USCIS Begins Producing Security-Enhanced Travel Documents

To prevent secure document tampering, counterfeiting, and fraud, we will begin producing on Oct. 24 a new security-enhanced U.S. travel document, which is a booklet that looks similar to a U.S. passport and serves dual purposes. The travel document can serve in place of:

• Form I-327, Permit to Reenter the United States: Lawful permanent residents use the Reentry Permit to return from temporary travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Reentry Permit for travel in place of a passport; and
• Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document: Those with refugee or asylum status use a Refugee Travel Document if they wish to temporarily travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Refugee Travel Document for travel in place of a passport.

The new travel document will include a variety of secure features:

• Redesigned booklet cover
• Four montages containing three images, each of notable U.S. architecture, used throughout the booklet
• A combination of first-, second- and third-level security features (overt, covert and forensic)
  • Overt is something you can see with the eye, such as the central image of the Statue of Liberty.
  • Covert is something that requires a tool, such as a magnifying glass, to see fine detail artwork.
  • Forensic is something that requires laboratory examination. 

Prior versions of the travel document will remain valid until their expiration date.