Urgent India Travel for Pending Green Card: Use Advance Parole

(UNITED STATES) Thousands of would-be permanent residents face the same urgent dilemma each year: a family emergency abroad while a Green Card application is still pending inside the United States. Immigration officers have a clear warning. If you leave the United States without Advance Parole, you risk denial of your Green Card case and refusal of re-entry. The required travel document is requested through Form I-131 and must be approved before you depart. Without it, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can treat your travel as abandoning your adjustment of status. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this rule applies widely to adjustment applicants, including many family and employment cases.

Immediate steps to take if you must travel

The path forward is urgent but practical: file Form I-131 for Advance Parole immediately and seek an emergency appointment if you must travel right away. USCIS accepts filings online or by mail, and the agency reviews supporting evidence—such as proof of serious illness or a death in the family—when considering expedited requests.

While Advance Parole typically takes months to process, USCIS can consider faster action in documented emergencies. Official guidance is posted by the agency for travelers seeking Advance Parole, including when it is needed and how it works for those with pending adjustment cases. Review the process on the USCIS pages below:

• Advance Parole guidance from USCIS: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/advance-parole
• Filing page for Form I-131: https://www.uscis.gov/i-131

Emergency appointments and what to bring

When emergencies do not wait, many applicants turn to their local USCIS field office. If you can’t wait for the mailed document, USCIS may issue an emergency travel document at an in-person visit when you bring proof of the urgent need.

• There is no additional fee for the emergency document beyond the Form I-131 filing.
• You must bring:
  • A completed Form I-131
  • Passport-style photos (two)
  • Government-issued ID
  • Clear evidence of the emergency (doctor’s letter, hospital records, death certificate, etc.)

Officers can issue a same-day or quick-turn document in life-and-death circumstances, but approval is never guaranteed. The stronger your proof, the better your chances of leaving and returning without losing your place in the Green Card process.

Important: Missing a biometrics appointment, interview, or Request for Evidence while abroad can damage a case. Keep a trusted contact in the U.S. to receive mail and alert you immediately.

Policy guidance for urgent travel

For applicants with a pending Green Card (adjustment of status) inside the United States:

1. Do not leave without Advance Parole unless you already have permanent resident status or another status that allows re-entry without abandoning your case.
2. File Form I-131 as soon as you learn about the need to travel.
   • Include a cover letter, identity evidence, and any emergency proof you have.
   • If timing is tight, request expedited processing and be prepared to present supporting documents at a field office.
3. For documented emergencies, bring your completed Form I-131, passport photos, and evidence to your local USCIS office. Officers can issue emergency Advance Parole when criteria are met.
4. If you are already outside the United States without Advance Parole or a Green Card, your options are limited and re-entry may be complex or impossible under your pending application.
5. If you were a lawful permanent resident before leaving and have been outside the country for less than one year, you can usually return with your Green Card or a re-entry permit. For longer absences without a re-entry permit, you must apply for a Returning Resident (SB-1) visa through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India and show that forces beyond your control caused the long stay.

These instructions matter most for applicants who filed inside the United States and are waiting on green card interviews, background checks, or final approvals. Leaving without Advance Parole in these cases is treated as giving up your application.

Impact on applicants — special considerations for Indian nationals

For Indian nationals with family emergencies back home, the rules can feel harsh—but the alternatives are often worse. An abrupt departure without Advance Parole can shut the door on your case and strand you abroad. Families report heavy stress around sick parents and funeral arrangements.

USCIS’s emergency process was designed for these moments, giving officers a tool to balance humanitarian needs with legal requirements. Still, the process depends on proof and timing. If you can gather the correct documents and reach a field office quickly, your odds improve.

If you are already in India and never received Advance Parole or a Green Card, returning to the United States becomes a different challenge. Adjustment applicants who left without Advance Parole typically cannot board a flight back to the United States to resume their case. People in this situation often need a new path, which may involve consular processing from abroad or other options discussed with legal counsel.

By contrast, former lawful permanent residents who stayed outside for more than a year without a re-entry permit must apply for the SB-1 Returning Resident visa. This visa requires proof that the long stay was caused by events outside your control—such as medical crises or travel restrictions—and that you intended to return to the United States.

Consular help and travel documents from India

There’s a practical document problem some travelers face: a missing or expired Indian passport. If you must travel to India quickly and your passport is not available, the Indian Consulate can issue an Emergency Certificate (EC), a one-way travel document to India.

• The EC is often issued quickly, sometimes the same day, after the Consulate confirms your identity and nationality.
• The EC does not solve U.S. re-entry rules; it only enables the trip to India. You will still need valid U.S. documents—like Advance Parole—to return if your Green Card is not yet approved.

Preparing your paperwork and logistics

Applicants should prepare for logistics beyond the plane ticket. Recommended practical steps:

• Set aside time to complete Form I-131 with careful detail.
• Make photocopies of your filings and keep a digital file accessible while abroad.
• Share your USCIS receipt numbers with a trusted person who can open your mail if needed.
• If you receive a biometrics appointment during travel, your contact can scan the notice so you can file a reschedule request in writing.
• If an interview notice arrives, you may need to cut your trip short or ask for a new date with a clear reason and proof.

For those considering whether an emergency warrants a same-day Advance Parole request, evidence commonly reviewed includes:

• Hospital letters stating diagnosis, patient relationship to you, and immediate need for your presence
• Death certificates or funeral notices with dates
• Doctor statements explaining that a situation is critical or life-threatening
• Affidavits from family members, combined with supporting records

Some applicants worry about fee questions. As the source guidance explains, there is no extra fee for an emergency travel document beyond the required Form I-131 filing. Bring proof of payment, two passport-style photos, and government-issued ID to the field office appointment.

Final recommendations and warnings

The stakes are high, and the human effects are real. A parent’s illness back home isn’t something you can put on hold, but neither is your Green Card future. That’s why Advance Parole exists: filing Form I-131 promptly gives you the best chance to honor family obligations and protect your place in the immigration line.

Key actions to consider now:

• File Form I-131 for Advance Parole proactively if you might need to travel.
• Maintain a trusted U.S. contact who can receive USCIS mail and alert you immediately.
• Keep digital and paper copies of all filings and evidence.
• If time is short, book a field office appointment and request expedited or emergency processing with supporting documents.
• Speak with a trusted immigration attorney before travel if your case includes prior removals, long unlawful presence, or other complicating factors.

Warning: If you leave the United States without Advance Parole while your adjustment of status is pending, USCIS may treat your travel as abandonment of your application. Consult legal counsel promptly if you receive a denial notice or face complicated circumstances.

While no one wants to think about emergencies, a small amount of preparation helps. If the phone rings with bad news, move fast: collect documents, book an InfoPass or field office appointment, and bring everything USCIS asks for. The process is demanding, but it exists to give families a lawful way to travel and return during the hardest days of their lives.