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U.S. Entry and
Travel Documents
Form I-94: Arrival/Departure Record
An I-94 card, ‘Arrival/Departure Record,’ proves a
refugee/asylee’s legal status in the U.S. As such, it is an important
document that may be needed for identification when seeking/beginning
employment, enrolling in school, obtaining a Social Security Card and/or
driver’s license as well as procuring other benefits and/or services.
Refugees receive I-94s when entering the U.S. for the first time at the
port of entry from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Department of
Homeland Security. Asylees who have been granted asylum from the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland
Security are issued an I-94 with their asylum approval letter.
In addition to an individual’s status, the I-94 indicates
the date of admission (for a refugee) or the date asylum was granted
(for an asylee) which is important in determining when to apply for
adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident. Note that I-94s
for refugees and for asylees should have no expiration date.
What if I lose or damage my I-94 card?
What if my I-94 card has incorrect information i.e.
incorrect date of birth, name, and/or country?
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If
your I-94 card has incorrect information, contact the local CBP or
USCIS office that issued the document. If your document was issued
by CBP, USCIS cannot change the information; contact the local CBP
office and ask for ‘Deferred Inspections.’ Similarly, if the
document was issued by USCIS, CBP cannot change the information;
contact your local asylum office.
Refugee Travel Documents and Re-entry Permits
A) Refugees/Asylees
If you
are a refugee or asylee and wish to travel outside the U.S., you need to
apply for a Refugee Travel Document.
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Visas: Prior to applying for the Refugee Travel Document, contact
the Embassy of the country you wish to visit in order to check if a
visa will be granted.
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Application: Complete and submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel
Document) with appropriate fee to USCIS.
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Caution: Individuals should apply for Refugee Travel Documents at
least 150 days before planning to travel. If you are a refugee/asylee
and leave the U.S. without obtaining the appropriate document, you
may be unable to return to the U.S. and may have to reapply for
refugee/asylee status. This includes day trips across the border to
Mexico and Canada.
B) Lawful Permanent Residents (Initial Admission as a
Refugee/Asylee)
If you
received lawful permanent resident status as a direct result of
admission as a refugee or a grant of asylum, you may apply for a Refugee
Travel Document or a Re-entry Permit.
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Re-Entry Permit: If you are a lawful permanent resident and plan to
travel outside of the U.S. for more than one year, you may apply for
a Re-Entry Permit. A Re-Entry Permit will allow you to remain
outside of the U.S. for up to two years without affecting your
lawful permanent resident status; otherwise your lawful permanent
resident status may be considered abandoned by USCIS.
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Visas: Prior to applying for a Refugee Travel Document or Re-entry
Permit, contact the Embassy of the country you wish to visit in
order to check if a visa will be granted.
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Application: Complete and submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel
Document) with appropriate fee to USCIS.
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Caution: Individuals should apply for Refugee Travel Documents or
Re-entry Permits at least 150 days before planning to travel.
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Note:
Trips of more than 6 months outside of the U.S. can affect
lawful permanent resident status and/or eligibility for
naturalization (citizenship). Consult an immigration lawyer or
accredited representative if you plan to be absent from the U.S.
for more than six months.
Refugees, asylees, and lawful permanent residents who
were initially admitted as refugees or granted asylum should not apply
for a passport or use a passport from their country of origin and should
avoid returning to their country of origin and/or persecution. Such
activity and/or travel could result in the loss of immigration status.
For more information, contact
www.uscis.gov, the National Customer Service Center at
1-800-357-5283 or your local USCIS office by making an INFOPASS
appointment.
What if I need assistance with completing the application
for a Refugee Travel Document or Re-entry Permit?
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