USCIS Tweaks Travel Document Forms, Invites Public Comments
Published Date: 10/23/2026
Notice
Summary
USCIS is updating the forms used to apply for travel and parole documents, plus arrival/departure records. If you’re applying for these documents, you might see some changes in the questions or instructions. They’re asking for your feedback by December 22, 2026, so get your comments in soon—this won’t cost you extra but could save time later!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Estimated time and dollar burden for I-131 filers
USCIS estimates how much time and money it takes to submit Form I-131: 258,649 paper respondents at 3.1 hours each, 34,113 PDFi respondents at 3.1 hours each, 48,321 online respondents at 2 hours each, 86,023 biometrics respondents at 1.17 hours each, and 24,259 passport-style photo respondents at 0.5 hours each. USCIS reports a total estimated annual hour burden of 1,116,981 hours and an estimated total annual cost burden of $100,278,402.
Form I-131 removes certain parole program selections
USCIS is revising Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records) to remove the selections for certain special parole programs that were available in the past. The revision affects individuals and households including lawful permanent residents, conditional permanent residents, refugees, asylees, applicants for adjustment of status, persons with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, those seeking Advance Parole or Parole in Place, previously paroled noncitizens seeking a new period of parole, and CNMI long-term residents. Aliens who were paroled under a special parole program may still use Form I-131 to request a new period of parole on a case-by-case basis only for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, based on their personal circumstances.
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