Any risk to travel internationally while waiting for GC interview decision?

[azblk]

No, actually, it wasn't just opinion. Like "I'm a border officer having a bad day, I think I'll just provide my opinion." When the officer made the statement, I engaged in a conversation to understand the comment, and also understand what the practice is. She confirmed that it is practice to discourage non-essential travel while on AP. And I confirmed it with a different officer at a different time/date I crossed (I confirmed it in a way that wasn't a leading question, so the answer was given).

Both times when I got processed, there were NOT a lot of people waiting to be processed, and yet my case took more than an hour. I do not have any issues at all, and have crossed the border thousands of times (yes, really, thousands). I presume that there is a fairly extensive process that must be followed when CBP admits someone under AP, which is probably why the prevailing practice is to discourage it for non-urgent reasons.

So sure, go ahead and travel, make certain you have the correct documents. (Note: Do you see how the OP thought he/she could reenter under F-1? What would have happened to him/her if she left and didn't have the right documents, or was admitted incorrectly on F-1? Now, if they missed that fact, what else might they be missing...?) Many many people travel on AP and don't have any issues. Just be aware AP is not a guarantee of return. After having done it twice and having to wait for so long, and have both officers tell me it's discouraged to travel on AP for non-urgent reasons, I wouldn't do it again myself.

What you are talking about is secondary inspection which is pretty standard now for anyone on AP. Also regardless of your visa or green card, it is at the discretion of the CBP officer where to let one in or deny them entry or send them to secondary inspection - Nothing but a US passport can guarantee you entrance in the US.

[smilezz]

Thanks everyone for your suggestion. I had an intensive discussion with my parents and my husband's family, and we decided to bear the risk and still go on the trip. Hopefully my clean history could give me a better chance to be admitted.

I do have a follow up question - I changed my name after got married, and my EAD/AP shows my marriage name. However, my passport still shows as my maiden name, since my government doesn't allow us to change name.

On this condition, what documents would I need to bring with me to present at the admission?

Thanks in advance.

[a1be]

Have a nice trip!

Glad you did your research and figured out the right path for you. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but definitely leave time for secondary inspection!! I waited for 1 1/2 hours at a land crossing when the border wasn't even that busy.

As for name issues, I'm really not an expert at all, but bring your marriage certificate, and all your immigration and identity documents, including whatever documents you used to apply for your EAD. I wonder -- wouldn't you have had to supply your passport to get the EAD? If so, it's interesting that USCIS would have accepted a different name.

Thanks for everyone's prompt reply. I didn't expect that there could be so much risks that I even didn't think about before.

I still maintain my F-1 student visa, would that make a difference? I somehow got the impression that once I left the country, I will automatically lose my F-1 status, but I just want to make sure that if there is any possibility that I could still benefit through my student identity.

[gradapplicant]

Wow, I was under the impression that traveling with Advance Parole was not solely for emergencies, in fact I was told that by an immigration lawyer. One of the top 5 questions on the USCIS website about Advance Parole is "I’m going on a cruise, do I need advance parole?" with their response "Maybe - it depends on where you are going on your cruise. As discussed in question one above, if you are traveling directly between two parts of the United States (e.g., between Florida and Puerto Rico), an advance parole will not be needed. If you will be traveling to other countries or non-U.S. territories, advance parole would be necessary." That certainly makes it sound like Advance Parole travel is not reserved for emergencies?

[smilezz]

Glad you did your research and figured out the right path for you. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but definitely leave time for secondary inspection!! I waited for 1 1/2 hours at a land crossing when the border wasn't even that busy.

As for name issues, I'm really not an expert at all, but bring your marriage certificate, and all your immigration and identity documents, including whatever documents you used to apply for your EAD. I wonder -- wouldn't you have had to supply your passport to get the EAD? If so, it's interesting that USCIS would have accepted a different name.

I did list my legal name appears on the passport as other name used in my original application. I guess it's quite common for people to change their last name after they get married, so the IO is very used to it?

[smilezz]

Wow, I was under the impression that traveling with Advance Parole was not solely for emergencies, in fact I was told that by an immigration lawyer. One of the top 5 questions on the USCIS website about Advance Parole is "I’m going on a cruise, do I need advance parole?" with their response "Maybe - it depends on where you are going on your cruise. As discussed in question one above, if you are traveling directly between two parts of the United States (e.g., between Florida and Puerto Rico), an advance parole will not be needed. If you will be traveling to other countries or non-U.S. territories, advance parole would be necessary." That certainly makes it sound like Advance Parole travel is not reserved for emergencies?

I am not quite sure about the answer for this question, but I just checked uscis website. It seems like emergency travel documents could only be used for emergent occasions, but it doesn't say anything about regular AP, thus I think it probably does not have such requirement.

[a1be]

Same docs

Yeah, so if you used those docs to apply then use the same ones coming back in. I'm sure the border officials are just as familiar with those situations. It probably happens multiple times a day lol. Definitely bring marriage cert. Keep copies of all original docs somewhere separately in case orginsls are lost. Hope you have a nice trip!

I did list my legal name appears on the passport as other name used in my original application. I guess it's quite common for people to change their last name after they get married, so the IO is very used to it?

[a1be]

The point of advanced parole is to allow you to leave the US and return without abandoning your AOS. It's not only for emergency travel. The statements that were made to me were to the effect that "non urgent travel on AP is discouraged". I think that's the case because it's a lot of work to process people on AP, so if a lot of AP people travelled often, then the border would get jammed.

Imagine, for example, people who live near the border and might drive across for an afternoon to go for a walk on a nice trail, or perhaps go to a nice beach, or visit a certain restaurant, or maybe even go to a casino lol. Believe it or not, people who live near the border do those things. Now imagine if only 6 AP people did that. That's a whole shift of work for one person. So, they discourage non urgent travel, but yes you can do it, including going on a cruise, or even just for a walk.

Wow, I was under the impression that traveling with Advance Parole was not solely for emergencies, in fact I was told that by an immigration lawyer. One of the top 5 questions on the USCIS website about Advance Parole is "I’m going on a cruise, do I need advance parole?" with their response "Maybe - it depends on where you are going on your cruise. As discussed in question one above, if you are traveling directly between two parts of the United States (e.g., between Florida and Puerto Rico), an advance parole will not be needed. If you will be traveling to other countries or non-U.S. territories, advance parole would be necessary." That certainly makes it sound like Advance Parole travel is not reserved for emergencies?

[supernovazhu]

I left the US in July. Got back to the US with AP in September. Went through the secondary custom (i assume thats the name and people with AP have to go through it?), had no problems with it so far.

[smilezz]

I left the US in July. Got back to the US with AP in September. Went through the secondary custom (i assume thats the name and people with AP have to go through it?), had no problems with it so far.

Thank you for your update. That is really great to know.

[smilezz]

Hey everyone,

Just want to give you all an update that I came back with my AP yesterday without any issues. I did have to go through secondary inspection, but it only took 20-25 minutes, so we were still able to catch our connecting flight.

In addition, my i-485 also got approved during my trip, and I had it in hand yesterday as well.

Thanks for everyone's help.