USA border re-entry with AP

[morgana1723 0]

While my AOS is being processed I plan on traveling back to Spain to see my family for Christmas with the Advance Parole (I-131) documents I already got. I have my interview before I go but I doubt I'll get the Conditional Residency card before leaving.

I was wondering other people's experiences doing so:

where you able to be in the same line as you US spouse? (i.e. enter as a US resident)

did you get stopped and questioned further?

if so, did they ask you questions or just had to process your entry in the other room?

Thanks!

[desert_fox 32]

Make sure that you take both copies of yur AP doc with you. They will keep one.

They will send you to secondary inspection as it has to be logged, etc.

[TayRivers 4]

Make sure that you take both copies of yur AP doc with you. They will keep one.

They will send you to secondary inspection as it has to be logged, etc.

If you have your interview before your planned trip and you are approved your AP will be void. Make sure you take evidence of your intended trip to your interview and if you are approved ask for a I-551 stamp in your passport, this will act as a temp Greencard and allow you to return to the US without any problems. You can not use AP after you have been approved for AOS.

[Krikit 1,164]

Make sure that you take both copies of yur AP doc with you. They will keep one.

They will send you to secondary inspection as it has to be logged, etc.

If you have your interview before your planned trip and you are approved your AP will be void. Make sure you take evidence of your intended trip to your interview and if you are approved ask for a I-551 stamp in your passport, this will act as a temp Greencard and allow you to return to the US without any problems. You can not use AP after you have been approved for AOS.

Bzzz. Sorry, wrong answer. I am living proof that you can, indeed, use your AP after AOS approval. But I do agree that the OP needs to let them know he is travelling when he is at the interview.

Morgana, go in the same line as your spouse. Per an international airport CBP officer, airports always open up both lines (US citizen & non-US citizen) during the holiday travel season. Stay together. Your I-94 form will show the two of you travelling as a family.

[TayRivers 4]

Make sure that you take both copies of yur AP doc with you. They will keep one.

They will send you to secondary inspection as it has to be logged, etc.

If you have your interview before your planned trip and you are approved your AP will be void. Make sure you take evidence of your intended trip to your interview and if you are approved ask for a I-551 stamp in your passport, this will act as a temp Greencard and allow you to return to the US without any problems. You can not use AP after you have been approved for AOS.

Bzzz. Sorry, wrong answer. I am living proof that you can, indeed, use your AP after AOS approval. But I do agree that the OP needs to let them know he is travelling when he is at the interview.

Morgana, go in the same line as your spouse. Per an international airport CBP officer, airports always open up both lines (US citizen & non-US citizen) during the holiday travel season. Stay together. Your I-94 form will show the two of you travelling as a family.

You left before you were approved without intervie, that is way diffrent to departing knowing that you have been approved and your AP is no longer valid or has been taken from you at the interview.

[Krikit 1,164]

You left before you were approved without intervie, that is way diffrent to departing knowing that you have been approved and your AP is no longer valid or has been taken from you at the interview.

Ahhh. Good point.

[morgana1723 0]

I have the interview on Nov 6 and I'm leaving Dec 19. I don't know if that's enough time to get the approval although since I filed my papers in July, I got responses on the shortest estimated timeframe. I guess I'll try to ask when I go to the interview. I'm suprised I haven't come across more information on the matter.

regarding the questioning, do they actually ask you questions? I have had very different experiences. Due to a mistake by my old school I was flagged by border authorities. Most of the time they didn't even ask me a question but one time at Newark the guy asked my A LOT of question, many of them personal. At the end he basically threaten me saying I was abusing the program and I was coming to the states too much and entry could be denied in the future (which wasn't true, just came a couple of times to visit my now husband). Also, a different time in JFK it was super busy and US citizens had priority, but I'm guessing it won't make a difference whether I had the residency or not, I still would be at the bottom of the pile but at least I cna go through the US line, which in my experience it usually goes much faster than the Foreign one.

PS Thanks for the responses, by the way!

[TayRivers 4]

I have the interview on Nov 6 and I'm leaving Dec 19. I don't know if that's enough time to get the approval although since I filed my papers in July, I got responses on the shortest estimated timeframe. I guess I'll try to ask when I go to the interview. I'm suprised I haven't come across more information on the matter.

regarding the questioning, do they actually ask you questions? I have had very different experiences. Due to a mistake by my old school I was flagged by border authorities. Most of the time they didn't even ask me a question but one time at Newark the guy asked my A LOT of question, many of them personal. At the end he basically threaten me saying I was abusing the program and I was coming to the states too much and entry could be denied in the future (which wasn't true, just came a couple of times to visit my now husband). Also, a different time in JFK it was super busy and US citizens had priority, but I'm guessing it won't make a difference whether I had the residency or not, I still would be at the bottom of the pile but at least I cna go through the US line, which in my experience it usually goes much faster than the Foreign one.

PS Thanks for the responses, by the way!

Most people get their greencard within 2 -3 weeks after the interview, so you should have it before you plan to travel. I have only ever been asked how long I was out of the US for when I have traveled back. Never been given any hassle.

[Cassie 8]

You can also ask for the I-551 stamp in the passport after your interview if you are approved, if you are worried about not getting the card in time for travelling. Or if you can't get it that day, make an INFOPASS appointment before your travel date and ask for it.