Leaving and returning to the U.S.

This page is for green card holders, people living in the U.S. on a visa, and those with pending applications who want to travel from the U.S. to Türkiye or another country and return. Leaving with the wrong document may cause your application to be considered abandoned, prevent you from returning to the U.S., or result in a bar on entry. Below, you will find which document to use for your return based on your status, how to apply for travel authorization (advance parole), the new fees and rules in 2026, and traveling as your visa expires. For details about long stays, see 3.11 Maintaining your card; for overstays, see 2.9.

• According to USCIS, returning to the U.S. generally requires one of the following:
  • a valid entry document: a green card or a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa
  • a valid travel document: a reentry permit, refugee travel document, or travel authorization (advance parole)
• You generally need to obtain the travel document before leaving the U.S.
• The document does not guarantee admission. A CBP officer makes the admission decision each time at the border.
• Quick guide based on your status:
  • Green card holder: a valid green card. If you will stay for 1 year or longer, obtain a reentry permit in advance (below).
  • Valid visa and I-94 holder: a valid visa (see below if your visa is expiring).
  • Pending green card application (I-485): travel authorization (advance parole). Some visa holders are exceptions (below).
  • Pending asylum application (I-589): travel authorization. If you leave without permission, you will be considered to have abandoned your application. See 12.4 Asylum application.
  • TPS holder: TPS travel authorization document.
  • Pending change of status (I-539): if you leave the U.S., your application will generally be considered abandoned. Travel authorization does not prevent this. If your current status has ended when you return, your admission will most likely be denied.

• When you return, you show your valid green card. The CBP officer examines the card and other identification, such as your passport.
• Short, temporary trips generally do not affect your status. An absence of more than 1 year is a general measure of abandonment of status; even shorter absences may be considered abandonment if it appears that you do not regard the U.S. as your permanent home.
• If you will stay for 1 year or longer, request a reentry permit on Form I-131 before leaving. You must be in the U.S. when applying and at your biometrics appointment. The fee is $630 (paper filing only, no waiver). The permit is generally valid for 2 years and cannot be extended.
• Absences of 6 months or more may disrupt the continuous residence required for citizenship.
• If your card is lost abroad, request a carrier documentation letter using Form I-131A. For SB-1, N-470, and steps in Ankara, see 3.11 Maintaining your card.
• Mobile Passport Control (MPC): green card holders can submit their information in advance when entering using CBP's free MPC app. The app does not replace a passport.

• What it does: airlines accept this document instead of a visa as authorization to travel to the U.S. It does not replace a passport. A CBP officer decides whether to admit you when you return.
• Who uses it most often:
  • people with pending green card applications (I-485)
  • people with pending asylum applications (I-589)
  • people with pending initial TPS applications, DACA recipients, and certain other groups
• Exception for people with pending I-485 applications: an I-485 application is not considered abandoned because a person in H-1/H-4, L-1/L-2, K-3/K-4, or V status leaves and returns without travel authorization, if they maintain that status and show a valid H, L, K, or V visa upon return.
• Application fee (Form I-131, 01/20/25 edition): for people with pending I-485 applications, $630 (paper) or $580 (online). Online filing is possible only if your I-485 receipt number begins with "IOE." For other groups, fees are listed in the G-1055 table; some may request a fee waiver (Form I-912).
• New: immigration parole fee (H.R. 1 law): each time you request parole at the border using travel authorization, CBP charges an additional fee unless you qualify for an exception.
  • According to USCIS's announcement, this fee is $1,050 starting October 16, 2026 (previous amount: $1,020). A waiver cannot be requested.
  • One statutory exception is a person whose adjustment of status (I-485) application is lawfully pending and who is returning from temporary travel abroad. USCIS or CBP decides whether the exception applies.
• Mailing addresses changed on October 7, 2026. Filings mailed to the old address through November 9, 2026, will be accepted.
• Track your application while abroad. USCIS may request additional evidence; if you do not respond on time, your application may be considered abandoned.

• If you need to leave on a specific date, request expedited processing, if possible, at least 45 days in advance through the Contact Center, Emma virtual assistant, or your USCIS online account.
• If you need to leave in less than 15 days, USCIS may issue an emergency travel document. Examples include medical treatment that must take place soon; the death or serious illness of a family member or close friend; or a pending application for which you applied on time and requested expedited processing.
• Call the Contact Center or request an appointment through "My Appointment." If eligible, you will receive an appointment at a local USCIS office.
• Bring to the appointment: a new, signed Form I-131 and its fee, if applicable (even if you have a pending I-131), evidence of eligibility, proof of the emergency, and certified English translations of documents that are not in English.

• Visa expiration is not the length of your authorized stay. The date on your I-94 record or the notation "D/S" determines how long you may stay in the U.S. Even if your visa expires, you may remain in the U.S. if your I-94 is valid.
• However, you generally need a valid visa to return after leaving. Many people whose visas have expired must obtain a new visa to return to the U.S.
• Automatic visa revalidation: a person whose visa has expired but whose I-94 remains valid may return without obtaining a new visa after traveling for 30 days or less only to Canada or Mexico (and, for F and J visa holders, certain adjacent islands). This rule does not apply if:
  • you applied for a new visa and it has not yet been issued
  • you applied for a new visa and it was refused
  • you stayed outside the U.S. for more than 30 days
  • you traveled to a country other than Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands
  • you are a citizen of a country on the list of state sponsors of terrorism (for example, Iran, Syria, or Sudan)
• Applying for a new visa: a temporary visa is obtained at a U.S. consular post in the country of your citizenship or residence. For Turkish citizens, this is Ankara or Istanbul. See 1.2 Where to apply in Türkiye and 1.3 Temporary visa application step by step. Account for appointment wait times and possible requests for additional documents.
• If you overstayed, your visa automatically becomes void. See 2.9 Consequences of overstays and unlawful presence.
• F-1 students:
  • Speak with your school's designated school official (DSO) before leaving; your SEVIS record must be active. Your I-20 must have been signed within the last year, and you must not remain abroad for more than 5 months.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
  • Leaving while an OPT application is pending is not recommended; you should have your employment authorization document (EAD) in hand when you return.
  • If your documents are incomplete, CBP may issue you a 30-day Form I-515A. Details: 6.3.

• Biometric photograph: under the rule in effect since December 26, 2025, DHS may photograph all noncitizens, including green card holders, when they enter and leave the U.S. Those not exempt may also be asked for other biometric data.
• More than $10,000: when entering or leaving the U.S., you must report to CBP cash and monetary instruments totaling more than $10,000. If a family or group travels together, the threshold applies to the total amount carried. The report is made using FinCEN Form 105; electronic filing is the fastest method.
• Domestic flights: a Turkish passport, green card, and EAD card are among the forms of identification accepted by TSA. See 10.1 Driver's license.
• Check your I-94 when you return: your admission class and authorized-stay end date should be correct. See 10.0.
• For rules on bringing medication from Türkiye, see 9.6.

• USCIS Contact Center — travel documents, expedited processing, emergency appointments
  • Phone: +1 800 375 5283 (TTY +1 800 767 1833) · live support Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00 (U.S. Eastern Time); automated system 24/7
  • From outside the U.S.: +1 212 620 3418
• CBP Information Center — entry, I-94, currency reporting
  • Phone: from the U.S. +1 877 227 5511, from outside the U.S. +1 202 325 8000 · Monday–Friday 08:30–20:00 (U.S. Eastern Time)
  • Web: help.cbp.gov
• Your school's DSO — F-1 travel signature and SEVIS record
• U.S. posts in Türkiye — new visas, carrier documentation, returning resident visas: addresses and phone numbers are on the 1.2 and 3.11 pages.

• Traveling to Türkiye while an I-485 is pending without obtaining travel authorization.
• Leaving the U.S. while a change-of-status application (I-539) is pending.
• Assuming that travel authorization protects you despite a history of more than 180 days of unlawful presence.
• Going to Türkiye after your visa expires without accounting for the wait for a new visa appointment.
• Relying on automatic visa revalidation and applying for a new visa in Canada.
• Failing to obtain a reentry permit despite intending to remain abroad for more than 1 year with a green card.
• Failing to report cash exceeding $10,000.

• My I-485 is pending, and I am an H-1B holder. Do I need travel authorization? If you maintain H-1B status and return with a valid H-1B visa, your I-485 will not be considered abandoned. If your circumstances differ, obtain travel authorization.
• Will I pay the $1,050 parole fee when returning with travel authorization? The law contains an exception for people with pending I-485 applications who are returning from temporary travel. USCIS or CBP decides whether the exception applies.
• My visa expired, but my I-94 is valid. Can I go to Canada for a week and return? If the trip lasts less than 30 days and you do not apply for a new visa there, you may benefit from automatic visa revalidation.
• My mother is very ill, and I need to leave within 10 days. Call the USCIS Contact Center and request an appointment for an emergency travel document; bring a new I-131 and your evidence.
• Can I stay in Türkiye for 8 months with a green card? Absences of less than 1 year generally do not cause problems, but the trip may be considered abandonment if your intention is not to live in the U.S. See 3.11.

• Form I-131 (PDF) · Instructions (PDF)
• I-131 mailing addresses
• Form I-131A – carrier documentation (PDF)
• USCIS fee schedule G-1055 (PDF)
• USCIS – Emergency travel and expedited processing
• CBP – Returning with travel authorization and a reentry permit
• I-94 inquiry
• FinCEN Form 105 electronic report · FinCEN Form 105 (PDF)
• CBP – Mobile Passport Control (MPC)
• State Department – Automatic visa revalidation
• Related: 3.8 Application pathway · 2.8 Change of status and extension · 1.9 Entering the U.S.