How do you actually travel with an Advance Parole?

[steen]

I have trip booked to my home country which is an European country that you could use an ESTA to travel to USA. I'm wondering, though, how you actually travel with the advance parole? I mailed the airline I'm travelling with who responded that I need a visa or ESTA or I wouldn't be allowed on the plane, she seem to have no idea what "this" advance parole is. But I understand that I can't apply for ESTA since I have a pending green card application and I don't have any visa I can use, so how do you actually use the advance parole? And how do you fill in the advance passenger information API?

[rayb]

The Advance Parole is for reentering the U.S., not travelling to countries outside the U.S.

Having said that, many travel agents don't know what a U.S. Advance Parole is, and routinely ask for ESTA proof for people booking to eh U.S.

It may become an issue, usually, when boarding a plane. When a friend was coming to the U.S. from Switzerland with a K1 visa, for the first time, he went through this same "ESTA" request from a travel agent when booking to the U.S., as the agent had no idea what a K1 visa was.

--Ray B

I have trip booked to my home country which is an European country that you could use an ESTA to travel to USA. I'm wondering, though, how you actually travel with the advance parole? I mailed the airline I'm travelling with who responded that I need a visa or ESTA or I wouldn't be allowed on the plane, she seem to have no idea what "this" advance parole is. But I understand that I can't apply for ESTA since I have a pending green card application and I don't have any visa I can use, so how do you actually use the advance parole? And how do you fill in the advance passenger information API?

[steen]

The Advance Parole is for reentering the U.S., not travelling to countries outside the U.S.

Having said that, many travel agents don't know what a U.S. Advance Parole is, and routinely ask for ESTA proof for people booking to eh U.S.

It may become an issue, usually, when boarding a plane. When a friend was coming to the U.S. from Switzerland with a K1 visa, for the first time, he went through this same "ESTA" request from a travel agent when booking to the U.S., as the agent had no idea what a K1 visa was.

--Ray B

Thank you for the reply Ray B! So did your friend actually have to get ESTA or was he able to travel with his K1? Is ut even possible to get an ESTA if you have a pending adjustment of status application since you have the intention to stay? Should I just try to go through with advance parole? Should I print out any official paper that shows that the advance parole is enough to be let in into the country, if there are any such info on the internet to print out?

[rayb]

The friend's problem with the lack of an ESTA was only because the agent thought an ESTA would be used, which was impossible since he was an Afghan national in Switzerland. Once escalated to a supervisor, it was understood that the K1 was a valid nonimmigrant visa not requiring a roundtrip ticket to the U.S. He has been here for about 3 years now.

The "Advance Parole" has the status of a travel permission, and should be recognized by government immigration staff, though travel agent employees are a different case altogether.

--Ray B

Thank you for the reply Ray B! So did your friend actually have to get ESTA or was he able to travel with his K1? Is ut even possible to get an ESTA if you have a pending adjustment of status application since you have the intention to stay? Should I just try to go through with advance parole? Should I print out any official paper that shows that the advance parole is enough to be let in into the country, if there are any such info on the internet to print out?

[steen]

The friend's problem with the lack of an ESTA was only because the agent thought an ESTA would be used, which was impossible since he was an Afghan national in Switzerland. Once escalated to a supervisor, it was understood that the K1 was a valid nonimmigrant visa not requiring a roundtrip ticket to the U.S. He has been here for about 3 years now.

The "Advance Parole" has the status of a travel permission, and should be recognized by government immigration staff, though travel agent employees are a different case altogether.

--Ray B

OK, I see, good thing they let him in eventually. And so while immigration in the US should know what it is, the travel agent employees in the departing country may not (as I have already experienced when mailing them), might there be a problem to get on the plane? What should I tell them if they don't want to let me board the plane?

[rayb]

Get a statement from the Embassy to accompany your Advance Parole when boarding the plane. Once at the Port of Entry in the U.S., there is no problem.

-Ray B

OK, I see, good thing they let him in eventually. And so while immigration in the US should know what it is, the travel agent employees in the departing country may not (as I have already experienced when mailing them), might there be a problem to get on the plane? What should I tell them if they don't want to let me board the plane?

[steen]

Get a statement from the Embassy to accompany your Advance Parole when boarding the plane. Once at the Port of Entry in the U.S., there is no problem.

-Ray B

Ok, how do I get my hands on a statement? Emailing the US embassy itself or could I Google one?

[rayb]

If you are in the U.S., get something using the INFOPASS in-person interview. Go to: https://infopass.uscis.gov/

While in the U.S., you should not have a problem getting a roundtrip ticket (or even a one-way ticket if going to your country of nationality).

If outside the U.S., and an agent challenges your use of an Advance Parole t reenter the U.S., contact the U.S. Embassy in that country.

--Ray B

Ok, how do I get my hands on a statement? Emailing the US embassy itself or could I Google one?