Are Combo EAD and Advance Parole Cards Still Issued During Shutdowns?

(UNITED STATES) Combo cards that once combined work and travel benefits for green card applicants are no longer issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and that change matters during budget fights in Washington. As of mid-2025, USCIS ended the combined card and now mails separate documents: an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for work and a separate Advance Parole travel document. Because USCIS is primarily funded by application fees, production and mailing of both documents generally continue even if there’s a federal government shutdown, including the one that began on October 1, 2025.

USCIS’s fee-funded model allows most services to carry on when appropriations lapse. That means the agency keeps accepting and adjudicating applications tied to a pending Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), and it continues producing separate EAD and Advance Parole documents. An EAD alone does not permit reentry to the United States 🇺🇸. Applicants who need to travel must wait for the separate Advance Parole document or secure other valid travel permission. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the end of combo cards makes it even more important to track each benefit on its own timeline.

Policy changes overview

USCIS ended issuance of combo cards in July 2025, citing processing pressures and the need to clear backlogs faster. Instead of one plastic card marked “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole,” applicants now receive:

• A separate EAD card (often stating “Not Valid for Reentry to the U.S.”), and
• A separate Advance Parole document for travel.

The shift is straightforward but alters planning for thousands with pending Form I-485. Applicants typically file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) alongside or after the I-485. With the combo card gone, the two benefits no longer arrive together. That can mean a person may receive work permission first but must wait longer for travel approval—or the reverse—depending on case-by-case processing.

During a federal shutdown, USCIS keeps most operations running because it relies on fees rather than annual congressional funding. The agency continues to accept filings, issue receipts, adjudicate cases, and print and mail EAD and Advance Parole documents. By contrast, the Department of Labor halts many services, affecting PERM labor certifications and Labor Condition Applications (LCAs). Those DOL pauses do not directly block USCIS from producing or mailing EAD or Advance Parole for I-485 applicants.

Applicants, employers, and families should plan for separate mailings and possible timing gaps. If a shutdown slows mail delivery or government contracting, applicants might see delays in actual receipt, but USCIS’s core functions typically keep moving. The key is to recognize the split: work permission is one track; travel permission is another.

For official guidance on USCIS’s funding structure and operations, see USCIS’s page on its fee-funded status at USCIS Is Funded by Fees.

Impact on applicants and travel

The end of combo cards affects everyday choices, especially for those with pending adjustment cases who need to work and sometimes travel for family reasons, urgent business, or emergencies.

• If you receive the EAD but not Advance Parole:
  • You can work for any employer (subject to category rules).
  • You should not leave the country unless you have another valid travel document or status that allows reentry.
  • The EAD’s warning—“Not Valid for Reentry to the U.S.”—is literal.
• If you receive Advance Parole but are still waiting for the EAD:
  • You may travel under that document.
  • You cannot work until the EAD arrives and is valid.
• If your I-485 is pending and you depart without Advance Parole (and lack other valid reentry permission), you risk abandoning the adjustment application.

Applicants who filed both Form I-765 and Form I-131 with a pending Form I-485 should watch for two separate approvals and two separate mailings. Families should build extra time into travel plans, especially near holidays or during periods of federal budget uncertainty. While USCIS continues operations in a shutdown, non-USCIS factors—like international flight disruptions or mail slowdowns—may still affect practical timelines.

Practical checklist for travelers with pending I-485

• Carry these items when traveling on Advance Parole:
  • Passport
  • Physical Advance Parole document
  • Evidence of pending Form I-485 (such as receipt notices)
• Action items before travel:
  1. Verify you have valid Advance Parole in hand.
  2. Confirm passport validity and entry rules for destination and return.
  3. Keep copies of approval notices; store originals safely.
  4. If urgent, ask an attorney about expedited processing options and criteria.

USCIS continues to receive and process filings during shutdowns, including:
– Form I-485 (adjustment of status): Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
– Form I-765 (EAD): Application for Employment Authorization
– Form I-131 (Advance Parole): Application for Travel Document

Applicants should check their case status online, sign up for case updates, and keep their mailing address current with USCIS. If a card or document is lost in the mail, report it promptly to limit disruption to work or travel plans.

Employer and HR considerations

Employers can onboard staff with a valid EAD upon the employee’s arrival and completion of I-9 requirements. The separation of benefits might mean a new hire starts work before receiving travel permission, which can help employers fill roles while Advance Parole is pending.

For multinational companies, HR teams should:

• Brief transferees and local managers that the EAD does not double as a travel document.
• Plan onboarding and travel approvals separately.
• Keep communication open about expected timelines and contingencies.

The Department of Labor’s shutdown posture can still ripple into the broader immigration landscape. Employers who rely on PERM-based green cards may find that DOL closures pause labor certification filings and decisions, slowing future steps in employer-sponsored cases. But that is separate from USCIS’s role in producing EAD and Advance Parole for those already in the adjustment stage. Put simply, DOL stoppages do not prevent USCIS from printing and shipping these documents.

Tips and warnings

Combo cards are discontinued. Production and mailing of separate EAD and Advance Parole generally continue, but travel still requires the dedicated Advance Parole document unless you hold another valid basis for reentry.

• Avoid last-minute travel gambles. Wait for the right document before leaving the country.
• Keep copies of all approval notices and store originals safely.
• If an emergency arises, consult a qualified representative about options, including expedited processing when criteria are met.
• Track both applications, watch the mail, and treat the EAD and Advance Parole as two distinct keys—one opens work, the other opens the border.

The shutdown beginning October 1, 2025 has renewed questions from applicants who remember the combo card era. The message is clear: combo cards are discontinued; production and mailing of separate EAD and Advance Parole generally continue; and travel still requires the dedicated Advance Parole document unless you hold another valid basis for reentry. Planning around these separate tracks reduces risk and confusion.