✈️ Can I Travel While My Green Card is Pending? (Advance Parole Explained)

Published on: November 10, 2025

You've filed your I-485 Application to Adjust Status, and now you're in the long waiting period. What happens if you have a family emergency or an important work trip outside the U.S.? Can you just leave and come back?

Be very careful. For most applicants, traveling abroad while your I-485 is pending can have a devastating consequence.

The Big Risk: "Application Abandonment"

Under U.S. immigration law, if you have a pending I-485 application and you leave the United States without the proper travel document, USCIS will consider your application "abandoned."

This means your application is automatically denied. You will lose your application fees and, more importantly, you may not be allowed to re-enter the U.S.

(Note: This rule generally does not apply to applicants who are already in a valid non-immigrant status like H-1B or L-1. However, it's always best to consult an attorney.)

The Solution: Advance Parole (Form I-131)

The "proper travel document" you need is called Advance Parole (AP). This document gives you permission from USCIS to travel abroad and return to the U.S. without abandoning your Green Card application.

You apply for it by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

Check Your EAD Card for a "Combo Card" 💳

There's good news! Most people who file Form I-485 also file for a work permit (Form I-765, EAD) at the same time.

In recent years, USCIS often combines the work permit and the Advance Parole document into one card, commonly called a "Combo Card."

Look at your EAD (work permit) card. If it has the words: "SERVES AS I-512 ADVANCE PAROLE" ...then you already have permission to travel! You can use this card (along with your passport) to leave and re-enter the U.S.

How Do I Apply for Advance Parole?

If you don't have a "Combo Card," you must file Form I-131.

• If you filed with your I-485: You are just waiting for it to be approved.
• If you forgot to file: You can file the I-131 later, but it can take several months to be approved.
• If you have an emergency: You can request an "Emergency Advance Parole" appointment at a local USCIS office, but you must provide strong proof of the emergency (like a doctor's note or death certificate).

The Bottom Line

Do not risk your entire immigration journey. Before you book any flights:

1. Check your EAD card for the "Serves as I-512" text.
2. If you don't have it, file Form I-131 and wait for it to be approved.
3. When in doubt, always speak with an immigration attorney before leaving the country.