I-131 Application for Travel turnaround time

[bluegreen 0]

I try to find plain language links whenever I can:

http://immigration.about.com/cs/immigratio...ttravelperm.htm

Please consult with an attorney before you leave the country. You may be fine. The few dollars you spend for a consultation are nothing compared to peace of mind you will gain from your decision.

That's a great link - very clearly explained. We have been advised that we'll probably be fine, but that anything can happen at the border. It DID help me feel okay about it, so good advice:)

[rebeccajo 14]

I try to find plain language links whenever I can:

http://immigration.about.com/cs/immigratio...ttravelperm.htm

Please consult with an attorney before you leave the country. You may be fine. The few dollars you spend for a consultation are nothing compared to peace of mind you will gain from your decision.

That's a great link - very clearly explained. We have been advised that we'll probably be fine, but that anything can happen at the border. It DID help me feel okay about it, so good advice:)

Did you see the bit about consulting with an attorney first in the link?

I really really would like to see you do that before you leave. Especially since you are adjusting from visitors status.

[bluegreen 0]

Yes, I did. We have:) When we originally filed, I was very stressed about this. We got different answers. No one said - "don't do this, you will get denied re-entry". It was more like "know that you may face repercussions should your application fail". So it is still a sort of weighing the risks thing for me. And, we are very confident in our application. Of course I know that anything can happen. But I don't think I'll get denied re-entry.

I think they main thing for us is that if the worst happens, we have great back-up plans.

A lot of the time it is even free to have an initial consultation with a lawyer, and you can get a take on it. I think you are right to be concerned and to offer this advice:)

[rebeccajo 14]

Yes, I did. We have:) When we originally filed, I was very stressed about this. We got different answers. No one said - "don't do this, you will get denied re-entry". It was more like "know that you may face repercussions should your application fail". So it is still a sort of weighing the risks thing for me. And, we are very confident in our application. Of course I know that anything can happen. But I don't think I'll get denied re-entry.

I think they main thing for us is that if the worst happens, we have great back-up plans.

A lot of the time it is even free to have an initial consultation with a lawyer, and you can get a take on it. I think you are right to be concerned and to offer this advice:)

We have had three attorney consults during our process. We only were asked to pay for one of them.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

I didn't enter on a K1 visa before I married my husband - I was visiting (no visa as I am Canadian) and we eloped. I then applied for AOS. I have used my AP twice with no problems (apart from once when I had a heinously long wait) so how I entered before AOS application seems to be meaningless (in my case anyway).

Most people are telling you it's ok to use the document because most of the posters to this forum entered on a K1 visa. K3 are multiple-entry visas, so they can also travel at will. But even K1's fall into the 'technical' limbo I described to you above whenever they travel on advance parole. BUT - since their original entry (even though it was technically non immigrant) was based upon a pending marriage to a USC, the paroled entry is considered less risky for them (some attorneys would argue otherwise but let's not get into that.....)

The problem is how you entered the last time. Essentially if you entered on a non-immigrant visa, you are saying when you attempt to adjust your status - oh wait I changed my mind. Until that status has been adjusted, the government hasn't 'blessed' your request. Because you married a USC, you are allowed to stay (by law) but if you leave - well you've given up that one little apple.

Like I said...USCIS will give you an Advance Parole document if you request it. But they don't tell you what may happen if you choose to use it. Some visa entrants can come and go while adjusting - those types are few and far between. I don't know the types that can, but in MOST cases once you file for adjustment, you loose the status any previous visas may have given you.

An immigration attorney can tell you which category you fall into.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

I can't tell you how many cases I've heard of in which the lawyer was dead wrong and wound up causing applicants incredible heart-ache, expense and inconvenience. I wouldn't draw too much peace of mind from an immigration attorney.

I try to find plain language links whenever I can:

http://immigration.about.com/cs/immigratio...ttravelperm.htm

Please consult with an attorney before you leave the country. You may be fine. The few dollars you spend for a consultation are nothing compared to peace of mind you will gain from your decision.

[bohonk73 0]

Thank you to everyone for the discussion (and for answering the original question as well!). We will definitely consider a consult with an attorney before traveling.

Thank you everyone!!!

[bohonk73 0]

I have a quick follow up question on the i-131:

My primary reason for traveling is to attend a scientific conference in Portugal in July, however I would also like the opportunity to travel back home to visit family. I have seen a lot of discussion in which people have only put 'traveling to see family' as the circumstances that warrant the issuance. Is it better to keep it simple, i.e. should I simply list travel to see relatives? Or is it better to provide more compelling evidence (to advance my scientific career)? Will it make any difference?

Thanks for your experiences and any feedback.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

"Traveling to visit" is fine.

I think less is more - that's just my opinion. I've never heard of someone being denied AP and I don't think they look at your reason for traveling as a determining factor for approval.

Those are just my hunches though.

I have a quick follow up question on the i-131:

My primary reason for traveling is to attend a scientific conference in Portugal in July, however I would also like the opportunity to travel back home to visit family. I have seen a lot of discussion in which people have only put 'traveling to see family' as the circumstances that warrant the issuance. Is it better to keep it simple, i.e. should I simply list travel to see relatives? Or is it better to provide more compelling evidence (to advance my scientific career)? Will it make any difference?

Thanks for your experiences and any feedback.

[romeo18 0]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/lpr/adv_parole.xml

Scary language, but hopefully just that if you follow the rules.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/lpr/adv_parole.xml

Scary language, but hopefully just that if you follow the rules.

The first paragraph is scary but it's referring to what you can expect if you DON'T have AP.