Form I-131, Application to Travel...Worth filing?

[Dewave2 17]

Hi Guys,

So Im looking at the I-131 as part of our application process and Im wondering if its worth filing along with the application or not.

So I don't actually have any travel planned, so I don't have any real need to file one. However I remember reading once that you could fill one out without any planned travel dates. Is this true? The reason being, I wouldn't want to say, anything to happen to a family member back home and not be able to leave if need be.

Who has filled one as part of their package without actually having planned dates? If so, what do I actually put, when asked for the dates of travel?

Thanks in advance!

[Oksana & Max 94]

Since it is free to file with AOS package. I would recommend to file it. You don't have to put exact dates, just put approximate dates and you will be fine and USCIS understands that.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can even put "unknown." Ap is routinely approved for people with I-485 pending. However, you are accumulating days of overstay right now, so it might not be wise to use AP, depending on how many overstay days you rack up by the time you send out your package.

[Dewave2 17]

That was part of my thinking. As I still haven't sent off the package, and I'm at about 2 months of overstay, I didn't really want o push my luck and request more days.

I think I remember hearing once from somewhere, that for instance, say a family member was to pass away, and I didn't file for AP, I could file some form of emergency request at that time to leave the country? Although Im hoping obviously nothing happens, this would be the only real reason I would need to go back before everything coming through, so therefore as long as there is some form of emergency request, then I that should be enough to cover my bases.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Do NOT ever lie and put a "fake date". Though this form isn't as important and you're unlikely to get into trouble and USCIS knows that plans change, a "fake date" is a lie and you should NEVER lie on the forms, however insignificant the lie may be.

Put "unknown". I and others have done this without problems.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

That was part of my thinking. As I still haven't sent off the package, and I'm at about 2 months of overstay, I didn't really want o push my luck and request more days.

I think I remember hearing once from somewhere, that for instance, say a family member was to pass away, and I didn't file for AP, I could file some form of emergency request at that time to leave the country? Although Im hoping obviously nothing happens, this would be the only real reason I would need to go back before everything coming through, so therefore as long as there is some form of emergency request, then I that should be enough to cover my bases.

This is true. However a friend of mine had her father pass on, had the emergency AP approved but didn't receive it until the day of the funeral (and so missed everything). For that reason you need to come to terms with either missing such things, or abandoning AOS in order NOT to miss such things. Hopefully that won't happen but it's best to be prepared.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That was part of my thinking. As I still haven't sent off the package, and I'm at about 2 months of overstay, I didn't really want o push my luck and request more days.

I think I remember hearing once from somewhere, that for instance, say a family member was to pass away, and I didn't file for AP, I could file some form of emergency request at that time to leave the country? Although Im hoping obviously nothing happens, this would be the only real reason I would need to go back before everything coming through, so therefore as long as there is some form of emergency request, then I that should be enough to cover my bases.

Just apply for it and decide about using it later. Don't get hung up on "what-ifs." Cross those bridges when you come to them.