Form I-131: Advance parole for DACA recipients
Advance parole for DACA recipients: apply before you travel
Advance parole DACA recipients can request is permission to leave and come back, for school, work, or a humanitarian reason. You answer plain questions about your trip. We prepare Form I-131 and the evidence list for your reason.
No account or card needed. Money-back guarantee.
- School, work, or humanitarian
- Evidence list for your reason
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $99Preparation price
- 3 reasonsSchool, work, or humanitarian
- Not a vacationPersonal trips do not qualify
- 100%Money-back guarantee
DO NOT LEAVE YET
Stay in the United States until you hold the approved advance parole document. USCIS warns that a DACA recipient who leaves without one risks being unable to return. Since August 13, 2026, a departure on advance parole also counts for the unlawful presence bars. If you have a criminal record, a removal order, an open immigration court case, or past unlawful presence, talk to an immigration attorney before you file.
Your trip
Does your trip qualify for advance parole?
USCIS looks at your DACA status and the purpose of the trip. The free check confirms yours.
- 01
School
A study abroad program or academic research. You show proof of the program and your dates.
EDUCATIONCheck my trip - 02
Work
An overseas assignment, interview, conference, training, or client meeting. You show a letter or invitation that names the dates.
EMPLOYMENTCheck my trip - 03
Humanitarian
Medical care, a funeral, or a visit to a sick relative. You show records that explain the need and the timing.
HUMANITARIANCheck my trip - 04
A vacation or personal visit
This does not qualify. Do not file Form I-131 for a trip that is only for fun.
NOT ALLOWED - 05
Your first DACA request is pending
Advance parole needs a DACA grant. Wait for the approval before you file Form I-131.
TOO EARLY - 06
Your DACA has expired
If your DACA expired less than a year ago, file a renewal first. If it expired more than a year ago, USCIS treats a new request as an initial request, which it is not granting under current court orders.
RENEW FIRST
What you get
A DACA advance parole package built for your trip
Your answers decide the reason on the form, the evidence list, and the filing instructions.
- REQUEST TYPE
The right reason on the form
Part 1 lists more than 30 requests, and a wrong box can get the form rejected or denied with no refund. We check the advance parole box for DACA and your trip purpose.
An evidence list for your reason
A school letter, a work invitation, or medical records, with the dates of the trip. We list what to send for the reason you picked.
Stops for a trip that does not qualify
A vacation, an expired DACA, or a first request still pending: we tell you before you spend a fee.
An attorney flag when it matters
A removal order, an open court case, or a criminal record moves you to the attorney note instead of a filing packet.
How it works
Prepare your DACA advance parole in four steps
Your answers save as you go.
Check your DACA and your trip
Tell us where your DACA stands and why you are traveling. We stop you early if the trip does not qualify.
Complete Form I-131
Work through the form in plain English. We fill in the request and the details USCIS asks for.
Add your proof
Attach the documents that show your reason and your dates, then check the fee and the address before you pay.
File it and wait for the document
File online or by mail. Do not book a departure that relies on a document you do not yet hold.
Compare your options
Three ways to file Form I-131
Compare the form, the request type, the fee and address, and the price.
Swipe to compare all three
| Feature | Do it yourself | Immiva | Traditional immigration attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay to prepare it | Free | $99 | Varies by firm |
| Form I-131 | YesThe blank 14-page USCIS form | YesFilled from your answers | YesPrepared for you |
| Request type on Part 1 | NoYou choose from 30+ boxes | YesPicked from your answers | YesPicked for you |
| USCIS fee and address | NoYou work them out from the USCIS charts | YesSet for your request and status | YesSet for you |
| Document list | NoThe 30-page instructions | YesBuilt for your request | YesTailored to your filing |
| Preparation price | YesFree | Yes$99 after you see your forms | Varies by firm |
Your Form I-131 application
Form I-131 for your request, your document list, and mailing instructions.
$99The USCIS filing fee is separate and paid to the government.
Covered by a money-back guarantee. Read the guarantee terms
Common questions
Advance parole DACA questions, answered
Reasons, requirements, risks, and fees.
Yes, once DACA is granted. USCIS allows an I-131 filing for advance parole for educational, employment, or humanitarian purposes. USCIS also decides each request on its own facts, so an approval is not guaranteed.
You need a current grant of DACA and a trip for school, work, or a humanitarian reason, backed by evidence of the purpose and the dates. A vacation or personal visit does not qualify. You file before you leave.
USCIS says a DACA recipient who leaves without an advance parole document runs a significant risk of being unable to return and resume DACA. Travel without one can also break your continuous residence.
Then you cannot apply yet. USCIS accepts initial DACA requests but is not processing them at this time, because of court orders. Advance parole needs an approved DACA grant. Check the USCIS DACA page for the current status. USCIS DACA page
It can. As of August 13, 2026, USCIS treats a departure on advance parole as a departure for the unlawful presence bars. If you ever had more than 180 days of unlawful presence, a trip could make you inadmissible when you return. Talk to an immigration attorney first.
Yes, if you have any arrest or criminal record, a removal order, an open immigration court case, or unlawful presence before your first DACA grant. In those cases a trip can cost you your status. We flag them and route you to an attorney.
USCIS accepts Form I-131 for DACA advance parole online or by mail. Your Immiva instructions cover both and name the right address.
Some parole approvals carry a separate Immigration Parole Fee, and USCIS adjusts it every year. Your fee schedule shows whether it applies to your request and what it is today.
Immiva's preparation fee is $99, paid after you see your completed forms. The USCIS fee is separate.
Guides
Read this before you travel
Choosing a travel document, travel with a pending I-485, and what a green card costs.
- Form I-131 explainedChoose the right travel document for your status.Travel documents
- Work permit and travel permit with your I-485How the I-765 and I-131 fit around a pending green card application.Work and travel
- Green card cost calculatorEvery USCIS fee in a green card case, advance parole included.Calculator
Related applications
Other travel and status applications
The full I-131 page and other routes to a green card.