Travel outside US immediately after GC interview

[SciGurl]

I am an Indian citizen, applied for GC after marriage to USC. I am currently in AOS, with EAD/AP combo card, and interview is scheduled for December 2nd (Jacksonville, FL). I am planning to travel to India for 6 weeks shortly after my GC interview (in about 1 week). Is this safe to do, or will I have problems trying to re-enter?

From my understanding, if they approve my GC, I can request I-551 stamp- can I expect to get it within 1 week of interview? Is there any chance that they do not tell me if my GC has been approved/denied after the interview and inform me later by mail- when I am already outside US. Or if they ask for more information, my AP will remain valid so I can still travel/re-enter.

I know it is not ideal to travel before the physical GC arrives in the mail, but if I wait that long ticket prices shoot up (peak season) and I can no longer afford to go. I have not been to India in 5 years, so I really want to make this trip- please advise! Thanks...

[rayb]

After your GC interview, an I-551 stamp will allow reentry to the U.S. Interviewers are sometimes reluctant to give you an I-551 stamp at the interview time, or a local office policy may bar that stamp being available at the interview time. But ask for it anyway.

I would not rely on the Advance Parole being recognized after the actual Adjustment interview.

--Ray B

I am an Indian citizen, applied for GC after marriage to USC. I am currently in AOS, with EAD/AP combo card, and interview is scheduled for December 2nd (Jacksonville, FL). I am planning to travel to India for 6 weeks shortly after my GC interview (in about 1 week). Is this safe to do, or will I have problems trying to re-enter?

From my understanding, if they approve my GC, I can request I-551 stamp- can I expect to get it within 1 week of interview? Is there any chance that they do not tell me if my GC has been approved/denied after the interview and inform me later by mail- when I am already outside US. Or if they ask for more information, my AP will remain valid so I can still travel/re-enter.

I know it is not ideal to travel before the physical GC arrives in the mail, but if I wait that long ticket prices shoot up (peak season) and I can no longer afford to go. I have not been to India in 5 years, so I really want to make this trip- please advise! Thanks...

[SciGurl]

So if they are unwilling/not allowed to stamp my passport right after the interview, I can schedule an appointment to get it stamped in the next week or so? Or is there typically a longer wait time?

[rayb]

An I-551 stamp won't be put in your passport unless the USCIS staff person knows you have approved GC status. Still, if you don't get the I-551 stamp at the interview and have every indication of an approval, a subsequent INFOPASS appointment

--Ray B

So if they are unwilling/not allowed to stamp my passport right after the interview, I can schedule an appointment to get it stamped in the next week or so? Or is there typically a longer wait time?

[SciGurl]

So I can count on getting a decision about approval or rejection at the interview? They won't let me know via mail later? Sorry for all the questions...and thanks for the feedback!

[rayb]

At the end of the interview, you could end up with any of several possible assumptions. The interviewer may tell you you are approved; he may tell you that you will be hearing from them; or he may tell you that he needs a supervisor signoff.

--Ray B

So I can count on getting a decision about approval or rejection at the interview? They won't let me know via mail later? Sorry for all the questions...and thanks for the feedback!

[SciGurl]

At the end of the interview, you could end up with any of several possible assumptions. The interviewer may tell you you are approved; he may tell you that you will be hearing from them; or he may tell you that he needs a supervisor signoff.

--Ray B

What happens if I am already in India when I hear from them? Irrespective of being approved/denied, at that point my AP is invalidated, right? So I would not be allowed to re-enter the US?

[rayb]

Your Advance Parole, in the absence of an I-551 annotation, "might" get you back in. Sometimes at Adjustment interviews the interviewer will request surrender of the Work Authorization, with Advance Parole printed on the card, since an Adjustment approval effectively terminates validity of that card (combo card with Work Authorization and Advance Parole together).

After the investment and waiting time to get an Adjustment of Status completed, I wouldn't risk my wife's status by allowing her to leave the U.S. until her status was wrapped up and secure.

--Ray B

What happens if I am already in India when I hear from them? Irrespective of being approved/denied, at that point my AP is invalidated, right? So I would not be allowed to re-enter the US?