)
• Proof of your identity
• Your pending asylum receipt or other USCIS notices

USCIS decides these requests on a case‑by‑case basis. Even emergencies do not guarantee approval.

Step 3: Waiting While USCIS Reviews Your Case

After you submit Form I‑131, USCIS will review:

• Your identity and immigration history
• Your pending asylum application
• Any possible inadmissibility issues, such as a long visa overstay or certain criminal history

During this time, you should:

• Keep your address up to date with USCIS
• Watch for mail about biometrics (fingerprints) or requests for additional evidence
• Not leave the United States under any circumstances until you receive the actual advance parole document

If USCIS approves your request, you will receive a paper document (often called an advance parole document). This document is what you must show when you return to a U.S. airport or border point.

USCIS provides general information on advance parole and other travel documents at the official page for Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole, which links to the same Form I‑131 instructions and rules.

Step 4: Traveling and Trying to Reenter the United States

If you receive an approved advance parole document, you may travel outside the United States, but there are strict limits.

At the airport or land border when you return, you must:

• Present your advance parole document
• Show your passport or other travel identity document
• Answer questions from CBP officers

It is very important to understand that advance parole is not a guarantee of readmission. CBP officers at the border make the final determination. The government may still refuse to let you in if they find you inadmissible for reasons such as:

• A serious immigration violation
• Some types of criminal history
• Other legal bars under U.S. immigration law

Major Risks That Can Destroy Your Asylum Case

For asylum seekers, travel risks are much higher than for many other immigrants. Key dangers include:

• Abandonment of your case: If you leave without approved advance parole, the government will most likely treat your asylum application as abandoned. You may lose your chance to have your claim heard and may not be allowed to reenter the United States.

• Travel to your home country: If you travel back to the country where you say you fear harm, the government may decide you no longer have a real fear of persecution. This can lead to denial of your asylum application.

• Undermining your credible fear claim: Even if you don’t go to your home country, foreign travel can still make officers question your story, especially if your trip seems unsafe or unnecessary compared to the danger you described in your asylum claim.

Because of these risks, many lawyers tell asylum seekers to avoid travel completely until their asylum cases are finally decided.

Practical Expectations and Safer Planning

If, after legal advice, you still plan to apply for advance parole:

• Expect long waits; apply at least three months before you hope to travel.
• Do not buy plane tickets until you actually have the approved document in your hands.
• Keep copies of all your immigration papers with you while you travel.
• Be ready for extra questioning by border officers when you return.

Quick Checklist Before You Travel

• Confirm you have an approved advance parole document in hand.
• Verify your passport and travel documents are valid.
• Carry copies of your pending asylum receipts and USCIS notices.
• Have evidence supporting the reason for your travel readily accessible.
• Consult your immigration attorney and follow their guidance.

Reminder: The Executive Order from January 20, 2025 did not shut down case‑by‑case advance parole for asylum seekers, but it did increase confusion and fear. The legal path remains through Form I‑131, Application for Travel Document, yet personal risk remains high. For many people, the safest choice is still to stay in the United States until their asylum case is resolved.