what is travel document type

• Fileright Immigration Blog

What Are Travel Documents?

• By Fileright
• Last Updated: August 12, 2021

A  travel document  is a form of identification that governments give to citizens or visitors so they can cross international borders. The U.S. government issues many different types of travel documents. The type of travel document you need depends on your immigration status and the purpose of your trip.

Travel documents are essentially your permits for world travel. Without the necessary ID, your venture abroad can become a nightmare. You always want to ensure you are carrying the correct travel documents pertaining to your specific trip to avoid disastrous consequences.

Types of Travel Documents

The most basic forms of travel documents are passports, passport cards, and arrival/departure records. These required documents allow U.S. citizens to travel abroad and re-enter the country legally upon return. Arrival/Departure records are used for non-citizens entering the country temporarily.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) gives passports to U.S. citizens. A U.S. passport lets you reenter the U.S. after traveling abroad. U.S. passports act as identification and proof of U.S. citizenship. They are accepted as valid forms of identification in most countries.

Passport Cards

A passport card lets U.S. citizens travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or seaports of entry. The DOS introduced passport cards in the summer of 2008 as a cheaper alternative to traditional passports. Any U.S. citizen can apply for a passport card. They are the size of a traditional driver’s license or credit card.

Form I-94 and Arrival/Departure Records

Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, is used to record when and where foreign citizens enter and exit the U.S. The form is for people who are visiting the U.S. temporarily and aren’t U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders). Form I-94 documents the date the traveler entered the country and the date the traveler is required to leave.

As of 2013, Form I-94s are created electronically by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and are not given to travelers. If a traveler wants a copy of their Form I-94, they can get one through the  CBP Arrival/Departure Record page .

Citizens of a foreign country usually need a  visa  to travel in the U.S. You can apply for a U.S. visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you live. The type of visa you would need depends on why you want to travel to the U.S.

Once you are approved for a visa, the consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate will place a visa into your passport. A visa is usually a stamp or loose piece of paper that shows the purpose of your travel and how long your visa is valid. Your visa validity is shown with an “expiration date”—you cannot enter the U.S. after this date. 

At your U.S. port of entry, the Department of Homeland Security will determine the length of time you are allowed to stay in the U.S. They will enter your “departure date” on your Form I-94. This is the date when you are required to leave the U.S. It is the date when your immigration status expires.

Travel Documents Under Special Circumstances

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues three types of travel documents for special circumstances. These travel documents allow people to reenter the country without getting a visa. However, a person might need a passport in addition to a travel document in order to reenter the U.S. 

You can file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to apply for:

• An advance parole document
• A refugee travel document
• A reentry permit

People who were in the U.S. illegally might not be allowed to reenter the U.S. even if they have a travel document. People who are classified as asylees and applied for asylum on or after April 1, 1997, can lose their asylum status if they return to the country that they sought asylum from.

Advance Parole

An advance parole document allows people who are in the process of adjusting their status, refugees, and asylum seekers who are applying for an immigrant visa to reenter the U.S. These people could be prevented from reentering the U.S. if they didn’t get advance parole before they left. Also, their applications could be denied.

Airlines can accept an advance parole document instead of a visa, but people with an advance parole document will still need a passport to reenter the U.S. You must apply for and receive advance parole before leaving the U.S. To apply for advance parole, file Form I-131.

Adjustment of status applicants might be eligible for a special card that shows they can travel and work. Eligible people can receive this card when they file  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , and Form I-131 at the same time (concurrently). You can file them with your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, or after.

Advance parole status doesn’t guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the U.S. The decision is left to the CBP officials who inspect you at your U.S. port of entry.

Refugee Travel Documents

The  USCIS  gives refugee travel documents to people who are classified as refugees or asylees or to green card holders who have refugee or asylee status.

You must have a refugee travel document to return to the U.S. if you hold refugee or asylee status and are not a permanent resident. Your family members who are classified as derivative asylees or refugees will also need refugee travel documents to reenter the U.S. 

Failing to get a refugee travel document before leaving the U.S. could cause a person to be denied reentry into or deported from the U.S.

Reentry Permits

A reentry permit allows a permanent resident or conditional resident to apply for reentry after they were outside of the U.S. for one year or more. People who get a reentry permit don’t have to apply for a returning resident visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Emergency Travel

The USCIS might process an application for a travel document faster in the case of an emergency. The USCIS considers the following situations to be emergencies:

• Not leaving could cause severe financial loss to you or the company you work for.
• You’re in a life-threatening situation.
• You need to leave the country because of a humanitarian situation, such as a natural catastrophe or other extreme situation abroad that requires your assistance.
• A nonprofit organization has requested that you leave the U.S. to participate in a cultural or social program abroad that’s in the U.S.’s interest.
• The U.S. government has requested you leave the country to participate in a situation abroad that concerns the U.S.’s interests. (This request must come from an official U.S. government agency and say that a delay would harm the U.S. government.)
• USCIS committed an error with your paperwork.
• Your departure from the country is in the interest of the USCIS.

Business trips, weddings, holiday parties, and other planned events would usually not be considered emergency situations.

To request faster processing of your Form I-131 application, call the USCIS’s National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. You can also include a written request and documents that support your request with your  Form I-131 application . Or you can go to your local USCIS office and request faster processing.

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This Website is operated by Forms Direct Inc., its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), and provides: (i) general immigration-related information and products; (ii) automated software solutions for filling out certain U.S. immigration forms based on the specific information and direction which you provide, which we may deliver to you along with the original Government instructions and/or customized filing instructions; and (iii) other ancillary and support services at your request (collectively referred to hereafter as the “Service”), subject to these Terms of Use (the “Terms”) which may be updated by Company from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, decisions regarding the contents of any particular field, as well as the choice of the form itself, are solely and exclusively your own.

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If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any Material or content on this Website infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) by providing our Copyright Agent with the following information in writing (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail):

• A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
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Our designated Copyright Agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement is: Copyright Agent, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attn: Jeffrey I. Abrams. For clarity, only DMCA notices should go to the Copyright Agent; any other feedback, comments, requests for technical support, and other communications should be directed to our customer service department via our  Contact Us  page. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with all of the requirements of this Section, your DMCA notice may not be valid.

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You are solely responsible for the content that you submit on or through the Website, and any content or information that you transmit to other users or third party advertisers on the Website.

16. User Acknowledgements

Company is not a law firm, the employees of Company are not acting as your attorney, and Company is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Company does not provide legal advice and will only provide self-help services at your specific direction. Company does not perform the legal services that an attorney performs and will not provide any explanation, advice, recommendation or opinion to you about your legal rights, options, selection of forms or strategies.

By using the Website to assist your self-representation, you agree to the following:

• I realize that Company is not representing me in any legal matter;
• No attorney-client privilege is created with Company;
• I have been informed of the services that Company is performing, and the cost of these services; and
• No governmental entity or authority has evaluated or approved Company’s knowledge or experience, or the quality of Company’s services.

You acknowledge that you may obtain information regarding free or low-cost legal representation through a local bar association or legal aid foundation.

A portion of the money paid by you, as shown on the Website and in your receipt, may be a fee for legal services to be provided to you directly by an independent immigration lawyer (“Lawyer”). This Lawyer is not employed by Company. Your terms of the agreement and the nature of your relationship with the Lawyer is governed by a separate Limited Scope Representation Agreement (“Representation Agreement”) between you and the Lawyer. Company is not a party to the Representation Agreement. The Lawyer’s representation of you, if any, will be limited to the services described in the Representation Agreement, unless otherwise mutually agreed by you and the applicable lawyer.

17. Choice of Law

The Terms and the relationship between you and Company shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada without regard to any conflicts of laws principles.

18. Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration

Please read this carefully. It affects your rights.

Most or your concerns can be resolved quickly to your satisfaction by contacting our Customer Center via our  Contact Us  page. In the unlikely event that the Customer Care Center cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, or if we have not been able to resolve a dispute with you after trying to do so informally, we each agree to resolve those disputes through binding arbitration rather than in court. Arbitration is less formal than a lawsuit. Arbitration uses a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge or jury, allows less discovery than courts, and is subject to very limited court review. We agree that any arbitration under these Terms will take place on an individual basis. Representative, group, collective or class actions or arbitrations are not permitted. As explained below, if you prevail in arbitration, Company will pay you more than the amount of the arbitrator’s award and will pay your actual, reasonable attorney’s fees if you are awarded an amount greater than what Company offered you to settle the dispute before arbitration.

You may speak with your own lawyer before using this Website or purchasing any Service, but your use of this Website and the purchase of any Service constitutes your agreement to these Terms.

Arbitration Agreement:

(a) Company and you agree to arbitrate all disputes and claims between us before a single arbitrator. The kinds of disputes and claims we agree to arbitrate are intended to be broadly interpreted, including but not limited to:

• claims arising out of or relating to any aspect of the relationship between us, whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, advertising, or any other legal theory;
• claims that arose before these or any prior Terms became effective;
• claims that are currently the subject of purported class action litigation in which you are not a member of a certified class; and
• claims that may arise after the termination of these Terms.

For the purposes of this Arbitration Agreement, references to “Company,” “you,” and “us” include our respective subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, employees, predecessors in interest, successors, and assigns, as well as all authorized or unauthorized users or beneficiaries of Service under these Terms or any prior agreements between us.

This arbitration agreement does not preclude your bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies. Such agencies can, if the law allows, seek relief against us on your behalf. You agree that, by entering into these Terms, you and Company are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a representative, group, collective or class action or arbitration.

You acknowledge that use of this Website and/or purchase of Service constitutes a transaction in interstate commerce. The Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement. This Arbitration Agreement survives termination of these Terms.

(b) A party seeking arbitration under these Terms must first send, by U.S. certified mail, a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”) to the other party. A Notice to Company should be addressed to: Forms Direct Inc., c/o Paracorp Incorporated, 318 N. Carson St #208, Carson City, NV 89701 (the “Notice Address”). Company may send a written Notice to the electronic mail address that you provided when you created an account, if any. The Notice must (a) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and (b) set forth the specific relief sought (“Demand”). If Company and you do not reach an agreement to resolve the claim within 30 days after the Notice is received, you or Company may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by Company or you shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount, if any, to which you or Company is entitled.

You may download or copy a form Notice from  http://www.fileright.com/noticeofdispute.pdf .

You may download or copy a form to initiate arbitration from the AAA website at  https://www.adr.org/sites/default/files/Demand%20for%20Arbitration%20Consumer%20Arbitration%20Rules.pdf .

(c) After Company receives notice at the Notice Address that you have commenced arbitration, it will promptly reimburse you for your payment of the filing fee, unless your total claim is for more than $75,000. If your total claim exceeds $75,000, the payment of all arbitration fees will be governed by the AAA rules. The filing fee for consumer-initiated arbitrations is currently $200, but this is subject to change by the arbitration provider. If you are unable to pay this fee and your total claim is for $75,000 or less, Company will pay the filing fee directly after receiving a written request at the Notice Address. Except as otherwise provided herein, Company will pay all AAA filing, administration, and arbitrator fees for any arbitration initiated in accordance with these Terms. If, however, the arbitrator finds that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the Demand is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), then the payment of all such fees will be governed by the AAA Rules. In such case, you agree to reimburse the Company for all monies previously disbursed by it that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules. All arbitration proceeding will be governed by the Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes (collectively, the “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), as modified by these Terms, and will be administered by the AAA. The AAA Rules are available online at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879. The arbitrator is bound by these Terms. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, except that issues relating to the scope, enforceability, and interpretation of the arbitration provision and the scope, enforceability, and interpretation of paragraph (f) are for the court to decide. Unless Company and you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in the county or parish of the contact address you submitted to Company. If your total claim is for $10,000 or less, you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, by a telephone hearing, or by an in-person hearing governed by the AAA Rules. If you choose to proceed either by telephone or in person, we may choose to respond only by written or telephone. If your claim exceeds $10,000, the AAA Rules will determine whether you have a right to a telephone or in-person hearing. The parties agree that in any arbitration under these Terms, neither party will rely on any award or finding of fact or conclusion of law made in any other arbitration to which Company was a party. In all cases, the arbitrator shall issue a reasoned, written decision sufficient to explain the findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the award is based.

(d) If, the arbitrator finds in your favor in any respect on the merits of your claim, and the arbitrator issues you an award that is greater than the value of Company’s last written settlement offer made before an arbitrator was selected, then Company will pay you either the amount of the award or $2,000 (“the Alternative Payment”), whichever is greater, plus the actual amount of reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses that you incurred in investigating, preparing, and pursuing your claim in arbitration (the “Attorney’s Payment”). If we did not make you a written offer to settle the dispute before an arbitrator was selected, you will be entitled to receive the Alternative Payment and the Attorney’s Payment, respectively, if the arbitrator awards you any relief on the merits. The arbitrator may make rulings and resolve disputes as to the payment and reimbursement of fees, expenses, and the Alternative Payment and the Attorney’s Payment at any time during the proceeding and upon request from either party made within 14 days of the arbitrator’s ruling on the merits. In assessing whether an award that includes attorney’s fees or expenses is greater than the value of Company’s last written settlement offer, the arbitrator shall consider only the actual attorney’s fees or expenses reasonably incurred before Company’s settlement offer.

(e) The right to attorney’s fees and expenses discussed in paragraph (d) supplements any right to attorney’s fees and expenses you may have under applicable law. If you would be entitled to a larger amount under applicable law, this provision does not preclude the arbitrator from awarding you that amount. However, you may not recover duplicative awards of attorney’s fees or costs. Although under some laws Company may have a right to an award of attorney’s fees and expenses from you if it prevails in an arbitration, Company will not seek such an award.

(f) The arbitrator may award monetary and injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party’s individual claim. YOU AND THE COMPANY AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES AND NOT AS PLAINTIFFS OR CLASS MEMBERS IN ANY PURPORTED REPRESENTATIVE, GROUP OR CLASS ACTION OR ARBITRATION, OR IN THE CAPACITY OF A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Further, unless both you and Company agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative, group or class proceeding. The arbitrator may award any relief that a court could award that is individualized to the claimant and would not affect other customers. Neither you nor we may seek non-individualized relief that would affect other customers. If a court decides that applicable law precludes enforcement of any of this paragraph’s limitations as to a particular claim for relief, then that claim (and only that claim) must be severed from the arbitration and may be brought in court. All other claims remain subject to this Arbitration Agreement.

(g) If the total amount in dispute exceeds $75,000 or either party seeks any form of injunctive relief, either party may appeal the award to a three-arbitrator panel administered by AAA by a written notice of appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of entry of the written arbitration award. An award of injunctive relief shall be stayed during any such appeal. The members of the three-arbitrator panel will be selected according to AAA rules. The three-arbitrator panel will issue its decision within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the appealing party’s notice of appeal. The decision of the three-arbitrator panel shall be final and binding, subject to any right of judicial review that exists under the FAA.

(h) Notwithstanding any provision in these Terms to the contrary, we agree that if we make any material change to this arbitration provision (other than a change to any notice address, website link or telephone number), that change will not apply to any dispute of which we had written notice on the effective date of the change. Moreover, if we seek to terminate this arbitration provision, any such termination will not be effective until at least thirty (30) days after written notice of such termination is provided to you, and shall not be effective as to disputes which arose prior to the date of termination.

In order to contact Company regarding a complaint about the Service, please  Contact Us .

19. Technical Support Issues

If you encounter a technical problem when attempting to print or otherwise access your completed application, or some other problem you may encounter in attempting to use our Service, Company’s customer service representatives may be able to assist you with your problem.

If you contact Company’s customer service representatives and request that your completed application be sent to you, you acknowledge and agree that you are specifically authorizing them to log in to your account to generate your application and then view your application data to ensure that it was generated properly.

If you contact Company’s customer service representatives and request that a customer service representative remotely control your computer in order to try to resolve your technical problem, you acknowledge and accept that Company is not liable for any technical problems that may persist or arise with your computer after doing so.

20. General Information

The Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Company and govern your use of the Website and the Service, superseding any prior agreements between you and Company. The failure of Company to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. The Terms do not limit any rights that Company may have under trade secret, copyright, patent or other laws. The employees of Company are not authorized to make modifications to the Terms, or to make any additional representations, commitments, or warranties binding on Company, except in a writing signed by an authorized officer of Company. If any provision of the Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the use of the Website, the Service or the Terms must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. You also agree that the Terms shall not be construed against the drafting party, i.e., Company.

You warrant, represent and agree that, by accessing or using the Website, its Content and/or the Service, you (i) do so with knowledge of any and all rights that you may have with respect to the provisions of these Terms, (ii) have carefully read and considered these Terms and fully understand its contents and the significance of its contents, (iii) are consenting to these Terms of your own informed and free will, based upon such party’s own judgment and without any coercion or fear of retaliation, and (iv) you have been afforded the opportunity to obtain independent legal advice with respect to these Terms.

Further, unless both you and Company agree otherwise, the trier of fact may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.

In addition, in the event of a breach of these Terms by you, the Company will, in addition to all other remedies available to it, be entitled to equitable relief by way of a temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunction and any other legal or equitable remedies.

21. Notice for California Users

Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, California users of the Website are entitled to the following specific consumer rights notice: The Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (916) 445-1254 or (800) 952-5210.

Privacy Policy

NOTICE: This privacy policy is effective as of and was last updated on July 7, 2020.

Types of Information We Collect and How We Use It

Personally identifiable information.

As a general policy, no “ Personally Identifiable Information ” (as defined below) is automatically collected from your visit to the Website, but it will be collected if provided by you or received by us in accordance with this Privacy Policy, for example, through one of the “Sources of Personally Identifiable Information” identified below. “ Personally Identifiable Information ” means: (1) your first and last name; (2) your home or other physical address, street name, and name of city or town; (3) your email address(es); (4) your telephone number(s); (5) your social security number; (6) your date of birth; (7) any other identifier that permits you to be contacted in person; (8) personally identifiable employment or financial information; and (9) information about you that we collect from you through this Website or other channels and maintain in personally identifiable form in combination with any of the above information about you.

We will collect and use Personally Identifiable Information about you in a number of ways, including:

• responding to your request for products or services offered through the Website; and
• notifying you about products, services, and other opportunities we think will be of interest to you, including, without limitation, by e-mail, telephone, or SMS Message Service.

By using the Website, you are consenting to the use and disclosure of your Personally Identifiable Information as described in this Privacy Policy.

If you would like to make corrections or updates to your Personally Identifiable Information, including your email address, phone number, or mailing address, or your credit card information or password reminder phrase, you can easily make them through the edit profile section of your account. We reserve the right to collect information about you from other sources and store it in connection with other online or offline information we may possess or obtain about you.

Sources of Personally Identifiable Information

The Personally Identifiable Information which we collect and use may come from a number of sources, including:

• Registration Information, which you provide when registering for our services or products offered through the Website. For example, you will be required to submit personal information such as your name, address, email, and date of birth to verify your identity prior to establishing your account.
• Billing information, such as a credit card number, card issuer, cardholder name and other account details, which is required or requested to process the payment for the products or services you order from us.
• Other information we collect, such as the city of your birth and your mother’s maiden name, which is used to verify your identity in the event you forget your login information required for our online products or services.
• Information you provide to us in response to our communications. For example, we may request that you provide your e-mail address so that we may send you notifications, alerts, special offers and newsletters.
• Information that you provide to us through customer service communications and correspondence, including general feedback.
• Information you provide to us responding to products or services offered through the Website, including information you provide in order to check the status on your application.

Non-Personally Identifiable Information.

Certain non-personally identifiable information, including but not limited to the type of browser you are using, the operating system running that browser, your device ID or MAC address, and your IP address (“ Non-Personally Identifiable Information ”), may be automatically recorded by the standard operation of the Website or its internet servers. Even if you do not provide information to us, we automatically collect certain information about your use and interaction with our Website and services. This Non-Personally Identifiable Information can be used to help diagnose server problems, administer the Website and generally enhance your online experience. We will also collect certain information arising out of your use of the Website, such as cookies, or web beacons, or augment the data we collect with other information from other online or offline sources, including the Demographics and Interest Reports and User-ID tracking features of Google Analytics, AdWords and/or AdSense or other tracking or third-party remarketing codes. You are able to opt out of Google Demographics tracking by installing the official Google Analytics opt-out browser extension  here . We also may collect other Non-Personally Identifiable Information such as: (i) age; (ii) gender; (iii) interest categories (e.g., sports, travel, food & dining); or (iv) parental status. We reserve the right to collect information about you and store it in connection with other online or offline information we may possess or obtain about you.

In addition, when you access our Website or use our services on a mobile device, we may collect certain information automatically, such as the type of device you use, unique device ID, wireless mobile subscriber information, operating system, and information about your use of our services. With your consent, we may use available services on your device to determine your precise location. Our services may be supported by advertising, some of which may be customized based on information we collect or receive about you or your devices, including your location.

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the hard drive of your computer that contains information about you and that is used for record keeping purposes. Cookies enable us to track and target your interests to enhance your experience on the Website. We may set and access cookies on your computer to provide you with customized content and to assist in providing the products that you have requested. We also work with companies who provide services to maintain the Website and enable those service providers the right to use cookies on our website. Most cookies automatically delete themselves from your hard drive after each session. Like many other websites, we may automatically track information based upon your behavior on the Website, including combining information that we obtain through the use of cookies with Personally Identifiable Information, or other aggregate or anonymous data, including a unique identification we may assign you. We also may combine information obtained from first- and third-party cookies to help us better understand our customer demographics and how customers interact with our sites. The information may include browser type, internet service provider, language setting, screen resolution, referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, IP address, and number of clicks, all used to analyze trends, administer the Website, track your movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies; however, you can reset your web browser to reject all cookies. If you reject the cookie, you may still use the Website, although your access to and use of some areas of the Website may be limited. In addition, if you refuse to accept cookies you agree to assume all responsibility for any resulting loss of functionality.

Web Beacons

Pages on our Website also may contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). Web beacons allow third parties to obtain information such as the IP address of the computer that downloaded the page on which the beacon appears, the URL of the page on which the beacon appears, the time the page containing the beacon was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies set by the third party. We use log files to store the data that is collected through web beacons.

All of your Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information, as well as any other information described above may be referred to collectively as the “User Information.”

How We Respond to Do Not Track Signals

We do not currently support the Do Not Track browser setting.

Sharing of Information

We reserve the right to share, rent, sell, or otherwise disclose certain of your User Information, including Personally Identifiable Information, with affiliated and non-affiliated third parties, including without limitation in connection with the following:

Special Offers  – We sometimes disclose the information we collect to affiliated companies for marketing purposes and to enhance our products or services to better suit your needs. When identifying methods of improving our products or services, or if we think a product or service may be of interest to you, we may extend select special offers of goods or services to you. If you would like to opt-out of receiving these offers, please refer to the “Offering You Choices – Marketing Options,” section below.

Ancillary Services  – We may share your User Information with third-party affiliates, partners and/or service providers providing ancillary or other services, including, without limitation, third-party translators, technology and development services providers, payment processors, and other professional services providers. Without limiting any other provision of this Privacy Policy, we may share your User Information with any such third parties assisting us in the fulfillment of services requested by you or offered to you during your use or in the course of your activity on our Website or in communications with us, including with attorney or legal services providers, whether or not in conjunction with any purchase on our Website.

Vendors  – We sometimes disclose the information we collect to non-affiliated third party companies that operate various services for us, such as marketing, distribution, advertising, analytics, data or list management, or certain product functionalities, or who otherwise provide goods or services which may be of interest to you. If you provide information to us, you are expressly consenting to receiving telephone calls, emails or text messages, or direct mail, from us, or on our behalf, regarding the products and services offered on the Website.

E-Commerce Providers on our Website  – If you provide Personally Identifiable Information to one of our Website’s e-commerce providers, vendors or advertisers (if any), this transaction will occur within the site of the applicable e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser, not on the Website, and, as such, the Personally Identifiable Information you provide is collected pursuant to and controlled by the privacy policy of such e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser. We are not responsible for such parties’ privacy policies and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the applicable privacy policy of the e-commerce site with which you transact business or to contact the operator of such site for more information.

As Permitted by Law  – We may share your Personally Identifiable Information with non-affiliated third parties as permitted by law.

Cooperation with Government Agencies/Response to Subpoenas and/or Court Order  – In order to protect our rights, property, personal safety, and those rights, property and the personal safety of our users and viewers, and to ensure the integrity and operation of our business and systems, may choose to cooperate with any law enforcement request for information or documents, any administrative, civil or criminal subpoena, or any court order, and we may disclose your information (including, without limitation, user profile information (i.e. name, email address, etc.), IP addressing traffic information, and usage history regarding a user in connection with such circumstances.

Transferability of Information  – We may share your User Information and other data with businesses controlling, controlled by, or under common control with us. In the event we go through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personally Identifiable Information and other User Information will likely be among the assets transferred, and you hereby consent to such transfer.

Bankruptcy  – In the event we file for bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the application of laws or equitable principles affecting creditor’s rights generally, we may not be able to control how your Personally Identifiable Information is treated, transferred, or used. if such an event occurs, your Personally Identifiable Information may be treated like any other asset of ours and sold, transferred or shared with third parties, or used in ways not contemplated or permitted under this Privacy Policy, without notice to you or your consent.

Contact You  – We may use any User Information provided by you to contact you for any purpose contemplated in this Privacy Policy or on our Website, even if your telephone number is found on a do-not-call registry or similar registry. You agree that by providing your telephone number on our website or other communication to us, you are providing your express written consent to be contacted by fileright.com or its agents, affiliates or partners, at that number for marketing purposes, using pre-recorded messages, automated dialing technology, or text-message based marketing (“SMS” Messages”), whether or not such number is found on any state or federal do-not-call list. You agree that based on your individual plan with your carrier, you may incur charges associated with receiving calls and messages and that you agree to be solely responsible for such charges. You may opt-out from receiving SMS messages by texting “STOP” or “Opt-out” or as otherwise specifically specified in the communication. By registering on or using the Website, you agree that such act constitutes an inquiry and/or application for purposes of the Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR 310 et seq.), as amended from time to time.

In addition to the above, we may disclose your Personally Identifiable Information in special cases when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary: (a) to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interfering (either intentionally or unintentionally) with: (i) our legal rights or property, (ii) another visitor or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities; or (b) by operation of law.

Please be advised that certain Personally Identifiable Information becomes a matter of public record upon the filing of certain documents with the appropriate government agency or court.

Offering You Choices - Marketing Options

You have choices when it comes to learning about our new offers, products or services, as well as those offered by our affiliates. If you do not wish to receive these offers, you may opt out by contacting our Customer Care department via our  Contact Us  page. Alternatively, each marketing e-mail we send to you will include instructions how to opt-out which you may utilize. Please note that you may still receive information from third parties to whom we have disclosed your information prior to the time you opted-out. You should contact each party in the event that you no longer want to receive information from such party. Whether or not a customer has opted out of receiving certain communications from us, customer may continue to receive transactional, non-marketing emails necessary to provide our services or otherwise relevant to your interaction with our Website, including, without limitation, communications affecting your rights, communications necessary to comply with regulatory requirements or investigations, or communications exempted pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act or other applicable laws, rules or regulations.

We are deeply committed to your right to privacy. However, please note that this Website’s Privacy Policy only applies to the Website and not to any other websites that you may access from the Website, each of which may have privacy policies that are materially different from this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Website and to read the privacy policies of each and every other website, as we are not responsible or liable for the commitments and obligations made to you in any privacy policy or the terms and conditions of any such website. Our Website may include social media features, such as links to social media pages and platforms, Facebook Like buttons and Widgets, such as the Share this button or interactive programs that run on our site. These features may collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on our site, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our website. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it.

We work hard to protect your personal information and use industry standard protocols and technology to protect to protect the security of your User Information against data theft by unauthorized third parties. However, we cannot guarantee that our security measures will prevent our computers from being illegally accessed, and the data on them stolen or altered, and we assume no liability or responsibility to you or to any third party arising out of any loss, misuse, destruction, or alteration of your User Information. Moreover, please take into account that the Internet and e-mail transmissions are not secure or error free communication means. We encourage you to always take great care in handling and disclosing your personal information. For example, avoid sending personal information through insecure email. We also urge you to be aware that if you use or access our Website or services through a third-party computer network (e.g., internet cafe, library) or other potentially non-secure internet connection, such use may increase risk of unauthorized access to your User Information and you do so at your own risk. Please refer to the Federal Trade Commission’s website at  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data.shtm  for information about how to protect yourself against identity theft.

Data Transfers, Storage and Retention

Website has its headquarters in the United States of America (USA). Henceforth, your personal data may be accessed by us or our affiliates, agents, partners, or third party service providers elsewhere, and you hereby consent to such access and transfer by providing us such information. If you are accessing our Website from other regions, you ought to know that you are thereby transferring your User Information to the USA and, thus, you hereby consent to such transfer to the USA or to any other country in which we operate.

We will retain your User Information for as long as your account is active or as long as needed to continue to offer or provide services to you or track customer accounts, in our sole discretion, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. The foregoing notwithstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we reserve the right to archive, delete or purge your User Information at any time, including permanently erasing, relocating or migrating your User Information from or between our websites, servers, databases or platforms, including upon your request, or to comply with any laws, rules, regulations, court or administrative orders, or upon the advice of counsel.

Persons Under the Age of 18

In order to use the Website and/or its products and/or services, you must be at least 18 years of age. The Website is not directed to or intended for use by persons under the age of 18 and we not knowingly solicit personal information from such persons or send them requests for non-public personal information. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received Personally Identifiable Information directly from someone under the age of 18, we will delete such information from our records. If you are under the age of 18, you are not permitted to use our Website, products or services, or send us any personal information.

Notification of Changes

We reserve the right to modify, alter or otherwise update this Privacy Policy from time to time, so you are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy often. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of such modifications, alterations or updates will signify and constitute your acceptance thereof. Please note that each time you use the Website, the current version of this Privacy Policy will apply.

If we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will update this Privacy Policy on our Website and the effective date of the most recent updates, so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how such information is used and under what circumstances, if any, such information is disclosed. Unless we obtain your express consent, any revised Privacy Policy will apply only to information collected after such time as the revised Privacy Policy takes effect.

Visitor’s Acceptance of These Terms

By using the Website, you hereby accept all of the terms set forth in our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to or accept all or any portion of the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy, then you are not permitted to use the Website.

Privacy Complaints

If you believe that we have not complied with this Privacy Policy, please  Contact  our Privacy Officer.

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Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

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Emergency help for Americans abroad

Find out what to do in an emergency in another country, including assistance, money and more.

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If you are a U.S. citizen planning to drive while traveling abroad, find out the driver’s license requirements for the country you are visiting.

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U.S. Travel Documents Requirements: Traveling to and from the USA

If you are planning a trip to or outside the U.S. , the first thing you need to make sure is that your travel documents are in order . A travel document is a form of identification issued by a government to ease the movement of individuals across international borders. Before you leave for the airport, you need to make sure that your travel document is valid , and that you have all the necessary extra documentation , including any required visas . There are different types of travel documents that are issued based on immigration status and purpose for the trip . U.S. law requires that every individual , regardless of citizenship, age or destination, needs to hold a valid travel document(s) to travel outside of the United States. Of course, the requirements for crossing international boundaries vary depending on the country of destination. It is paramount when traveling either domestically or internationally to make sure you have the necessary travel documents, required visas, for entering or departing the United States.

Main Travel Documents

It is important to keep in mind that the travel document requirements for traveling outside of the U.S. may not be the same required to enter another country. The main travel documents issued by the U.S. government are passports, U.S. permanent resident card (Green Card), R efugee or Stateless travel document , Re-Entry Permit , and emergency travel document issued by an embassy or consulate. But what are the differences between them?

The passport is perhaps the most common travel document there is. It is usually issued in a booklet format. It has a biometrics page with the holder’s information and also blank pages for entry and departure stamps and visas . It acts as a form of identification and proof of citizenship . Most countries require that a passport is valid for at least 6 months at the time of arrival.

The governmental entity responsible for issuing passports in the U.S. is the Department of State (DOS). U.S. passports act as proof of U.S. citizenship and allow their holder entry into a total of 156 countries visa-free.

Passport Cards

Both apassport and passport card are considered U.S. passports . They both serve as proof of your U.S. citizenship and identity. The passport card is a wallet-sized travel document that can only be used by U.S. citizens to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings or ports-of-entry by sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. This card is a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the traditional passport, especially for those who frequently travel to these destinations. The passport card, like the passport book, is valid for 10 years for an adult, and five years for children age 16 and younger. If you already have a passport book, then you may apply for the passport card at a reduced price.

USA Travel Documents

Form i-94 and arrival/departure records.

Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record , is used to record traveler's’ arrival/departure information to the United States . However, CBP now gathers this information automatically from their electronic travel records. All those arriving in the U.S. via air or sea are no longer required to complete Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record . However, if they need the information from their Form I-94 admission record to prove their legal-visitor status, they can access their arrival/departure record information online. Because CBP only collects this information automatically for air and sea travelers, CBP will still issue a paper form I-94 at land border ports of entry.

To travel to and enter the United States, travelers need a visa . The type of visa you will need to apply for depends on the reason for your visit. You can apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Your approved visa will be placed on directly in your passport . A visa usually comes in either a stamp or loose piece of paper format and shows the purpose of your trip as well as its validity. You cannot enter the U.S. after your visa’s expiration date. At the port of entry, the DHS officer will enter the date when you are required to leave the U.S in your I-94 form. You have an obligation to leave the United States by this date since it is when your immigration status expires, or face not being allowed to re.-enter the U.S. even if you have a valid travel document.

In addition to the traditional visas, the USCIS also issues three types of travel documents for exceptional circumstances. These special travel documents allow their holders to re-enter the U.S. country without having to apply for a visa. To apply for these travel documents, individuals need to complete and file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document and choose which document they want to apply for:

• An advance parole document
• A refugee travel document
• A re-entry permit

All those who applied for asylum or were considered asylees on or after April 1, 1997, can lose their status should they return to the country for which they sought asylum.

Advance Parole

Individuals who are in the process of adjusting their status or applying for an immigrant visa (refugees and asylees) are required to apply for advance parole document. Failure to do so can lead to severe consequences upon returning and trying to enter the United States, as these individuals may be found inadmissible, their applications may be denied, or both. It is paramount for non-U.S. citizens to obtain the proper documentation before leaving the United States . However, there are three exceptions to the requirement for nonimmigrant visa holders to apply for advance parole: H1B, L and K3/4 holders as well as their dependents. Those who hold a K1/2 visa and who have married a U.S. citizen must apply for legal permanent resident (Green Card holder) status and advance parole before leaving the United States, by filing Form I-131.

Non-immigrant visa holders must obtain Advance Parole, before departure, to re-enter the United States if they have:

• Filed an application for adjustment of status but have not received a decision from the USCIS;
• Hold refugee or asylee status and intend to depart temporarily to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa in Canada; and/or
• An emergency or personal reason to travel temporarily abroad.

Refugee Travel Documents

The USCIS grants refugee travel documents to i ndividuals with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status. If you want to travel abroad, you will need a passport. A refugee travel document is the equivalent of a passport for asylees and refugees who need to travel outside the U.S. temporarily. Before traveling abroad , those who were granted asylum or refugee status must apply for a refugee travel document . Family members who are classified as derivative asylees or refugees must also apply and obtain a refugee travel document before traveling outside of the United States. Failing to get a refugee travel document before leaving the U.S. could have serious consequences like being denied re-entry into the U.S. or even being deported. It is also important to keep in mind that both asylees and refugees you should never travel to the country from which they claimed persecution.

Re-entry Permits

A reentry permit allows a permanent resident (Green Card holder) or conditional resident to apply for re-entry after having spent at least a year outside of the United States. Those who are granted a re-entry permit are not required to apply for a returning resident visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

If you are a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) , and you need to spend a year or more outside the United States, you are required to get a re-entry permit to maintain your status. While Green Card holders are allowed to travel, they cannot spend more than an allotted time outside the U.S. running the risk that immigration authorities may consider the act an intent to abandon U.S. residence status . A re-entry permit helps prove that you did not mean to give up your status . A re-entry permit is also useful for when you cannot, or do not wish to, get a passport from your home country. The permit (which looks like a passport) can be used in its place. Remember that you cannot extend the time on your re-entry permit. If it expires, and you want to renew it, you will need to return to the U.S. and apply for a new one.

Emergency Travel

In the case of emergency, and before leaving the United States , the USCIS might process an application for a travel document faster . If you are experiencing an extremely urgent situation, you may visit your local office to request an emergency travel document. You will be required to submit any additional documentation required, including proof of your emergency situation , e.g.; medical documents, death certificates, travel records, etc. It is important to understand that business trips, weddings, holiday parties and other planned events are usually not considered emergency situations. USCIS considers emergency situations to be, life-threatening conditions, a humanitarian situation like a natural catastrophe. Your requested assistance to attend a cultural or social program which would benefit the United States, etc.

So if you are a foreign national planning a trip outside of the U.S., please make sure you have all the appropriate travel documents in order or risk losing their rights and benefits given to you by the U.S. government. Failing to do so may result in being found inadmissible upon your return, or your applications may be denied, or both. That is why it is paramount that the proper documentation is obtained before leaving the United States .

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Safeguard Your Documents!  Make copies of all your travel documents.  Leave one copy with a trusted friend or relative and carry the other separately from your original documents.  Also take a photograph of your travel documents with your phone to have an electronic copy.

• Passport:  Check your passport expiration dates as soon as you start planning a trip, and remember passports issued to children under 16 are only valid for only five years.  Some countries – including most of Europe – will require that your passport expiration date is at least six months away.  If you need a new passport, apply  early to allow for delays; click here for passport information.
• Visas:  Check with the embassy of your destination regarding visa requirements.
• Medications:  Some prescription drugs (including narcotics) and some U.S. over-the-counter medications are illegal in other countries. Check with the  embassy of your destination(s)  about regulations and documentation before you travel.
• Consent for Travel with Minors:  If you are traveling alone with children, foreign border officials may require custody documents or notarized written consent from the other parent. Check with the  embassy of your foreign destination  before traveling to see what you may need.
• International Driving Permit:  Many countries do not recognize a U.S. driver's license, but most accept an  International Driving Permit  (IDP). You may also need supplemental auto insurance. Read more about  driving and road safety abroad before you go.

Importance of Travel Insurance

• The U.S. government does not provide insurance for U.S. citizens overseas. We do not pay medical bills or unexpected costs. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance before you travel to cover emergency medical care, either as part of or separate from trip cancellation insurance.
• Health Insurance: Medical facilities and providers abroad may require cash up front and may not accept U.S. insurance plans.  U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not provide coverage outside the United States.  Check your health care policy to see if it will cover you overseas.  If not, consider buying  supplemental insurance .  Make sure the insurance you purchase covers any special medical needs or risks you anticipate on your trip.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation:  Evacuation for medical treatment can cost more than $100,000.  You should strongly consider purchasing  medical evacuation insurance  in case of emergency overseas.

Get Informed

• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) :  Enroll at  step.state.gov  to receive travel and security updates about your destination, and to help us reach you in an emergency.
• Safety and Security Information:  Read the Travel Advisory and Alerts for the countries you will be visiting at  travel.state.gov/destination .
• Crisis Planning:  Read  Crisis Abroad: Be Ready
• Health Precautions:  Read  Your Health Abroad  and check out recommendations for vaccinations and other health considerations from the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  and  World Health Organization (WHO) . 
• Money Matters:  Before going abroad, notify your bank and credit card companies of your travel, and check exchange rates. For information about using cash, debit/credit cards, and ATMs overseas, read the country information page for your  destination .
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Sometimes, in spite of careful planning, things still go wrong during a trip abroad.  Contact the nearest  U.S. embassy or consulate  overseas or our Washington, D. C. office ( 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 ).

The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on or are linked to the above page. Inclusion of private groups on this page is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. The order in which names appear has no significance. The Department is not in a position to vouch for the information.

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What is a Travel Document? A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types of Travel Documents

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

A travel document is an official document issued by a government that enables a person to travel internationally. It can be a passport, visa, refugee travel document, alien registration card, certificate of identity, or an emergency travel document. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive guide to different types of travel documents and how to obtain them.

Explaining the Basics of Travel Documents

Before we dive into the specifics of different types of travel documents, let’s take a look at the basics.

What is a Travel Document?

A travel document is an official document issued by a government that enables a person to travel internationally. It can be a passport, visa, refugee travel document, alien registration card, certificate of identity, or an emergency travel document. Each type of travel document has its own set of requirements and restrictions and must be obtained through the proper channels.

Different Types of Travel Documents

Each type of travel document serves a different purpose and has its own set of requirements and restrictions. Passports are used to identify citizens of a country when travelling abroad. Visas are required for entry into certain countries and often come with restrictions on length of stay and activities allowed. Refugee travel documents are issued to refugees and stateless persons who are unable to obtain a passport from their country of origin. Alien registration cards are issued to non-citizens living in a country and are required for travel outside the country. Certificates of identity are issued to stateless persons and those who cannot obtain a passport from their country of origin. Emergency travel documents are issued to those needing immediate travel outside of their home country and are usually valid for a short period of time.

Necessary Documentation for Travel

Depending on the destination and type of travel, there may be additional documentation required in addition to a valid travel document. This could include vaccination records, proof of health insurance, proof of financial stability, and more. It is important to check with the relevant authorities before travelling to ensure all necessary documentation is obtained.

A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types of Travel Documents

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at each type of travel document and how to obtain them.

A passport is an official document issued by a government that identifies a person as a citizen of that country and allows them to travel to other countries. Passports are typically valid for 5 to 10 years and must be renewed after that time. In order to obtain a passport, applicants must submit proof of citizenship, a completed application form, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee.

A visa is an official document issued by a government that allows a person to enter a country for a specific purpose, such as tourism, study, or work. Depending on the type of visa, it may be valid for a few days up to several years. In order to obtain a visa, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of sufficient funds, a valid passport, and the appropriate fee.

Refugee Travel Document

A refugee travel document is an official document issued by a government that allows refugees and stateless persons to travel internationally. Refugee travel documents are typically valid for one year and must be renewed after that time. In order to obtain a refugee travel document, applicants must submit proof of refugee status, a completed application form, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee.

Alien Registration Card

An alien registration card, also known as a green card, is an official document issued by a government that identifies a person as a non-citizen living in a country and allows them to travel outside the country. Alien registration cards are typically valid for 10 years and must be renewed after that time. In order to obtain an alien registration card, applicants must submit proof of legal residence, a completed application form, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee.

Certificate of Identity

A certificate of identity is an official document issued by a government that identifies a person as a stateless person or someone who is unable to obtain a passport from their country of origin. Certificates of identity are typically valid for one year and must be renewed after that time. In order to obtain a certificate of identity, applicants must submit proof of statelessness or inability to obtain a passport, a completed application form, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee.

Emergency Travel Document

An emergency travel document is an official document issued by a government that allows a person to travel outside their home country in an emergency situation. Emergency travel documents are typically valid for a short period of time and must be renewed after that time. In order to obtain an emergency travel document, applicants must submit proof of the emergency situation, a completed application form, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee.

How to Obtain a Travel Document

Obtaining a travel document requires submitting the necessary paperwork and fees to the relevant government agency. The exact process varies depending on the type of travel document being applied for.

Applying for a Passport

In order to apply for a passport, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of citizenship, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the passport will be issued within a few weeks.

Applying for a Visa

In order to apply for a visa, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of sufficient funds, a valid passport, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the visa will be issued within a few weeks.

Applying for a Refugee Travel Document

In order to apply for a refugee travel document, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of refugee status, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the refugee travel document will be issued within a few weeks.

Applying for an Alien Registration Card

In order to apply for an alien registration card, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of legal residence, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the alien registration card will be issued within a few weeks.

Applying for a Certificate of Identity

In order to apply for a certificate of identity, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of statelessness or inability to obtain a passport, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the certificate of identity will be issued within a few weeks.

Applying for an Emergency Travel Document

In order to apply for an emergency travel document, applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of the emergency situation, two passport photos, and the appropriate fee. Depending on the country, applications can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. Once the application is approved, the emergency travel document will be issued within a few days.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Travel Document

Having a valid travel document can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on the situation. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a travel document.

Having a valid travel document makes it easier to travel internationally, as it is accepted as proof of identity and nationality at border crossings. Additionally, having a valid travel document can help protect against identity theft, as it contains biometric data that can be used to verify a person’s identity.

Disadvantages

Having a valid travel document can also make it easier for governments to track a person’s movements, which can be seen as a privacy concern. Additionally, depending on the type of travel document, there may be restrictions on the countries a person is able to visit or the length of stay in those countries.

What to Do if You Lose Your Travel Document

If a person loses their travel document, they should immediately contact the relevant government agency to report the loss and apply for a replacement. Depending on the country, applications for replacement travel documents can be submitted in person, online, or by mail. It is important to note that the process for obtaining a replacement travel document can take several weeks.

Understanding the Regulations Surrounding International Travel Documents

In addition to understanding the different types of travel documents and how to obtain them, it is important to understand the regulations surrounding international travel. This includes understanding the visa requirements of the country being visited, as well as any customs regulations that may be applicable.

Most countries require foreign visitors to obtain a visa prior to entry. It is important to research the visa requirements of the country being visited before travelling to ensure the necessary paperwork is obtained.

It is also important to familiarize oneself with the customs regulations of the country being visited. This includes knowing what items are prohibited and what items may be subject to additional taxes or duties upon entry.

Travel documents are an essential part of international travel. It is important to understand the different types of travel documents and how to obtain them, as well as the regulations surrounding international travel. With the right information and preparation, travelling abroad can be a rewarding experience.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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Home » Visas » DS-160 Form » DS-160 Form Guide: Passport Information

DS-160 Form Guide: Passport Information

Form DS-160 is a multi-part form, which must be filled by all US non-immigrant visa applicants. This web page describes the passport information section.

• Passport/Travel Document Number:   Your current passport/travel document number. If you previously had a passport that expired or was lost, do not write numbers from those passports. This must be the same passport you will be using when traveling to the U.S. It should be a valid, unexpired passport or other valid, unexpired documentation that is sufficient to establish your identity and nationality. 
• Passport Book Number:   The Passport Book Number is commonly called the inventory control number. You may or may not have a Passport Book Number on your passport. The location of the Passport Book Number on your passport may vary depending on the country that issued your passport. Please contact your passport issuing authority if you are unable to determine whether or not your passport contains a Passport Book Number.  If it is not applicable to you, click ‘Does Not Apply’.  India: For citizens of India, click ‘Does Not Apply’.  Mexico: If you have a later version of the Mexican passport, click ‘Does Not Apply’. However, if you have the old-style Mexican passport, enter the passport book number found on the first passport page (not on the photo page) that is different from your passport number. 
• Country/Authority that Issued Passport/Travel Document:   Country that issued the passport: it is the country you are a citizen of. Sometimes, it gets confusing to some people. If you were staying in a different country (say Japan) when passport was expiring and if the Indian embassy in Japan issued you the passport, the issuing country is still “India” and NOT “Japan”.
• Where was the Passport/Travel Document Issued?   City: City where passport was issued. Write current official name of the city. E.g., write “Mumbai” instead of “Bombay”. If your passport was issued outside your country of citizenship, such as in USA or even some third country, write that city, state/province and country here.  State/Province *If shown on passport:  Enter it if it is shown on your passport. Otherwise, leave it blank.  Country/Region:  Select the Country from where the passport was issued. 
• Issuance Date:   Date when passport was issued in DD-MM-YYYY format.
• Expiration Date:   Date when passport is expiring.  In most cases, your passport must have at least six months of validity beyond the date of your visa application and/or your arrival in the U.S.  Exceptions  
• Passport/Travel Document Number:   Either enter the passport/travel document number, or if suitable, click on “Do Not Know”.
• Country/Authority that Issued Passport/Travel Document   If you had more than one passport lost or stolen, you can click on “Add Another” for each of them, and enter the above information for each of them.

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The Passport Book vs Card: Which Is Universally Accepted?

T he U.S. Department of State issues two types of government documentation for international travel. These documents allow travelers to have some flexibility in how they are identified while they travel internationally or domestically. Which type of identification is used can be up to personal preference depending on the type of traveling happening. 

The passport book and passport card have some similarities and differences that are important to keep in mind before choosing between the two . The main differences between these two are where they are accepted, who can use them and what information they provide.  

About the Passport Book

The traditional passport book is a common object that is often used for photo ops while traveling abroad, but it also serves a much more important purpose. While many go their whole lives never having a passport, it is impossible to travel internationally without one. A passport is a form of identification for international travel that verifies a person’s citizenship and over the years, is a type of travel diary. The cost of a passport application for first-timers over the age of 16 is $165 (the application cost is $130 and acceptance fee is $35), while those under the age of 16 are charged $135 (the application fee is $100 and acceptance fee is $35). 

Where Are Passport Books Accepted as Identification?

Passport books serve a universal purpose and are accepted for all forms of international travel throughout the world. A passport is a precious document, so if it is lost during travel or while abroad the traveler is required to recover or replace it before returning to the United States. The U.S. Embassy or consulate will be able to assist in this process. 

Who Uses Passport Books?

The passport book is available to U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals. It is used for international travel by means of air, sea or land. People of all ages can have a passport, in fact, many people have passports before they can even read due to their frequent flier family. If you are old enough (at least 16 years of age or older), the passport book will be valid for 10 years. 

What Information Is Inside the Passport Book? 

Passport books include a photo of the traveler and a unique number to identify the particular book. Personal information within the first few pages of the book includes the traveler’s full name, date of birth, nationality, sex, birth place and the book’s issue and expiration date. 

Although the standard passport book is 28 pages, the majority of the passport book is actually empty. The reason the rest of the pages of the passport book are empty is so that travelers can fill them with passport stamps, which has become a fun collectors activity for frequent travelers. Those that anticipate frequent international travel can request a 52 page passport book. 

More on Passport Cards

Passport Cards are a type of identification used for land crossings and sea ports into the United States. These types of passports are easily transportable due to their small size and condensed information. The cost for first time passport card applications is $65 for adults and $50 for children (under the age of 16). 

Passport Cards Are Valid in Limited Locations

The passport card is only acceptable as an identification document for travelers going to Mexico, Canada, Caribbean countries or Bermuda by sea or land from the United States. The card cannot be used for international air travel but can be used as identification for domestic flights. 

Who Can Utilize a Passport Card?

The card version of the passport was made for the ease of travelers that frequently pass through U.S. bordering countries. All U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals are eligible for a U.S. passport card. 

What Information Does the Passport Card Contain?

A passport card contains nearly identical information to the passport book. Details like the traveler’s full name, nationality, date and place of birth, sex, and issue and expiration date are all on the card. The only difference is that the identification card gets a unique passport card number.

The passport card is about the size of a driver’s license, so it easily fits in a wallet but does not include much other than personal identification information.

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Home » Guide to Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

Form i-131 overview for:, form i-131 explained, what is form i-131 used for.

Certain non-citizens can file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , to obtain various travel documentation. The application has different uses depending on the non-citizen's immigration status in the United States. When filing, applicants may request the following types of travel documents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):

Reentry Permit

Refugee travel document, advance parole travel document, humanitarian parole.

Form I-131 is different than Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation). Permanent residents use Form I-131A to obtain travel authorization after losing a green card or reentry permit while traveling outside the United States.

Eligibility to Apply for a Travel Document

Who needs form i-131.

Eligibility to file Form I-131 is dependent on the travel document type. Each travel document has specific criteria. In some cases, immigration status may also affect filing requirements. CitizenPath's Travel Document Package is an online service created by immigration attorneys. It's an affordable way to confirm eligibility and prepare the application correctly.

Permanent residents who anticipate an absence from the United States or one year or more should generally apply for a Reentry Permit. A green card is typically sufficient to reenter the U.S. after trips of less than one year. However, there is a presumption that you've abandoned your permanent residence when the absence is one year or more. A Reentry Permit helps mitigate this problem. With the exception of having to obtain a returning resident visa abroad, a reentry permit does not exempt you from compliance with any of the requirements of U.S. immigration laws. In other words, it is still important that you haven't taken actions that suggest you've abandoned your green card. Learn more about Reentry Permits >>

Individuals with asylum or refugee status generally must have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States after temporary travel abroad. In most cases, a refugee or asylee may use the Refugee Travel Document for travel in place of a passport. This is helpful because many lack a passport from their home country. In fact, the Refugee Travel Document is similar in appearance to a U.S. passport. Permanent residents, who obtained such status as an asylee or refugee, may also need a Refugee Travel Document in place of a passport. Learn more about Refugee Travel Documents >>

Advance Parole

Non-citizens who are in the United States (typically waiting for a more permanent immigration status) may be able to request Advance Parole. If eligible, Advance Parole is necessary to return to the United States after temporary travel abroad.

Although there are other eligible status, individuals with a pending Form I-485 (adjustment of status applicants) and recipients of Temporary Protected Status, use Advance Parole for brief trips. Generally, if you have applied for adjustment to that of a permanent resident, USCIS will deem your application abandoned if you leave the United States without first obtaining Advance Parole. When issued in combination with an Employment Authorization Card, Advance Parole is issued directly on the card (as pictured). Learn more about Advance Parole >>

I-131 Online Filing Options

Can form i-131 be filed online.

At this time, there is no way to submit Form I-131 to USCIS electronically, but you can prepare the form with an online service to make sure you prepare it correctly.

USCIS has not introduced online filing for this form. Regardless, e-file doesn't necessarily mean you get quick processing. If you are interested a quick approval, focus on submitting a well-prepared application package. It’s the difference between saving a couple of days with online filing versus saving several weeks with smooth processing. What’s more, USCIS is not your advocate. They are not looking out for your best interests. If you include information that damages your immigration future, USCIS isn’t going to correct you.

For people who want to make sure they are preparing the application correctly, CitizenPath offers an affordable service created by immigration attorneys. CitizenPath’s Travel Document Package will make the application easy and give you alerts if there’s a problem. You’ll also receive detailed filing instructions so you know exactly which supporting documents to submit with your application. CitizenPath even provides a money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve your application for a travel document.

Form I-131 Instructions

How do i fill out i-131.

CitizenPath's easy-to-use website helps you prepare the application quickly and accurately. Our online service provides step-by-step I-131 instructions to make it easy. We even give you a money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve your application.

If you prefer to fill out the Form I-131 PDF, you can download instructions from USCIS or follow this summary of directions.

General Guidance

• Type or print answers in black ink only. 
• Enter “N/A” if an answer is not applicable and "NONE" if your answer is zero.
• Foreign language documents must be accompanied by a full English certified translation .
• Submit your application with the current USCIS filing fee . Use a personal check, money order, cashier’s check or use Form G-1450 to pay by credit card.
• Submit photocopies for all supporting documents unless an original document is specifically required.
• For Information About You , answer the general questions about name, address and birth. Carefully indicate how you were admitted to the United States or your current status that makes you eligible for a travel document.

Parts 2, 3, and 4

• For Application Type , select which type of travel document you are requesting. Your choices are very limited based on your immigration status. In rare situations, such as humanitarian parole, you may provide information about yourself in the remainder of the section.
• For Processing Information , supply answers regarding your intended travel, removal proceedings, and previous travel documents. Disposition is an explanation of what happened to the previously issued travel document. Speak to an immigration attorney before traveling outside the United States if you are in removal proceedings or have accrued any time in an unlawful presence. If you are requesting a Reentry Permit or Refugee Travel Document, you may provide address information if you wish that it be delivered abroad instead of your U.S. address.
• For Information About Your Proposed Travel , describe the purpose of the trip and which countries you intend to visit. Generally, there are no restrictions for permanent residents requesting a Reentry Permit for temporary travel. However, individuals who have (or have had) asylum or refugee status should avoid traveling back to their country of claimed persecution. Speak to an attorney first. Likewise, some Advance Parole applicants -- such as DACA -- are limited to specific reasons for travel.

Parts 5, 6, and 7

• For If Applying for a Re-entry Permit , complete the section only if you are requesting a Reentry Permit. Your past time outside the United States may affect the term of your new travel document. Speak to an attorney if you ever considered yourself a "nonresident" during your time as a green card holder.
• For If Applying for a Refugee Travel Document , complete the section only if you are requesting a Refugee Travel Document. Again, any asylee or refugee generally should not travel to their country of claimed persecution. If you must travel to that country, speak to an immigration attorney first.
• For If Applying for Advance Parole , complete the section only if you are requesting an Advance Parole Travel Document. Indicate if the document should be valid for a single use or multiple trips. Again, in limited circumstances, you may provide information about an overseas U.S. embassy or DHS office if the person intended to receive the document is abroad.

Parts 8 and 9

• For Applicant's Statement , sign your application with black ink. A surprising number of I-131 rejections are the result of applicants forgetting to sign or signing in the wrong place. Provide an email and U.S. phone numbers where USCIS can reliably reach you. USCIS will rarely call applicants, but they will use email.
• For Preparer , provide information if applicable. If you prepared your Form I-131, it’s only necessary to sign as the “applicant.” If another person prepared the application for you, be sure Part 9 is filled in and signed appropriately.

This is an abbreviated list of Form I-131 instructions. We highly recommend that you download USCIS instructions or use CitizenPath’s service to prepare the application. CitizenPath provides filing instructions customized to your situation. You’ll get detailed I-131 instructions that explain which supporting documents to submit, how to organize, and where to mail.

Filing Addresses for the Application

Where to file form i-131.

USCIS accepts the I-131 application via mail only. They do not want applicants to submit the form in-person at USCIS offices. USCIS has numerous filing addresses. The address depends on various factors such as the basis of eligibility, travel document type, and U.S. state of residence. For the most up-to-date address, refer to your CitizenPath filing instructions or use the USCIS I-131 direct filing addresses .

Although USCIS receives your application package at these locations, they will process them somewhere else. If you have an interview (rare), it will be at a USCIS field office near the home address you provide.

Form I-131 Processing Time

How long does it take to get a travel document.

USCIS is reporting I-131 processing times in excess of one year at their service centers. Check USCIS processing times for the latest estimates. The best way to ensure a smooth process and quick processing time is to prepare a complete and problem-free application. For this reason, CitizenPath customers generally experience the best processing times for USCIS travel documents.

Expedited processing of a travel document is available in certain situations. For a detailed description of plausible reasons and how to communicate your urgent need, see our article on expedited processing for travel documents .

Reporting for processing times only includes forms that were successfully filed. If an individual does not correctly prepare a form or otherwise does not satisfy eligibility requirements, USCIS will reject or deny these requests. For the most recent year, USCIS reported the following national statistics:

USCIS Rejections in 2023

MODERATE RISK

USCIS Denials in 2023

How citizenpath helps you, is there an inexpensive way to file the i-131 application.

CitizenPath's affordable, online service makes it easy to prepare Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Designed by immigration lawyers, the Travel Document Package helps you eliminate the common errors that create delays, rejections and even denials. That's because the service alerts you when your answer to a question may be a problem. You'll also get customized filing instructions based on your situation. It's a powerful, do-it-yourself tool that puts you in control. And we've got your back -- CitizenPath provides live customer support and provides a money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve your application. Get started >>

Form I-131 Questions and Answers

The USCIS filing fee to submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, can vary significantly based on the type of travel document, age, and eligibility category. Use our pricing tool to determine your filing fee .

Generally, adjustment of status applicants may file I-131 "concurrently" with Form I-485 . Concurrently means that you can submit them together. This is the best way to get quick processing.

You may also file Form I-131 after filing Form I-485, but you'll need to wait until you receive the I-485 receipt notice. You'll need the receipt number so that USCIS can link the cases.

Generally, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, from inside the United States. The granting of an Advance Parole Document for individuals outside the United States is an extraordinary measure used sparingly to allow an otherwise inadmissible non-citizen to travel to the United States and to seek parole into the United States for a temporary period of time due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit. Seek the advice of an immigration attorney if you are outside the United States and feel the need to file Form I-131.

You should apply for a Refugee Travel Document or Reentry Permit before you leave the United States. However, the travel document may be sent to a U.S. embassy, U.S. consulate, or DHS office abroad for you to pick up, if you make such a request when you file your application. Departure from the United States before a decision is made on the application usually does not affect the application decision. However, if biometrics collection is required and the applicant departs the United States before biometrics are collected, the application may be denied.

Permanent residents who are outside the United States for less than one year and lost a green card, may be able to file Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation), to obtain temporary document to return to the U.S.

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© Copyright 2013-2024, CitizenPath, LLC. All rights reserved. CitizenPath is a private company that provides self-directed immigration services at your direction. We are not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. The information provided in this site is not legal advice, but general information on issues commonly encountered in immigration. CitizenPath is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney or law firm. Your access to and use of this site is subject to additional Terms of Use .

5 Different Types of Travel Document Number

Many people love traveling to visit new places, sample delicious local cuisines, experience vibrant cultures and see stunning sights. However, there’s also the admin side of travel, which can be less fun – and in some cases, even downright stressful.

Part of this can involve filling out lots of forms and worrying about getting things wrong, so to help you avoid any mistakes, in this post, we deal with one vital issue as we answer the question, what is a travel document number?

Travel Document Number Overview

Whenever you travel, you need to be able to prove who you are and that you have the right to travel in the country or region where you are traveling, and dedicated travel documents serve this purpose.

There are several possible types of possible travel document. The best-known and most useful is the passport, which alone may entitle you to travel to certain countries, but you may also need additional documents, most often a visa, to be allowed into a particular country.

All travel documents carry an individual number or alphanumeric code. This unique number identifies the carrier of the document, proving who they are and permitting local authorities to track them as well as helping ensure they remain safe.

This allows countries to effectively control their borders by regulating who comes into and goes out of their national territory.

The number found on any travel document, whether it’s a passport, a visa or anything else, is referred to as a travel document number – so now let’s have a look at the different types of travel document and the numbers found on them.

1. Travel Document Number on Passports

To exit countries and enter other countries, most people will need a passport as their primary travel document, although there are exceptions to this, as we shall see later in this post.

A passport is required for the holder to pass through customs and immigration when leaving their country, and it is also used to enter other countries where visa-free travel is permitted.

It also serves as a universal form of ID, and it can be used to prove one’s identity anywhere in the world, regardless of which other forms of identification are accepted. In this sense, passports are essentially the world’s primary international identification document.

A passport includes certain details about the holder – for example, their names and their date of birth. Some passports may also contain information such as height or eye color.

All passports have a unique number on them. A US passport, for example, includes a nine-digit code while a French passport carries a code that consists of numbers and letters.

This number is usually found on the page that carries all of the traveler’s other personal details as well as their passport photo.

When asked to show or provide a travel document number for international travel, this usually refers to the passport number unless otherwise stated.

2. Travel Document Number on Visas

Visas are supplemental travel documents that citizens of certain countries may require to enter countries that have no visa-free travel arrangement with their home country.

For example, in addition to their passport, US citizens require a visa to enter China.

Usually, you will need to apply for a visa from the local embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit before you travel. However, some countries now also offer a visa-on-arrival service to many nationalities.

Visas allow countries to run checks on the people who are traveling there, and they also include specific details about the terms of the travel.

For example, a visa usually specifies how long a person may remain in the country, and it also states the purpose of the visit, such as tourism or work. This means that a person holding a tourist visa is not allowed to work in the country during their visit.

Visas normally consist of a sticker that is attached to a page in your passport, and this sticker includes a visa number.

The visa number is also unique and serves to identify the holder as well as the conditions of the visit.

Visa numbers are different from your passport number and are considered another type of travel document number. When required to provide your visa number on a form, the form will specify that this is the number you need to use.

3. Travel Document Number on Green Cards

When citizens of foreign countries are granted permanent residence in the United States, they receive a so-called Green Card.

This is the card that proves their right to reside in the US, but it does not replace a passport. This means that holders of a Green Card need to carry a passport with them to pass through US customs and immigration – the Green Card alone will not grant them entry.

However, if you are a Green Card holder, you should carry your Green Card along with your passport since you will be able to use it to prove that you have the right to enter the US as a permanent resident.

Each Green Card also has a unique number to identify the holder, although a Green Card is not usually referred to as a “travel document” as such.

If you are required to provide this number, it will be specified that you are required to provide your Green Card number – officially referred to as your “permanent resident card”.

4. Travel Document Number on ID cards

In certain areas and under certain conditions, a passport is not required for international travel.

For example, citizens of countries in the European Union are entitled to travel to other EU countries using only their national ID cards. As a result, many Europeans who have never been to a country outside the EU don’t have a passport since they’ve never needed to apply for one.

Similar arrangements may apply between other countries in other parts of the world.

In this case, when asked to provide a travel document number, this would refer to the ID number found on the national ID card.

In a situation like this, if you were filling in a form that asked for a travel document number, it would refer either to your passport or your national ID number, whichever of the two you were using as your travel ID and whichever you present to pass through immigration.

In this case, if you were carrying a passport, you could enter either your passport number or your ID number, but if you didn’t have a passport and were traveling with just your ID card, then this would be the number you would provide.

5. International travel without passports or other documents

For US citizens, it is possible to enter certain countries and territories without a passport, although this is usually only the case when entering via a land or sea border rather than by plane.

For example, US citizens can enter Canada via a land border with a passport card (different from a full passport) or a NEXUS card. However, when arriving by air, a passport card isn’t enough, and you’ll need a NEXUS card or a full passport.

If traveling with a NEXUS card or passport card, the number on this form of ID will be the travel document number you need to provide when asked.

Similarly, when entering Mexico, US citizens don’t need a full passport. Instead, a passport card or an Enhanced Driver’s License is sufficient. Again, in this case, the number on these forms of ID is your travel document number when required to produce one.

Other territories that don’t require US citizens to carry a passport include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Why do we use the non-specific term “travel document number”?

In most cases, “travel document number” refers to your passport number unless something else is stated specifically, such as a visa number.

However, sometimes it is possible to travel internationally without a passport, in which case the term “travel document number” is used since it also includes other valid forms of ID.

Is your travel document number the same on different documents?

No, your passport number, ID number and any visa numbers will all be different.

Is “passport” the same as “travel document”?

No. A passport is one type of travel document, and it is the one that is universally accepted. However, other types of travel document exist.

Some can be used instead of a passport, like an ID. Others, like visas, need to be used in conjunction with your passport to allow you to travel.

Do you need a passport to travel?

In general, you will need a passport for international travel. However, depending on your home country and the country you are traveling to, there are some exceptions to this.

Usually a passport number is what’s meant unless otherwise stated

As we’ve seen, there are several types of travel document, and each has a unique number, so it can sometimes be difficult to know which one to give.

However, generally speaking, “travel document number” usually refers to a passport or the document you are using instead of a passport – and if anything else like a visa number is required, this will be asked for specifically.

Jennifer Morris is an avid solo travel adventurer who founded Solo Traveller after many years of journeying on her own around the world. She has backpacked through over 50 countries across 6 continents over the past decade, striking up conversations with locals along railway platforms, learning to cook regional dishes in home kitchens, and absorbing a global perspective while volunteering with various community initiatives.

With a Masters in Tourism and Hospitality, Jennifer is passionate about responsible and meaningful travel that fosters cultural exchange. Whether trekking through the Atlas Mountains, sailing to Komodo National Park, or taking an overnight train across Eastern Europe - she is always seeking her next epic destination.

When not globetrotting, Jennifer calls Vancouver, Canada home. There she enjoys kayaking local waters, curling up with books on faraway places, and gearing up for her next solo backpacking trip. As the founder of SoloTraveller, she hopes to motivate and inform fellow solo explorers from all walks of life to take the leap into their own adventures.

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Types of passports and travel documents

Canada issues around 5 million travel documents a year. Of these, 98% are regular (blue) passports.

Canada issues

• 4 types of passports to Canadians
• 3 types of travel documents to refugees or stateless persons living in Canada, or to Canadians abroad in urgent cases

Canadian passports

Regular passport.

We issue regular (blue) passports to Canadian citizens for casual travel, such as

• business trips

The regular passport has 36 pages. The validity depends on the age of the passport holder:

• adults age 16 years or older can choose a 5-year or 10-year passport
• children aged 0 to 15 years are issued passports for a maximum of 5 years

Diplomatic passport

We issue diplomatic passports to

• high-ranking Government of Canada officials
• representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada

You can use diplomatic passports for travel to

• a post abroad
• international governmental organizations and conferences of a diplomatic nature

The issuing office decides the validity period.

Special passport

We issue special passports to

• Members of Parliament
• to a post abroad
• on an official mission

Temporary passport

Certain Canadian government offices abroad may issue temporary passports

• to Canadian citizens with an urgent and proven need for a passport
• for use while waiting to receive a regular, special or diplomatic passport

The issuing office decides how long the passport is valid, to a maximum of 1 year.

Canadian travel documents

Refugee travel document.

We issue refugee travel documents to people in Canada with protected person status. This includes

• Convention refugees
• persons in need of protection

You can use a refugee travel document for travel to all countries, except your country of citizenship.

Certificate of identity

We issue certificates of identity to permanent residents of Canada who aren’t yet Canadian citizens and who either

• are otherwise stateless, or
• can’t get a national passport or travel document from any source for a valid reason

You can’t use a certificate of identity to travel to your country of citizenship.

Emergency travel documents

Canadian government offices abroad may issue an emergency travel document to Canadians who are outside Canada in urgent cases where they cannot get a temporary passport.

An emergency travel document with a limited validity allows you to

• return directly to Canada
• return to your country of residence or
• travel to a Canadian government office abroad that offers full passport services

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Information About Your Immigration Document

Welcome to the United States! You are part of a long tradition of immigrants who have come to the United States and contributed to a strong and vibrant nation.

Please see the links below for information about your immigration documents and benefits, travel, and employment. This information will help you get settled in the United States and provide you and your family with information and resources needed for life in the United States.

• Green Cards
• Settling in the U.S.
• Petition for Alien Relative
• Citizenship Resource Center
• Naturalization Eligibility Tool
• Replace Your Green Card
• Travel Documents
• International Travel as a Permanent Resident
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
• Updating or Correcting your Documents
• Employment Authorization 
• Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension
• Employee Rights
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kinds of immigration documents does USCIS issue? A:  USCIS issues many types of immigration documents , including: Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document; Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record; and Form I-797, Notice of Action.

Q: What if the information on my new card is incorrect? A: If any information is missing or incorrect, please call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or check our website for instructions. You can also submit an electronic request to fix any typographical error. For Green Cards, please file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) , if there’s an error.

Q: Do I need to always carry my document with me? A:  If you are 18 years of age or older, you must always carry your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Green Card, or other proof of alien registration in the United States with you.

Q: What do I do if my document is lost or stolen or becomes damaged? A: If your document is lost or stolen or becomes damaged, or if your name or other information shown on your card changes, use Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) , for a new Green Card, or Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , for a new EAD. Please call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or check our website for instructions.

Q: Why does my EAD say, “SERVES AS I-512 ADVANCE PAROLE?” A:  Most EADs have the statement “NOT VALID FOR REENTRY TO U.S.” at the bottom of the card. However, if you received a card that instead has the statement “SERVES AS I-512 ADVANCE PAROLE,” this is a Combination Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Card (combo card). The combo card serves as both an EAD and an Advance Parole Document. The combo card is only available for certain applicants who have a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status . If you travel outside the United States, you may present the combo card, in addition to other documents, at a port of entry to seek parole upon your return. Additionally, U.S. immigration law requires passengers to present evidence of authorization to apply for admission or to otherwise seek lawful entry into the United States before they may board a vessel or aircraft destined for the United States. Presenting a valid combo card will authorize a transportation carrier to accept you on board for travel to the United States, provided you return to the United States on or before the expiration date on the card. The card is valid for multiple applications for parole into the United States until the expiration date.

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

How to Fill DS-160 Form for US Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide (with screenshots)

Updated: September 21, 2023

The first step in the US visa application process is to fill DS-160 form online. It’s a lengthy form with several pages and sections, so it can take you a few days to complete.

Before you start the application, go through my comprehensive guide on DS-160 form to understand the technical requirements and the documents needed for filling out the application.

Then, follow along this step-by-step guide to complete your DS-160 form. There are screenshots and instructions to guide you. For each question, there is a comment explaining what exactly needs to be entered.

IMPORTANT The result of your US visa for the most part depends on the information you fill in your DS-160. Pay careful attention to the information you enter in your DS-160. It must be accurate, and honest and must match with what you say during the visa interview. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT lie in your DS-160. This can lead to visa denial, visa ban, or permanent blacklist.

Table of Contents

Steps to fill ds-160 form, 01. getting started.

To start your DS-160 form, head over to the US Department of State’s Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) page.

• Select a location where you will be applying for this visa [ Instruction: Select the country where you intend to attend your US visa interview]
• Enter the code as shown [ Instruction : Enter the code shown in the captcha in this field. This is to make sure you are a real human and not a bot]
• This visa application will ask you to upload a digital photo of yourself [ Instruction : If you already have a digital photo for your visa application, click on “Test Photo” to check if your photo meets the specifications. If you don’t have a photo and want to know the photo requirements, click on “Photo Standard Guide”]

NOTE The question “This visa application will ask you to upload a digital photo of yourself” is shown only for certain countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, etc. If you choose a country such as India, Mexico, etc., this question will not be shown.

After you have entered the above data, you will see 2 buttons –

• START AN APPLICATION [ Instruction : Click this button if you are starting a new application]
• RETRIEVE AN APPLICATION [ Instruction : Click this button if you are retrieving a previously saved application]

Let’s look into these options in detail.

START AN APPLICATION

Click the “START AN APPLICATION” button when you are starting a new DS-160 application. This will create an Application ID, which you must print or make a note of. You will need the Application ID to retrieve your saved DS-160 application.

RETRIEVE AN APPLICATION

Your session times out if you leave your DS-160 form open for too long. If that happens, you can come back to your saved application (saved till the last section) using this option.

You might also need time to gather the information needed to fill DS-160 form. In that case, you can save and come back to your saved application using this option. You would need your DS-160 Application ID to retrieve the saved application.

After you enter the above data and click on “START AN APPLICATION”, you will see the “Application Information” Screen. Your “Application ID” will be displayed here. Print this page. Or take a screenshot or make a note of the DS-160 Application ID. You will need your Application ID to retrieve your saved DS-160 application.

• I AGREE [ Instruction: Check the “I AGREE” box for Computer Fraud and Abuse Act]
• Security Question [ Instruction : Select a security question from the list]
• Answer [ Instruction : Enter the answer for your security question]

IMPORTANT Make a note of your “Application ID”, “Security Question” and “Answer”. The “Security Question and Answer” along with the “Application ID”, “Surname” and “Birth Year” are REQUIRED to retrieve your saved DS-160 visa application. If you forget any of this information, you will not be able to retrieve your saved application. You will have to start over again with a new DS-160 application.

NOTE You will have 30 days to complete a partially saved DS-160 application. These 30 days are calculated from the last time you edited your application. If you do not complete and submit your DS-160 form within 30 days, your application will be deleted and you will have to start over again.

02. Personal

Subsection: personal 1.

• Surnames [ Instruction : Enter your surname from your passport. If you have any accents or special characters in your surname name, enter WITHOUT accents or special characters]
• Given Names [ Instruction : Enter your given name from your passport. If you have any accents or special characters in your given names, enter WITHOUT accents or special characters ]
• Full Name in Native Alphabet [ Instruction : Enter ONLY IF you have accents or non-Latin characters in your name or know how to write your name in your native language. Otherwise, simply check “Does Not Apply/Technology Not Available”. For detailed instructions, check out this article on how to fill Full Name in Native Alphabet ]
• Have you ever used other names (i.e, maiden, religious, professional, alias, etc.)? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” if you have a maiden name, otherwise select “No”]
• Do you have a telecode that represents your name? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” only if you have a Chinese name, otherwise just select “No”. For detailed instructions, read this article on how to fill Telecode name in DS-160 ]
• Sex [ Instruction : Select “Male” or “Female”]
• [Dropdown Options]
• COMMON LAW MARRIAGE
• CIVIL UNION/DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP
• LEGALLY SEPARATED
• Date [ Instruction : Enter your date of birth]
• City [ Instruction : Enter the city where you were born]
• State/Province [ Instruction : Enter the state/province where you were born]
• Country/Region [ Instruction : Enter the country where you were born]

If you have accents or special characters in your name

The “Surnames” and “Given Names” fields DO NOT ALLOW accents or special characters. You must enter your name WITHOUT accents or special characters in the “Surnames” and “Given Names” fields. Use the “Full Name in Native Alphabet” field to enter your full name with accents and special characters.

If you have a middle name on your passport

If you have a middle name in your passport (ex: Philippines passport), you must add your middle name to your given name(s) and enter it in your DS-160 “Given Name”.

Example below.

In your current passport Surname: XXXX Given Names: YYYY ZZZZ Middle Name: AAAA

This is how you will fill in your DS-160 Surname: XXXX Given Names: YYYY ZZZZ AAAA

If your surname in the passport is “blank”

If your surname in the passport is “blank”, use the following format in your DS-160 form.

In your current passport Surname: Given Name: XXXX YYYY

This is how you will fill in your DS-160 Surname: XXXX YYYY Given Name: FNU

Your US visa will be issued with the following name Surname: XXXX YYYY Given Name: FNU

NOTE:  FNU means First Name Unknown.

IMPORTANT:  You must get your passport fixed as soon as you can. It can create all kinds of issues, not only for visa applications but also at the airports. If you move to a foreign country to study or work, you won’t be able to open a bank account, apply for a driving license, etc.

What if your surname or given name is too long

You may be able to enter your Surname and Given Name completely in DS-160 form. But in the US visa, the Surname and Given Name fields have a certain character limit and will be truncated if over the character limit.

Even though your name is truncated in your US visa, it will not pose any problems with US immigration. US border officials are all aware of this and will not ask you any questions. You may be asked by the airline staff if they are not familiar with US visa name character limit.

In your current passport Surname: XXXX Given Name: AAAABBBB CCCCDDDD YYYYZZZZ

This is how you will fill in your DS-160 Surname: XXXX Given Name: AAAABBBB CCCCDDDD YYYYZZZZ

Your US visa will be issued with the following name Surname: XXXX Given Name: AAAABBBB CCCCDDDD YYYY

Subsection: Personal 2

• Country/Region of Origin (Nationality) [ Instruction : Select your country of nationality ]
• Do you hold or have you held any nationality other than the one indicated above on nationality? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” if you have acquired a nationality other than your birth nationality]
• Are you a permanent resident of a country/region other than your country/region of origin (nationality) indicated above? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” if you have acquired permanent residence in a country other than your country of birth]
• National Identification Number [ Instruction : Enter your National Identification Number from your country. If you don’t know, check “Does Not Apply” | ]
• U.S. Social Security Number [ Instruction : Check “Does Not Apply”. Enter your US SSN if you have lived in the US before]
• U.S.Taxpayer ID Number [ Instruction : Check “Does Not Apply”. Enter your US TIN Number if you had/have one]

• FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL (A)
• TEMP. BUSINESS PLEASURE VISITOR (B)
• ALIEN IN TRANSIT (C)
• CNMI WORKER OR INVESTOR (CW/E2C)
• CREWMEMBER (D)
• TREATY TRADER OR INVESTOR (E)
• ACADEMIC OR LANGUAGE STUDENT (F)
• INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION REP./EMP. (G)
• TEMPORARY WORKER (H)
• FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE (I)
• EXCHANGE VISITOR (J)
• FIANCÉ(E) OR SPOUCE OF U.S. CITIZEN (K)
• INTRACOMPANY TRANSFEREE (L)
• VOCATIONAL/NON-ACADEMIC STUDENT (M)
• NATO STAFF (NATO)
• ALIEN WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY (O)
• INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ALIEN (P)
• CULTURAL EXCHANGE VISITOR (Q)
• RELIGIOUS WORKER (R)
• INFORMANT OR WITNESS (S)
• VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING (T)
• NAFTA PROFESSIONAL (TD/TN)
• VICTIM OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY (U)
• PAROLE BENEFICIARY (PARCIS)
• Specify [ Instruction : Select “BUSINESS & TOURISM (TEMPORARY VISITOR) (B1/B2)”. If you have selected a different visa class, then select the appropriate option here]
• Intended Date of Arrival [ Instruction : Select the approximate date on which you intend to arrive in the US]
• Intended Length of Stay in the U.S. [ Instruction : Select the number of days you intend to spend in the US on this trip]
• Street Address (Line 1)
• Street Address (Line 2) *Optional
• Zip Code (if known)
• OTHER PERSON
• PRESENT EMPLOYER
• EMPLOYER IN THE U.S.
• OTHER COMPANY/ORGANIZATION

PRO TIP For “TEMP. BUSINESS PLEASURE VISITOR (B)”, you will have 3 options to choose from: B1 (Business), B2 (Tourism), and B1/B2 (Business and Tourism). I recommend selecting “B1/B2” even though your purpose might be strictly business or tourism. A US visa is issued for 10 years and you never know when you will need to visit the US for business or when for tourism. “B1/B2” will work for both purposes and will spare you from unnecessary questions at the port of entry.

NOTE Even if you have selected “B1” or “B2” as your choice, the US consulate might still issue “B1/B2”. In very rare cases, they issue a “B1” or a “B2”.

What if you plan to stay in a hotel when you travel to the US, instead of a friend/family/relative?

If you are planning to stay in a hotel, book a refundable or pay-at-check-in hotel . Use that address for the question “Address Where You Will Stay in the U.S.”. Cancel the booking after you receive your visa.

What if you have already booked your flight tickets for your US trip?

If you have already booked your flight and hotel, then you must select “Yes” to the question “Have you made specific travel plans”. You will see some specific questions for your trip. Enter the following information.

• Date of Arrival in the U.S. [ Instruction: Select your exact date of arrival in the US]
• Arrival Flight (if known) [ Instruction: Enter your arrival flight number. Leave it blank if you don’t know ]
• Arrival City [ Instruction: Enter the first city where you will arrive]
• Date of Departure from U.S. [ Instruction: Enter your exact date of departure from the US]
• Departure Flight (if known) [ Instruction: Enter your departure flight number. Leave it blank if you don’t know]
• Departure City [ Instruction: Enter the city where you will depart the US from]
• Provide the locations you plan to visit in the U.S. [ Instruction: Enter the list of cities or places you plan to visit as part of your US trip. If you have more than one city, use the “Add Another” button to add more]

06. Travel Companions

Persons traveling with you

• Are there other persons traveling with you? [ Instruction : Select “No” if you will be traveling by yourself. Select “Yes” if you will be traveling with family/friends and provide details]
• Are you traveling as part of a group or organization? [ Instruction : Select “No” if you will be traveling with family/friends. Select “Yes” only if you will be traveling with a group on an organized group tour]
• Surnames of Person Traveling With You [ Instruction : Enter the surname of the person (family member/relative/friend/etc.) traveling with you]
• Given Names of Person Traveling With You [ Instruction : Enter the given names of the person (family member/relative/friend/etc.) traveling with you]
• OTHER RELATIVE
• BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option if you have more than one person (family member/relative/friend/etc.) traveling with you]

07. Previous U.S. Travel

• Have you ever been in the U.S.? [ Instruction : Select “No” if you have NEVER been in the US. Select “Yes” if you have traveled to the US before and enter the below details]
• Date Arrived [ Instruction : Enter your previous date of arrival in the US]
• Length of Stay [ Instruction : Enter the number of days or months of your previous stay in the US]
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option if you have been in the US multiple times. You can enter up to 5 previous visits to the US]
• Do you or did you ever hold a U.S. Driver’s License? [ Instruction : Select “No” if you have not lived in the US before. If you have a US driver’s license, select “Yes” and enter your existing/expired US driver’s license details below]
• Driver’s License Number [ Instruction : Enter your US driver’s license number. If you don’t remember, just check “Do Not Know”]
• State of Driver’s License [ Instruction : Select the “State” that issued your driver’s license]
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option if you had/have more than one US driver’s license]
• Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” if you have been issued a U.S. visa before and enter your old visa details]
• Date Last Visa was Issued [ Instruction : Enter the date of issue of your previous US visa]
• Visa Number [ Instruction : Enter the visa number (printed in RED on your visa sticker) of your previous US visa]
• Are you applying for the same type of visa? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” if applying for the same visa type, ex: B1/B2. Otherwise, select “No”]
• Are you applying in the same country or location where the visa above was issued, and is this country or location your place of principal of residence? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” if applying in the same location as your previous US visa and is also your current country of residence. Otherwise, select “No”]
• Have you been ten-printed? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” if your fingerprints were captured (all 10 fingers) during the interview of your previous US visa. Otherwise, select “No”]
• Has your U.S. Visa ever been lost or stolen? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if any of your old US visas were lost or stolen]
• Has your U.S. Visa ever been cancelled or revoked? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if any of your old US visas were cancelled or revoked]
• (If answered “Yes” to the above question) Explain [ Instruction : Provide the details of your visa refusal or denial of entry]
• (If answered “Yes” to the above question) Explain [ Instruction : Provide the details of your old/existing I-140 such as the priority date and receipt number]

NOTE If you have been in the US before but do not remember the exact dates, you can look up your previous US travel history on the US Customs and Border Protection website. For calculating “Length of Stay”, you can use the Date and Time’s Days Calculator .

03. Address and Phone

Home Address

• Street Address (Line 1) [ Instruction : Enter your home address in the following fields]
• State/Province
• Postal Zone/Zip Code
• Country/Region

Mailing Address

• Is your Mailing Address the same as your Home Address? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” if your home and mailing addresses are the same. Otherwise, select “No” and enter your mailing address]
• Primary Phone Number [ Instruction : Enter your cell phone number where the consulate can reach you if needed]
• Secondary Phone Number [ Instruction : Enter your home phone number where the consulate can call you if your cell phone is not reachable. If you don’t have one, just check “Does Not Apply”]
• Work Phone Number [ Instruction : Enter your work phone number where the consulate can call you if your cell/home phones are not reachable. If you don’t have one, just check “Does Not Apply”]
• (If you have answered “Yes” to the above question) Additional Phone Number [ Instruction: Enter the additional phone number that you have used in the last five years. If you have more than one, click on the “Add Another” button to add more]
• Email Address
• Email Address [ Instruction : Enter your email address where the consulate can email you if needed]
• (If you have answered “Yes” to the above question) Additional Email Address [ Instruction : Enter the additional email address that you have used in the last five years. If you have more than one, click on the “Add Another” button to add more]

Social Media

• TENCENT WEIBO
• VKONTAKTE (VK)
• Social Media Identifier [ Instruction : Enter the username or handle of the social media platform]
• Add Another [ Instruction: If you use or used more than one social media platform, click the “Add Another” button to add more]
• Do you wish to provide information about your presence on any other websites or applications you have used within the last five years to create or share content (photos, videos, status updates, etc.)? [ Instruction: Select “Yes” if you use a social media platform that was not listed in the above question, ex: Tiktok. Otherwise, select “No”. Messaging services such as WhatsApp do not count as social media, so DO NOT enter such services here]
• Additional Social Media Platform [ Instruction: Enter the social media platform name, ex: Tiktok]
• Additional Social Media Handle [ Instruction: Enter the social media platform username or handle, ex: @myhandle]

04. Passport

• Passport/Travel Document Number [ Instruction : Enter your passport number]
• Passport Book Number [ Instruction : Just check “Does Not Apply”]
• Country/Authority that Issued Passport/Travel Document [ Instruction : Select your country of passport]
• City [ Instruction : Enter the place of issue from your passport. If you can’t find the place of issue on your passport, just enter the city where your passport was issued ]
• State/Province *If shown on passport [ Instruction : Enter state/province of issue from your passport. If the state/province of issue is not on your passport, leave this field blank]
• Country/Region [ Instruction : Select the country where your passport was issued]
• Issuance Date [ Instruction : Select the date of issue from your passport]
• Expiration Date [ Instruction : Select the date of expiration from your passport]
• Have you ever lost a passport or had one stolen? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you have ever lost your passport or stolen]
• Passport/Travel Document Number [ Instruction : Enter the passport number of the passport that was lost or stolen]
• Country/Authority that Issued Passport/Travel Document [ Instruction : Enter the country of the passport that was lost or stolen]
• Explain [ Instruction: Explain how your passport was lost or stolen]
• Add Another [ Instruction: If you had multiple incidents of lost or stolen passports, click on the “Add Another” button to enter more]

08. U.S. Contact

Contact Person or Organization in the United States

• Surnames [ Instruction : Enter the surname of your contact person in the US]
• Given Names [ Instruction : Enter the given name of your contact person in the US]
• Organization Name [ Instruction : Enter the name of the organization you know or will be visiting in the US. If you will not be visiting any, you can enter your hotel name or just check “Do Not Know”]
• SCHOOL OFFICIAL
• U.S. Street Address (Line 1)
• U.S. Street Address (Line 2) *Optional
• Phone Number

NOTE For “Contact Person or Organization in the United States”, you would need to enter AT LEAST one, either a “Contact Person” or an “Organization”. If you don’t know anyone who can vouch for you, I recommend entering the hotel where you will be staying.

Subsection: Relatives

Father’s Full Name and Date of Birth

• Surnames [ Instruction : Enter your father’s surname. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• Given Names [ Instruction : Enter your father’s given name. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• Date of Birth [ Instruction : Enter your father’s date of birth. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• U.S. Citizen [ Instruction: Use this option if your father is a US citizen, meaning holding a US passport]
• U.S. LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR) [ Instruction: Use this option if your father holds a US Green card]
• NONIMMIGRANT [ Instruction: Use this option if your father is on a nonimmigrant visa such as B, H, L, F, J]
• OTHER/I DON’T KNOW [ Instruction: Use this option if you don’t know his status in the US]

Mother’s Full Name and Date of Birth

• Surnames [ Instruction : Enter your mother’s surname. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• Given Names [ Instruction : Enter your mother’s given name. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• Date of Birth [ Instruction : Enter your mother’s date of birth. If you don’t know, check “Do Not Know”]
• U.S. Citizen [ Instruction: Use this option if your mother is a US citizen, meaning holding a US passport]
• U.S. LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR) [ Instruction: Use this option if your mother holds a US Green card]
• NONIMMIGRANT [ Instruction: Use this option if your mother is on a nonimmigrant visa such as B, H, L, F, J]
• OTHER/I DON’T KNOW [ Instruction: Use this option if you don’t know her status in the US]
• (If you have answered “Yes” to the above question) Provide the following information:
• Surnames [ Instruction: Enter your immediate relative’s (spouse, son, daughter or sibling) surname]
• Given Names [ Instruction: Enter your immediate relative’s (spouse, son, daughter or sibling) given names ]
• FIANCÉ/FIANCÉÉ
• U.S. Citizen [ Instruction: Use this option if they are a US citizen, meaning holding a US passport]
• U.S. LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR) [ Instruction: Use this option if they hold US Green card]
• NONIMMIGRANT [ Instruction: Use this option if they are on a nonimmigrant visa such as B, H, L, F, J]
• OTHER/I DON’T KNOW [ Instruction: Use this option if you don’t know their status]
• Do you have any other relatives in the United States? [ Comment: Select “No”. Select “Yes” if you have any relatives such as grandparents, in-laws, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. in the US and enter their details below]

NOTE For “Other Relatives”, select “Yes” only if you have relatives that you keep in touch with regularly and they know that you will be visiting the US soon.

Subsection: Spouse

Spouse’s Full Name and Date of Birth (include Maiden Name)

• Spouse’s Surnames [ Instruction : Enter your spouse’s surname]
• Spouse’s Given Names [ Instruction : Enter your spouse’s given name]
• Spouse’s Date of Birth [ Instruction : Select your spouse’s date of birth]
• Spouse’s Country/Region of Origin (Nationality) [ Instruction : Select your spouse’s country of nationality]
• City [ Instruction : Enter your spouse’s city of birth]
• Country/Region [ Instruction : Enter your spouse’s country of birth]
• SAME AS HOME ADDRESS
• SAME AS MAILING ADDRESS
• SAME AS U.S. CONTACT ADDRESS
• DO NOT KNOW
• OTHER (SPECIFY ADDRESS)

NOTE The “Spouse” section is only available if you have selected “MARRIED” as the “Marital Status” in “02. Personal” above.

10. Work / Education / Training

Subsection: present.

• AGRICULTURE
• ARTIST/PERFORMER
• COMMUNICATIONS
• COMPUTER SCIENCE
• CULINARY/FOOD SERVICES
• ENGINEERING
• LEGAL PROFESSION
• MEDICAL/HEALTH
• NATURAL SCIENCE
• NOT EMPLOYED
• PHYSICAL SCIENCES
• RELIGIOUS VACATION
• SOCIAL SERVICES
• Explain [ Instruction: This “Explain” box is shown only if you select “UNEMPLOYED” or “OTHER” for the above question. If you are unemployed, explain why you are unemployed. If you select “OTHER”, specify your occupation, such as Journalism, Marketing, etc.]
• Present Employer or School Name [ Instruction : Enter your current employer name (if employed) or university/college name (if student) or business name (if owns a business)]
• Start Date [ Instruction : Select the start date of your current job or school curriculum or business]
• Monthly Income in Local Currency (if employed) [ Instruction : Enter the monthly income you make from your current job or business. Check “Does Not Apply” if you are a student or retired]
• Briefly describe your duties: [ Instruction : Write a brief list of duties performed at your current employer or business]

Subsection: Previous

IMPORTANT Subsections “Previous” (previous work and education) and “Additional” (languages and travel history) are only asked for (1) all male applicants and (2) all applicants (male and female) from countries considered as questionable. Therefore, if you are a female applicant and you do not see these sections, it means you are not required to fill those sections. It’s normal, no need to worry.

• Were you previously employed? [ Instruction: Select “Yes” if you have a previous employer and enter the details below. Select “No” if your current job is your first job or you are a student]
• Employer Name
• Employer Street Address (Line1)
• Employer Street Address (Line 2) *Optional
• Supervisor’s Surname [ Instruction: If you don’t remember or know your supervisor back then, just check “Do Not Know”]
• Supervisor’s Given Names [ Instruction: If you don’t remember or know your supervisor back then, just check “Do Not Know” ]
• Employment Date From
• Employment Date To
• Briefly describe your duties:
• Add Another [ Instruction: If you have more than one previous employment, use this option to add more. You can add up to 2 previous employments]
• Have you attended any educational institutions at a secondary level or above? [ Instruction : Select “Yes” and enter your educational background below]
• Name of Institution
• Course of Study [ Instruction : Enter your course of study or degree]
• Date of Attendance From [ Instruction : Enter your university/school course start date]
• Date of Attendance To [ Instruction : Enter your university/school course end date]
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option to enter details if you have multiple degrees or a master’s degree]

NOTE Enter your educational background starting from the highest education to high school (or higher secondary).

Subsection: Additional

• Do you belong to a clan or tribe? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” if you belong to a recognized clan or tribe and enter the details]
• Language Name [ Instruction : Enter the language that you speak]
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option to add more languages that you speak]
• Country/Region [ Instruction : Enter the name of the country you have traveled to previously]
• Add Another [ Instruction : Use this option to add more countries that you have traveled]
• Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social, or charitable organization? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you are affiliated with a professional (IEEE, ACM, Bar Association, etc.) or charitable (Red Cross, MSF) group and enter the names of those organizations]
• Do you have any specialized skills or training, such as firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological, or chemical experience? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you were trained in using firearms, etc]
• Have you ever served in the military? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you have served/serving in the military]
• Have you ever served in, been a member of, or been involved with a paramilitary unit, vigilante unit, rebel group, guerrilla group, or insurgent organization? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you have been involved in any of those groups and enter the details below]

Provide a List of Languages You Speak For the question “Provide a List of Languages You Speak”, enter all languages that you speak, even if you speak at a beginner level.

Provide a List of Countries/Regions Visited For the question “Provide a List of Countries/Regions Visited”, enter all countries you have traveled to so far including your country of residence (if it’s not your country of passport). Exclude the US (if you have traveled to the US before), your country of passport and any country that you have merely passed through on a layover/transit.

11. Security and Background

Subsection: part 1.

• Do you have a communicable disease of public health significance? (Communicable diseases of public significance include chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, infectious leprosy, lymphogranuloma venereum, infectious stage syphilis, active tuberculosis, and other diseases as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.) [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you have any of those diseases]
• Do you have a mental or physical disorder that poses or is likely to pose a threat to the safety or welfare of yourself or others? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you have a mental or physical disorder]
• Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” only if you were a drug abuser or addict]

Subsection: Part 2

• Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even though subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other similar action? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Are you coming to the United States to engage in prostitution or unlawful commercialized vice or have you been engaged in prostitution or procuring prostitutes within the past 10 years? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever been involved in, or do you seek to engage in, money laundering? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you knowingly aided, abetted, assisted or colluded with an individual who has committed or conspired to commit a severe human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States and have you within the last five years, knowingly benefited from the trafficking activities? [ Instruction : Select “No”]

Subsection: Part 3

• Do you seek to engage in espionage, sabotage, export control violations, or any other illegal activity while in the United States? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Do you seek to engage in terrorist activities while in the United States or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever or do you intend to provide financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has engaged in terrorist activity, including providing financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations, in the last five years? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or otherwise participated in genocide? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in torture? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political killings, or other acts of violence? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever engaged in the recruitment or the use of child soldiers? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you, while serving as a government official, been responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever been directly involved in the establishment or enforcement of population controls forcing a woman to undergo an abortion against her free choice or a man or a woman to undergo sterilization against his or her free will? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever been directly involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs or bodily tissue? [ Instruction : Select “No”]

Subsection: Part 4

• Have you ever sought to obtain or assist others to obtain a visa, entry into the United States, or any other United States immigration benefit by fraud or willful misrepresentation or other unlawful means? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever been removed or deported from any country? [ Instruction : Select “No”]

Subsection: Part 5

• Have you ever withheld custody of a U.S. citizen child outside the United States from a person granted legal custody by a U.S. court? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you voted in the United States in violation of any law or regulation? [ Instruction : Select “No”]
• Have you ever renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation? [ Instruction : Select “No”]

This section may not be available if applying from certain countries such as India, Mexico, etc. In such countries, photos are typically captured along with fingerprints by the visa application center or the consulate on the day of the visa interview appointment.

Subsection: Upload Photo

In the “Upload Photo” section, upload a passport-size digital photo.

NOTE If you have uploaded and tested your photo in the “01. Getting Started” section, you will be taken directly to the “Confirm Photo” section.

NOTE You may sometimes see an “ Error: There was a missing or invalid parameter in the request ” while uploading the photo. If you see this error, try again after a few minutes. If it’s a weekend, try again on a weekday, especially during US working hours. This is a technical issue and nothing wrong with your photo. Their technical team will be notified by the system and they will fix it.

Subsection: Confirm Photo

In the “Confirm Photo” section, you will see a preview of the photo you have uploaded. If you are satisfied with your photo, click on “Next: REVIEW”. Otherwise, click on “Choose a Different Photo” to upload a different photo.

In this section, you will review all the data you have entered so far. You will click on each of the following 7 subsections to review for accuracy and any mistakes in the data you have entered.

Subsection: Personal/Address/Phone/Passport

Review the entered information in “Personal/Address/Phone/Passport”

• Personal Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in personal information, click on “Edit Personal Information” to fix the errors]
• Address and Phone Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in address and phone information, click on “Edit Address and Phone Information” to fix the errors]
• Passport/Travel Document Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in passport/travel document information, click on “Edit Passport/Travel Document Information” to fix the errors]

Subsection: Travel

Review the entered information in “Travel”

• Travel Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in travel information, click on “Edit Travel Information” to fix the errors]
• Travel Companions Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in travel companions information, click on “Edit Travel Companions Information” to fix the errors]
• Previous U.S. Travel Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in previous US travel information, click on “Edit Previous U.S. Travel Information” to fix the errors]

Subsection: U.S. Contact

Review the entered information in “U.S. Contact”

• U.S. Point of Contact Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in US point of contact information, click on “Edit U.S. Point of Contact Information” to fix the errors]

Subsection: Family

Review the entered information in “Family”

• Family Information: Relatives [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in relatives information, click on “Edit Family Information: Relatives” to fix the errors]
• Family Information: Spouse [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in spouse information, click on “Edit Family Information: Spouse” to fix the errors]

Subsection: Work/Education/Training

Review the entered information in “Work/Education/Training”

• Present Work Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in present work information, click on “Edit Present Work Information” to fix the errors]
• Previous Work Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in previous work information, click on “Edit Previous Work Information” to fix the errors]
• Additional Information [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in additional information, click on “Edit Additional Information” to fix the errors]

Subsection: Security and Background

Review the entered information in “Security and Background”

• Part 1 [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in part 1, click on “Edit Part 1” to fix the errors]
• Part 2 [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in part 2, click on “Edit Part 2” to fix the errors]
• Part 3 [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in part 3, click on “Edit Part 3” to fix the errors]
• Part 4 [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in part 4, click on “Edit Part 4” to fix the errors]
• Part 5 [ Instruction : If you see any mistakes in part 5, click on “Edit Part 5” to fix the errors]

Subsection: Location

Review the entered information in “Location”

• Location [ Instruction : If you have made a mistake in selecting the location for your visa interview, click on “Edit Location Information” to select a different location]

14. Sign and Submit

Preparer of Application

• Did anyone assist you in filling out this application? [ Instruction : Select “No”. Select “Yes” ONLY if a travel agent completed your application on your behalf]

E-Signature

• Enter your Passport/Travel Document Number: [ Instruction : Enter your passport number]
• Enter the code as shown: [ Instruction : Enter the code shown in the captcha]

After entering the above information, click on “Sign and Submit Application” to electronically sign and submit your DS-160.

IMPORTANT Once you click on “Sign and Submit Application”, you cannot make any more changes to your DS-160. If you notice any errors, then you have to fill out a new application altogether. So, make sure all your information is correct and error-free before clicking on “Sign and Submit Application”.

After you click on “Sign and Submit Application”, the following confirmation is displayed.

“You have successfully signed and submitted your application. You cannot make any changes to your application at this point. Please click ‘Next: Confirmation’ to complete the application process”

Click on the “Next: Confirmation” button to view and print your DS-160 confirmation.

15. Confirmation

On this page, confirmation of your DS-160 will be displayed. You will see 3 options –

• Print Confirmation [ Instruction : Click this button to print DS-160 confirmation. A print of your DS-160 confirmation is required to attend your US visa interview]
• Print Application [ Instruction : Click this button to print a copy of DS-160 itself. This is for your records only. You do not need a DS-160 print for your interview]
• Email Confirmation [ Instruction : Click this button to email DS-160 confirmation. You can also print this DS-160 confirmation from your email later]

Print DS-160 confirmation from this screen on an A4 or letter-size paper. If not, at least save it as a PDF so you will have a copy. Email a copy to yourself as well so you can print it later if needed.

Also, print a copy of your DS-160 to PDF so you will have a copy of that too. Later down the line if you are applying/renewing the visa, you can upload this PDF to pre-populate the DS-160 form for you. It would save a ton of time.

WHAT’S NEXT?

After you complete and submit your DS-160, the next step would be to pay the MRV fee and schedule your US visa interview. Follow this detailed step-by-step guide on how to schedule US visa interview .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to edit an already submitted DS-160 form?

Editing an already submitted DS-160 form is not possible. You will have to fill out a new DS-160 form. But you can retrieve your already submitted DS-160 form to pre-populate the information in your new DS-160 form. Follow the below steps.

– Go to the US Department of State’s  Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160)  page – Click on “Retrieve an Application” – You will be asked whether you want to view the confirmation page or start a new application – Select “Start a new application” – Enter your Application ID – Submit

A new DS-160 form will be started with the information from your previous DS-160 form. Make necessary updates and submit the form. A confirmation page with a new bar code will be displayed. Print and use this new DS-160 confirmation page for your US visa appointment. Discard the old confirmation page.

If applying as a family, does everyone in the family need to submit a separate DS-160 form?

Yes. If you are applying US visas for the entire family, everyone in your family must submit a separate DS-160 form. Follow the below steps for completing DS-160 forms for everyone in the family.

1) Start your (primary applicant) DS-160 form first. Add your family members as your travel companions. 2) After submitting your DS-160 form, on the “thank you” page, you will be given the option to create the remaining DS-160 forms for your family members. 3) Follow the on-screen instructions from there, some of the common information (such as travel dates, companions, etc) will be copied over to your family members’ DS-160 forms. This saves time and helps to avoid making mistakes.

How to contact the National Visa Center if you have technical issues with DS-160

If you are facing any technical issues with your DS-160 form, you can contact the National Visa Center for help. Keep in mind that this is a phone-only help and you will have to call a US phone number. You can find the phone number on the US Department of State’s US Visas Contacts page.

That’s it, folks! Follow this step-by-step guide to fill DS-160 form for your US visa. If you have any questions or stuck at any step, reach out to me via social media or email.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

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01. Apply for your visa

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02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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• Travel Tips

Where Is The Travel Document Number On A US Visa

Published: December 2, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Dulcea Gales

• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Traveling to the United States is an exciting and enriching experience. However, before embarking on your journey, it is essential to obtain the necessary visa to enter the country legally. One crucial piece of information on your US visa is the Travel Document Number, which plays a significant role in the immigration process.

The Travel Document Number is a unique identifier assigned to your visa. It is used by immigration officials to verify your visa status and track your travel history. Understanding where to find this number on your US visa is essential, as it may be required for various purposes, such as completing immigration forms, applying for extensions, or checking the validity of your visa.

In this article, we will delve into the importance of the Travel Document Number and guide you on where to locate it on your US visa. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, having a clear understanding of this crucial information will make your travel experience smoother and hassle-free.

Understanding the US Visa

Before we dive into the specifics of the Travel Document Number on a US visa, it is essential to have a basic understanding of what a US visa is and how it works.

A US visa is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport that grants you permission to enter and stay in the United States for a specific period. There are different types of US visas, including tourist visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F-1), work visas (H-1B), and more, each serving a specific purpose and allowing for different lengths of stay.

When you apply for a US visa, you must provide all the necessary documentation, undergo an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and pay the required fees. The US government reviews your application, assesses your eligibility, and determines if you meet the criteria for the specific visa category you are applying for.

Once your visa is approved, it is affixed to one of the pages in your passport, typically on a blank visa page. The visa contains important information such as your name, passport number, visa type, visa category, and other relevant details. One of the most critical pieces of information on your US visa is the Travel Document Number.

The Travel Document Number is a unique identifier that allows immigration officials to track your visa status and verify your travel history. It is crucial to keep this number handy during your stay in the United States, as it may be required for various purposes, such as reapplying for a visa, extending your stay, or checking your immigration status.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what a US visa is, let’s explore why the Travel Document Number is so important.

Importance of the Travel Document Number

The Travel Document Number on your US visa holds significant importance throughout your travel journey. It serves as a unique identifier and is used by immigration officials to verify your visa status and track your travel history. Here are a few reasons why the Travel Document Number is essential:

• Immigration Verification: When you arrive at a US port of entry, immigration officials will review your visa and passport. They will use the Travel Document Number to verify the validity of your visa, confirm your identity, and ensure you meet the entry requirements. It is essential to have this number readily available to facilitate a smooth immigration process.
• Completing Immigration Forms: Throughout your stay in the United States, you may need to complete various immigration forms, such as the Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) or the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). These forms often require you to provide your Travel Document Number. Having this information readily accessible will help you accurately complete the necessary paperwork.
• Checking Visa Validity: The Travel Document Number allows you to check the validity of your visa online through the US Department of State’s Visa Check website. By entering your Travel Document Number, you can verify the expiration date, visa category, and any conditions or restrictions associated with your visa. This information is crucial to ensure you comply with the terms of your visa and avoid any potential problems during your stay in the United States.

It is important to note that the Travel Document Number is different from your passport number. While your passport number is a unique identifier for your passport, the Travel Document Number specifically relates to your US visa and tracks your immigration history within the United States. Make sure to keep both numbers secure and readily accessible during your travel.

Next, let’s explore where exactly you can find your Travel Document Number on your US visa.

Where to Find the Travel Document Number on a US Visa

Locating the Travel Document Number on your US visa is essential for various purposes, including completing immigration forms, checking visa validity, and ensuring a smooth immigration process. Here are the common locations where you can find the Travel Document Number:

• Visa foil: In most US visas, the Travel Document Number is printed on the visa foil, which is affixed to one of the pages in your passport. It is generally located at the top or bottom of the visa foil. Look for a series of numbers that typically range from 8 to 11 digits. This is your Travel Document Number.
• Visa stamp: If you have a US visa with a stamp instead of a foil, the Travel Document Number can usually be found within the stamp itself. Check for a sequence of numbers near the bottom of the stamp. This set of numbers is your Travel Document Number.
• Visa confirmation email or receipt: If you applied for your US visa online or through a visa application center, you may have received a confirmation email or receipt. In some cases, the Travel Document Number may be mentioned within the document. Take a look at the provided information to find your Travel Document Number.

If you are unable to locate your Travel Document Number or have any concerns, it is recommended to reach out to the nearest US embassy, consulate, or the visa application center where you obtained your visa. They will be able to assist you and provide guidance regarding your specific situation.

Remember to keep your Travel Document Number secure and readily accessible during your travels. It is advisable to make a copy of your visa and passport, including the page with the Travel Document Number, and store it separately from the originals. This will help in case of loss or theft of your documents.

Now that you know how to find the Travel Document Number on your US visa, you can confidently navigate immigration procedures and ensure a smooth travel experience within the United States.

Understanding the Travel Document Number on your US visa is essential for a smooth and hassle-free travel experience. This unique identifier plays a significant role in verifying your visa status, completing immigration forms, and checking the validity of your visa. By knowing where to find this number on your US visa, you can navigate immigration procedures with confidence.

In this article, we covered the basics of a US visa and its importance in granting permission to enter and stay in the United States. We highlighted the significance of the Travel Document Number and its role in immigration verification and completing necessary paperwork. Additionally, we provided guidance on common locations to find the Travel Document Number on your US visa, such as the visa foil, visa stamp, or visa confirmation email.

Remember to keep your Travel Document Number secure and readily accessible during your travels. It is recommended to store a separate copy of your visa and passport, including the page with the Travel Document Number, to mitigate the risk of loss or theft.

If you have any concerns or issues locating your Travel Document Number, we encourage you to reach out to the nearest US embassy, consulate, or visa application center for assistance. They will be able to provide the necessary guidance and support.

With a clear understanding of the Travel Document Number and its importance, you can confidently embark on your journey to the United States, knowing that you are well-prepared for the immigration procedures that lie ahead.

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