To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at cis. Follow the instructions on the form carefully. For further information please visit our Web site or call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283.
If you are requesting expedited processing of a travel document, you generally need to apply for and obtain the document before you leave the United States. You should make your expedite request on your pending application at least 45 days before you plan to leave the United States.
The processing time for a travel permit (Advance Parole) currently averages 5-24 months, depending on the service center processing your application. USCIS provides a database where you can check the most current processing times, updated once per month.
While asylum applicants can travel abroad while their application is pending as long as they obtain advance parole, returning to one's home country is considered an abandonment of their asylum application.
ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. The processing of an ESTA can take up to 72 hours. It is also advisable to check the status of an already approved ESTA in advance of traveling to make sure that it is still valid.
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, YES WITH A WORK PERMIT. Asylum-seekers are able to travel within the United States after receiving a work permit (Employment Authorization Card). Work permits are a federal document that satisfies the requirements of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
If you are eligible for asylum you may be permitted to remain in the United States. To apply for asylum affirmatively or defensively, file a Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, within 1 year of your arrival to the United States.
"If you are an asylee or refugee and want to temporarily travel outside the United States, you will need a Refugee Travel Document to maintain your status while traveling outside of the United States and to return."
A travel document will only be issued if you can demonstrate to the immigration officer that you meet or will meet the physical residency requirement to maintain the PR status. Depending of the office, issuance of a travel document can take a few days to a few weeks/months.
Planning Your Trip. The travel document usually arrives within 150 days (sometimes longer) after submitting your application. You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.