When applicants file Form I-131 to request a Re-entry Permit or Advance Parole Document, they can choose to receive the document either:
- At their U.S. mailing address, or
- At a designated U.S. consulate abroad (such as the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai).
For clients who choose consular pick-up, it’s common to be confused when the USCIS case status says:
“Document was mailed to me”
— and the USPS tracking shows that the destination address is in Washington, DC, not the selected overseas consulate.
This situation leads to frequent questions like:
- Did USCIS send the travel document to the wrong place?
- Why was it mailed to D.C. if I requested to pick it up abroad?
- Will the consulate still receive the document?
The short answer: Yes, this is completely normal and part of USCIS’s standard routing process.
Common Client Confusion: “Was My Travel Document Sent to the Wrong Address?”
If your I-131 case status shows “Document was mailed to me,” and the tracking number indicates delivery in Washington, DC, don’t panic. This does not mean the document was mistakenly sent to you or to the wrong place.
Instead, it means USCIS has completed the travel document and mailed it to a U.S. government agency in Washington, DC for inter-agency processing before final international dispatch.
Why Are Travel Documents Routed Through Washington, DC?
When you select “consular pick-up” on Form I-131, USCIS does not send your document directly to the overseas consulate. Here’s the actual flow:
- USCIS completes and prints the travel document (e.g., Re-entry Permit or Advance Parole).
- Instead of sending it directly overseas, USCIS mails the document to the U.S. Department of State or the National Visa Center (NVC) in Washington, DC.
- Address may look like:
U.S. Department of State Visa Office / NVC Washington, DC
- The Department of State then forwards the document to the requested consulate via the Diplomatic Pouch—a secure international delivery system used by U.S. embassies and consulates.
Why Does USCIS Say “Mailed to Me”?
This is a generic case status message used by USCIS to indicate the document has left their facility. However:
- “Me” does not mean the applicant personally.
- It refers to the next recipient in the chain—usually the State Department or NVC in DC.
- The document is not lost and was not misdelivered.
How Long Does It Take to Reach the Overseas Consulate?
From the time USCIS mails the document to D.C., allow:
- 2 to 6 weeks (or longer in some cases) for diplomatic pouch transfer to the overseas consulate.
- Once received, the U.S. consulate will notify the applicant directly to arrange pickup.
Unfortunately, this part of the process does not have public tracking, so patience is essential.
What Should You or Your Attorney Do?
Here are steps we recommend:
Track the initial delivery to Washington, DC via USPS or UPS (usually shown in your USCIS online account).
Wait 2–6 weeks, then contact the consulate where you chose to receive the document.
Inquire with the consulate via email (check the consulate’s official website for instructions on travel document pick-up).
Need urgent travel? Talk to your immigration attorney about possible expedite options or in-country alternatives.
If you chose consular pick-up for your I-131 travel document and see that it was mailed to Washington, DC, this is not a mistake. It’s part of the normal overseas routing procedure.
The U.S. Department of State will handle forwarding the document to your selected U.S. consulate, and you will be contacted by consulate staff once it arrives.
Need Help with I-131 or Advance Parole Applications?
At Wang Law LLC, we have helped hundreds of clients navigate USCIS travel document applications, consular pick-up options, and expedite requests. We are committed to ensuring your document arrives where it should—when you need it.
Wang Law LLC – U.S. & Canadian Immigration Lawyers
Offices in Chicago & Toronto
Email: david@wanglaw.com
Website: www.wanglaw.com
Phone: 312-519-1115