I-131 Processing Time 2026
Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records: how long USCIS takes, from its own quarterly data for Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3).
National median
Half of the cases USCIS completed in Apr–Jun 2026 took this long or less (national median). Your case may differ: offices and individual cases vary. Not legal advice.
Trend by quarter
National median in months for each USCIS fiscal-year quarter we have the report for (FY = October–September). “n/a” = USCIS no longer hosts that quarter’s report.
| Quarter | Advance parole (applicant in the US) | Travel documents / other I-131 (re-entry permit, refugee travel doc) | Parole in Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY26 Q3 Apr–Jun 2026 | 5.8 | 14.4 | 14.6 |
| FY26 Q2 Jan–Mar 2026 | 6.5 | 15.2 | 12.6 |
| FY26 Q1 Oct–Dec 2025 | — | — | — |
| FY25 Q4 Jul–Sep 2025 | 6.9 | 14.8 | 5.4 |
Track your own case
Paste your receipt number to see which office has it, how old it is compared with this median, and the next steps. Free; without an account your cases stay in your browser.
Open the case tracker →What is Form I-131?
Form I-131 covers several travel and parole documents: advance parole for people in the US (often filed with an I-485), re-entry permits for green card holders who plan long trips abroad, refugee travel documents, and parole in place.
USCIS reports advance parole, other travel documents and parole in place as separate rows.
What affects the processing time
- Document type: advance parole, re-entry permit, refugee travel document or parole.
- Biometrics: re-entry permit applicants must be in the US for the biometrics appointment.
- Requests for Evidence (RFE): the clock keeps running while you gather and mail the response, and the case waits for it.
- Which office has the case and how many cases are pending there; offices can differ a lot from the national median.
Typical steps
- Receipt notice (I-797C)USCIS accepts the filing and mails/posts a receipt with your receipt number and received date.uscis.gov
- Biometrics (if required)Most applicants are scheduled for biometrics; the form instructions list who must attend.uscis.gov
- Request for Evidence (if needed)USCIS may ask for more documents. Answer by the deadline on the notice.
- ApprovalUSCIS approves or denies the application.uscis.gov
- Document issued and mailedE.g. advance parole document (I-512L) or re-entry permit, mailed with USPS tracking.uscis.gov
FAQ
How long does I-131 take in 2026?
In USCIS’s latest quarterly report (Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3)) the national median for I-131 was Advance parole (applicant in the US): 5.8 months; Travel documents / other I-131 (re-entry permit, refugee travel doc): 14.4 months; Parole in Place: 14.6 months. Half of the cases completed in that quarter took longer, and your office may be faster or slower.
Can I leave the US while my I-131 is pending?
Leaving before an advance parole document is approved generally means the advance parole request is considered abandoned, and for many I-485 applicants the I-485 too. Re-entry permit applicants may leave after biometrics. Check the form instructions for your situation.
My case is taking longer than the median. What can I do?
Look up your form and office on USCIS’s official processing-times page. If your receipt date is earlier than the “receipt date for a case inquiry” it shows, you can ask USCIS about the case through e-Request. Answer any notices on time, and consider an attorney if something looks wrong.
Source
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “Number of Service-wide Forms By Quarter, Form Status, and Processing Time”, Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3), data queried 7/2026 (quarterly_all_forms_fy2026_q3_v1.xlsx).
- Download the report (uscis.gov)
- USCIS immigration and citizenship data
- Office-level processing times (egov.uscis.gov)
This page is rebuilt automatically when USCIS publishes a new quarter.