Three documents answer one everyday question — "how do I leave the U.S. and return without losing my status?" — but each is for a different situation, and all three are filed on the same USCIS form, I-131. In short: Advance Parole is for people inside the country with a pending application (for example, for a green card); a Re-entry Permit is for permanent residents with a green card who will be away for a long time; a Refugee Travel Document is for refugees and people granted asylum. In every case, the application is filed before departure.
Status as of July 12, 2026. Any of these documents only gives the right to seek entry: a CBP officer at the border makes the final decision, and under USCIS rules admission or parole is not guaranteed even with the document. The application is filed and received before departure — traveling before approval generally leads to a denial. Leaving the U.S. can have serious immigration consequences (for example, bars for prior unlawful presence).
Advance Parole — for those awaiting a decision inside the country
Advance Parole (the I-512 document) is for people who are in the U.S. with a pending application — most often to adjust status to a green card (Form I-485), and also in certain categories such as DACA — who want to travel and return. It allows them to seek parole at the border on return. Its validity is set by USCIS and depends on the category and the conditions of the specific authorization. Important: with a pending I-485, leaving without an approved Advance Parole generally means abandoning the application; and if a person travels before the document is approved, USCIS will deny the travel request.
Re-entry Permit — for permanent residents away for a long time
A Re-entry Permit is obtained by permanent and conditional permanent residents (green card holders) who plan to be abroad for a long time — a year or more — or who take repeated long trips and need to show an intent to keep permanent residence in the U.S. While it is valid, it allows a person to seek admission without a returning-resident visa from a consulate. It is valid for up to two years. It is also useful for those who cannot obtain a passport from their own country.
Refugee Travel Document — for refugees and people granted asylum
A Refugee Travel Document is issued to people in valid refugee or asylee status (and to permanent residents who obtained their green card on that basis) so they can travel and return. It is valid for one year. Refugees and asylees who are not yet permanent residents need this document to return, unless they have an Advance Parole. A separate caution: returning to the country a person received protection from, or using that country's passport, can call their status into question.
Leaving on a pending case, with prior unlawful presence, or in refugee status is a decision with possible irreversible consequences; for a specific situation it is discussed with a licensed attorney.
How humanitarian protection works overall (parole, TPS, asylum) is covered in the Humanitarian Protection section; the path to permanent residence is covered in the Green Card pillar.
Which of these does a TPS holder need?
TPS beneficiaries have a separate document — the TPS Travel Authorization (Form I-512T), also requested on Form I-131. If an initial TPS application is still pending, an Advance Parole is issued instead. Leaving with a pending TPS case carries risks, which the Form I-131 instructions describe.
Does the document guarantee return to the U.S.?
No. Any of these documents only allows a person to seek entry; admission or parole is decided by a CBP officer at the border. Under USCIS rules, entry is not guaranteed even with the correct document.
What happens if you leave without a document or before it is approved?
Leaving with a pending green-card application without an approved Advance Parole generally means abandoning that application, and traveling before approval leads to a denial of the travel request itself. That is why the document is obtained and received before departure.