Travel ban

[esoll 0]

We are finding out while adjusting we are not allowed to travel abroad!!! It is insane to both of us to be subjected to this kind of treatment. No one in our life stopped us from traveling freely and here we go, the US, the alleged most free country in the world can tell us when we can travel and when we can't. We are not anymore in the 80's East block anymore. What is the purpose of this?? We are not criminals. What do they think they are???

Further the all process of obtaining a visa for a spouse is ridiculous, heavy, un-respectful, expensive and borderline comical and stupid. I have better words for it but I should be nice! I tell you it does not show well to the rest of world, the way foreigners seeking visas are treated with this process. I am certain we will get many objections from the US if a US citizen has to be going through this type of process from another country.

[Urge To Race 2]

Actually you are allowed to travel abroad, you just can not re-enter the US using your single entry K1 visa. You don't have to wait for AOS to complete. You can file for and get AP (advanced parole) which would allow you to re-enter the US. You might get this before the green card.

We are finding out while adjusting we are not allowed to travel abroad!!! It is insane to both of us to be subjected to this kind of treatment. No one in our life stopped us from traveling freely and here we go, the US, the alleged most free country in the world can tell us when we can travel and when we can't. We are not anymore in the 80's East block anymore. What is the purpose of this?? We are not criminals. What do they think they are???

Further the all process of obtaining a visa for a spouse is ridiculous, heavy, un-respectful, expensive and borderline comical and stupid. I have better words for it but I should be nice! I tell you it does not show well to the rest of world, the way foreigners seeking visas are treated with this process. I am certain we will get many objections from the US if a US citizen has to be going through this type of process from another country.

[familyguy 2]

You are free to leave any time you want, I do not recall that being the situation in the former soviet block countries in fact they built a rather large wall to prevent you from doing just that. Revisionist history I guess? Or more likely just the frustration that so many feel with the process.

Without advance parole in your possession, you will find certain difficulties on attempting to re enter however.

You appear to have some misunderstanding about the process. Have you applied for AOS yet? It doesnt show on your timeline. Your application for AP should be included in that package if you wish to travel before your GC is issued.

[esoll 0]

What our frustrations come from is the fact that we need to ask if it is ok to travel abroad, nobody ever before told us when we can travel. I know we need to file an AOS to be able to travel while waiting for adjustment.

This does not show us we are free to travel and this is totally insane to us. I am about to file for adjustment and according to the time line it will pass around 50 days before we are "allowed" to travel.

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

My quote about the former east block was a metaphor to show what repressive countries were.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Well, the law svcks, but it is what it is. Unless you have your Advanced Parole documents or the greencard, you are stuck. Or of course, you are free to leave and not be allowed back. AP and EAD are part of the AOS process, to allow for travel and work.

Acceptable behavior has nothing to do with this.

[vip1 8]

I just want to say that there are a lot of people in the world that are very grateful for being allowed to live here, and that their conditions in their own countries are nothing compared to the small sacrifice of not being allowed to travel for a couple of month. I think we should all look at the positive side of things.

[Otto 83]

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

AP/Advance Parole is not asking the government for permission to travel - when filing for it, you are asking the government to allow reentry to the US while your AOS is still being processed (pending approval) - kind of like asking them to hold your place in line. It is a good thing - I think it shows that they (the US which is us) understands that people have a life outside USCIS and/or the US and have put in place a system that allows free travel.

Emergency AP is something that - thankfully - is in place, should something unexpectedly come up and the person does not have time to wait for normal approval to happen. (Effectively they are both the same thing - the difference is one can happen much faster when time is of the essence.)

Edited August 19, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[furiousng 2]

No one said you cant travel. Just that without AP you will have issues coming back in. You dont get to make the rules when asking for a privilege as that is what immigration is. Its not a right.. Good luck!!!!

Edited August 19, 2009 by furiousng

[sera77 35]

What our frustrations come from is the fact that we need to ask if it is ok to travel abroad, nobody ever before told us when we can travel. I know we need to file an AOS to be able to travel while waiting for adjustment.

This does not show us we are free to travel and this is totally insane to us. I am about to file for adjustment and according to the time line it will pass around 50 days before we are "allowed" to travel.

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

My quote about the former east block was a metaphor to show what repressive countries were.

---------------

I'm sorry, but I feel you're over reacting to having to wait 2 months for AP to process before you can complete the process and make your travel plans.

It's a privilege, not a right to bring into the country a fiance or spouse. I'm in the same process but not as far along so it's not like I'm unaware of what's involved in the process.

My parents had family members left behind when Germany was divided, I think it's ridiculous to having that compared to waiting a few months for advanced parole to process or I wouldn't have bothered responding to your posting.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

What our frustrations come from is the fact that we need to ask if it is ok to travel abroad, nobody ever before told us when we can travel. I know we need to file an AOS to be able to travel while waiting for adjustment.

This does not show us we are free to travel and this is totally insane to us. I am about to file for adjustment and according to the time line it will pass around 50 days before we are "allowed" to travel.

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

My quote about the former east block was a metaphor to show what repressive countries were.

it is what it is, if you don't like it then move to Switzerland...

[esoll 0]

I am seeing most of the postings are "take it and shove it" type of deal. I still believe someone telling me when we can or can't travel is not acceptable. Seems as we are accepting it just because it is that way. Not so! and on my interview I will let them know what I think about this..

[NArocks 13]

People rae beating down the borders and risking their lives to get here, and here you are ranting about no being able to travel? Heck thank goodnness you did not file a few years ago where it was taking people years to get approved. You knew the process, if you had married first and come as a CR or IR immigrant this would not have been a problem.

Welcome to the world of the USCIS.

You can always leave but not sure you will get back in without AP.

Yes by all means let them know how you feel at interview.

Edited August 19, 2009 by NArocks

[esoll 0]

What our frustrations come from is the fact that we need to ask if it is ok to travel abroad, nobody ever before told us when we can travel. I know we need to file an AOS to be able to travel while waiting for adjustment.

This does not show us we are free to travel and this is totally insane to us. I am about to file for adjustment and according to the time line it will pass around 50 days before we are "allowed" to travel.

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

My quote about the former east block was a metaphor to show what repressive countries were.

it is what it is, if you don't like it then move to Switzerland...

It is a no so smart remark. You live with it...

[Otto 83]

Not so! and on my interview I will let them know what I think about this..

If that makes you happy...

[Hell0W0rld 10]

I am seeing most of the postings are "take it and shove it" type of deal. I still believe someone telling me when we can or can't travel is not acceptable. Seems as we are accepting it just because it is that way. Not so! and on my interview I will let them know what I think about this..

if you KNEW you had to travel, why did your fiancee use the VISA so soon, you had 6 months to use it...