Planning Your Trip. The travel document usually arrives within 150 days (sometimes longer) after submitting your application. You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.
What is a U.S. Visa? A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to travel to the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa. Visas are placed in the traveler's passport, a travel document issued by the traveler's country of citizenship.
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Authorization via ESTA does not determine whether a traveler is admissible to the United States.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Visa Waiver Program travelers are required to apply for and receive an approved travel authorization via ESTA to board a plane or vessel bound for the United States. (A travel authorization via ESTA is not a guarantee of admission into the United States.
A travel document lets the U.S. government know about your travel plans. This is for anyone who is not a U.S. citizen but is living in the USA. You can use a travel document instead of a visa as proof of travel authorization. You must get your travel document before you leave the country.
Use Form I-131 - Application for Travel Document.
Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that travel authorization applications be submitted at least 72 hours prior to travel.
Travelers may wish to avoid buying plane tickets until they have obtained an ESTA (or a valid visa, in case the ESTA is not approved). ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. The processing of an ESTA can take up to 72 hours.
The travel document usually arrives within 150 days (sometimes longer) after submitting your application. You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.
Generally, to travel outside the United States, a TPS applicant must apply for a travel document (advance parole; Form I-131) and receive advance parole BEFORE leaving. This process usually takes several months.