Important:
To avoid paying higher immigration fees, submit your complete application before April 1, 2024. Learn how we can help.
What are Forms I-765 & I-131?
If you’re applying for a green card from within the United States (otherwise known as the “adjustment of status” process), you may have heard about Form I-765 and Form I-131.
Form I-765, officially titled the “Application for Employment Authorization,” is commonly used during the green card process. Submitting Form I-765 along with a green card application provides applicants with the ability to work legally in the U.S. while they await a decision on their permanent residency status. It’s a separate application from the green card itself and requires its own processing by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, the individual will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly referred to as a work permit, which allows them to work in the U.S. while their green card is pending.
Form I-131, officially titled the “Application for Travel Document,” is another form that may be useful for those going through the adjustment of status process. Form I-131 allows green card applicants to request a travel document, known as Advance Parole, which grants them permission to travel outside the U.S. and return while their green card application is still pending.
Form I-765 and Form I-131 have long been free to include in a family-based green card (adjustment of status) application. This means that green card applicants could file Form I-765 and Form I-131 alongside their adjustment of status form (Form I-485), for no additional costs.
On April 1, 2024, USCIS is increasing the filing fees for nearly every visa category and immigration form, including Form I-765 and Form I-131. In the section below, we’ll break down what costs to expect for your adjustment of status application under USCIS’ new fee structure.
Fee Changes to Expect for Form I-765 & Form I-131
COST CHANGES AT A GLANCE
Form I-765 will now cost $260 (half of the total filing fee for a standalone Form I-765) when filed as part of a family-based or marriage green card application, and Form I-131 will cost $630.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the current filing fees for an adjustment of status (green card) application, and what fees you can expect to pay come April 1:
| Form Type | Current Fee | New Fee (April 2024) | Fee Increase |
| Form I-485 Adjustment of Status (Standalone) | $1,225 | $1,440 | $215 |
| Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative | $535 | $675 | $140 |
| Form I-765 Work Permit (Optional) | $0 when filed with an Adjustment of Status | $260 when filed with an Adjustment of Status | $260 |
| Form I-131 Travel Permit (Optional) | $0 when filed with an Adjustment of Status | $630 | $630 |
| Adjustment of Status (with Form I-485, Form I-130, Form I-765, Form I-131) | $1,760 | $3,005 | $1,245 |
Do I Need to Include These Forms in My Green Card Application?
Including Form I-765 and/or Form I-131 in your adjustment of status (green card) application is optional. USCIS does not require that applicants include either form in their completed application, so it is at your discretion to decide whether to complete and file the work and travel permit forms during the green card process. Now that the forms come with additional fees, some individuals and families may choose not to include them in their application to save on filing costs.
It is important to note that the green card process can be a lengthy one, depending on the USCIS field office processing your application and the details of your specific case. USCIS processing times change often, but for many applicants, it could be several months to several years before they have a green card in-hand — and with it, the ability to work and travel freely.
Working in the U.S.
If you’d like the ability to work and earn a living in the U.S. while awaiting your green card, you will need to complete Form I-765 and include it in your adjustment of status application.
Important:
In order to work in the U.S., you must have official work authorization from USCIS. Any unauthorized work could have serious consequences for your immigration journey and ability to remain in the country.
Learn more about working in the U.S. with a pending green card application in Boundless’ guide.
Planning for International Travel
If you think you may need to travel outside the U.S. for any reason while your green card is pending, it may be beneficial to complete Form I-131. Obtaining the advance parole travel document provides the freedom and flexibility to leave and re-enter the U.S. in case of a family event or emergency abroad, without jeopardizing your green card application.
Important:
Without a valid travel document, your green card application will be terminated if you leave the U.S. while your application is still pending.
Learn more about traveling abroad with a pending green card application in Boundless’ guide.