GC approved, not received - can I travel?

[ShadowYU 1]

Hi,

I had a Green Card Interview on October 17th and was approved by the lady at the spot. Now, I have not yet received my green card, but am planning on traveling to Canada on November 8th. NOTE: I still have an advance parole document which I received after filing I-131. Can I go to Canada and then come back using my advance parole, although GC has been approved?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

[YuAndDan 153]

AP is NO LONGER VALID, your status is LPR, the POE officer will want to see the GREEN-CARD, ot an I-551 stamp in your passport in order to re-enter the USA.

[cdn_in_wa 1]

Hi,

I had a Green Card Interview on October 17th and was approved by the lady at the spot. Now, I have not yet received my green card, but am planning on traveling to Canada on November 8th. NOTE: I still have an advance parole document which I received after filing I-131. Can I go to Canada and then come back using my advance parole, although GC has been approved?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

Did the IO tell you that your file had to be reviewed by anyone? Has your online status changed?

Meant to add we were told approved pending review and when I asked about travelling to Canada, I was told to use AP as usual.

Edited October 24, 2008 by cdn_in_wa

[payxibka 10,045]

was anything stamped in your passport? If not, make Infopass appointment and go back and get one if you need to travel before the physical card arrives

[ShadowYU 1]

Hi,

I had a Green Card Interview on October 17th and was approved by the lady at the spot. Now, I have not yet received my green card, but am planning on traveling to Canada on November 8th. NOTE: I still have an advance parole document which I received after filing I-131. Can I go to Canada and then come back using my advance parole, although GC has been approved?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

Did the IO tell you that your file had to be reviewed by anyone? Has your online status changed?

Meant to add we were told approved pending review and when I asked about travelling to Canada, I was told to use AP as usual.

Status online has not changed. The lady did say that she will "recommend the application for approval" and that I can expect GC in 2 weeks to 2 months.

[payxibka 10,045]

Meant to add we were told approved pending review and when I asked about travelling to Canada, I was told to use AP as usual.

that is different than approved.... so it is an important distinction

[cdn_in_wa 1]

Hi,

I had a Green Card Interview on October 17th and was approved by the lady at the spot. Now, I have not yet received my green card, but am planning on traveling to Canada on November 8th. NOTE: I still have an advance parole document which I received after filing I-131. Can I go to Canada and then come back using my advance parole, although GC has been approved?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

Did the IO tell you that your file had to be reviewed by anyone? Has your online status changed?

Meant to add we were told approved pending review and when I asked about travelling to Canada, I was told to use AP as usual.

Status online has not changed. The lady did say that she will "recommend the application for approval" and that I can expect GC in 2 weeks to 2 months.

This sounds like the same position we are in. Our interviewer said 'I am approving your application." Then he said it would be reviewed by someone else before we were to be issued GC.

So far no one on VJ who was interviewed in Seattle a week ago, or since, has been told approved or had any change in status online. Some were told approved pending, others were not told anything.

We were also told it might be a month to get the GC.

Meant to add we were told approved pending review and when I asked about travelling to Canada, I was told to use AP as usual.

that is different than approved.... so it is an important distinction

I agree, but being that it's been clarified as 'recommend application for approval' perhaps it is the same status as the rest of us from Seattle.

[YuAndDan 153]

One other note:

If a person from "Yugoslavia" does not have green-card, they MAY need a visa to visit Canada. AP or green-card needed to return.

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors

Albania

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

Slovenia

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp Edited October 24, 2008 by YuAndDan

[ShadowYU 1]

One other note:

If a person from "Yugoslavia" does not have green-card, they MAY need a visa to visit Canada. AP or green-card needed to return.

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors

Albania

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

Slovenia

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Thank you! Although, I already knew I needed a visa for Canada, but that is a different, unrelated issue. Thanks anyway for taking precautionary measures and noting the need for Canadian visa.

[YuAndDan 153]

One other note:

If a person from "Yugoslavia" does not have green-card, they MAY need a visa to visit Canada. AP or green-card needed to return.

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors

Albania

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

Slovenia

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Thank you! Although, I already knew I needed a visa for Canada, but that is a different, unrelated issue. Thanks anyway for taking precautionary measures and noting the need for Canadian visa.

After you have I-551 stamp, or Green-card you wont need a visa to visit Canada, they treat permanent US residents just like US citizens and allow visits without visa, the same goes for Mexico, and most of the Caribbean.

My wife has been to Canada 3 times since getting green-card, no problems.

[ShadowYU 1]

One other note:

If a person from "Yugoslavia" does not have green-card, they MAY need a visa to visit Canada. AP or green-card needed to return.

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors

Albania

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

Slovenia

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Thank you! Although, I already knew I needed a visa for Canada, but that is a different, unrelated issue. Thanks anyway for taking precautionary measures and noting the need for Canadian visa.

After you have I-551 stamp, or Green-card you wont need a visa to visit Canada, they treat permanent US residents just like US citizens and allow visits without visa, the same goes for Mexico, and most of the Caribbean.

My wife has been to Canada 3 times since getting green-card, no problems.

Wow, I had no idea that such was the case. That's great news for me. Thanks!