Looking for confirmation on AOS interview process

[BrentR 0]

I think I understand this but want to be sure. My wife has her AOS interview scheduled for 2 December. She has a ticket to fly back to England to visit family on 6 December. (It's the other end of her last round-trip ticket; we obviously had no idea what the timeline was going to be when we bought the ticket in the spring, so we just picked a date in December so she could visit family back in England and get back to the US in time for Christmas.) If I understand it correctly, assuming her interview goes well (and there's no reason it won't) they'll approve her AOS then and there and stamp her passport with the I-551 stamp, and she'll be free to travel on 6 December without worrying about getting back in. Right? She can use the stamp in place of an actual green card until the physical green card arrives? Just want to be absolutely sure.

Assuming that's correct, we then have to decide if it's worth the gamble buying her return ticket before the interview. I'm sure Christmas-time flights aren't getting any cheaper and the sooner we book the next flight the better, but then there's that one in a million chance that she won't get approved. (Honestly no concern there, but nothing is guaranteed....)

Thanks,

Brent

Edited November 2, 2011 by B.Rossow

[paojack 41]

No, I believe after the interview she needs to wait to get the GC in the mail. Did she apply for AP? If so, she might be able to get it before then and will be able to freely travel after the interview.

[BrentR 0]

No, I believe after the interview she needs to wait to get the GC in the mail. Did she apply for AP? If so, she might be able to get it before then and will be able to freely travel after the interview.

Yes, she's already been approved for AP. My understanding is that AP is only for emergency travel, not just visiting family. No?

Every link I've found via Google (search) says that travel on the I-551 stamp is just fine -- in fact, that the whole purpose of the stamp is to act as a temporary green card while waiting for the permanent card. Any actual evidence to suggest that all these other sites are wrong? I'm totally open-minded about this and just want to make sure I'm getting accurate, correct info, even if the majority doesn't seem to agree.

[Lainie B 465]

AP is not just for emergencies - you are confusing it with EMERGENCY advanced parole that can be requested and granted with very short notice.

Also this should really be in the AOS forum - can someone move it?

Edited November 2, 2011 by Lainie B

[BrentR 0]

AP is not just for emergencies - you are confusing it with EMERGENCY advanced parole that can be requested and granted with very short notice.

Also this should really be in the AOS forum - can someone move it?

First, thanks for the clarification. I'm apparently completely confused by the AP concept. Was going by what my wife had told me, but apparently she's confused as well. Eek! So now that her AP was approved, she could go back to England whenever she wants?

Second, I didn't notice that there was an AOS forum until just now. Sorry! I have (had) the "Family & Marriage Based US Visa Immigration Discussion" sub-forum bookmarked and mistakenly thought that was the root forum. Hoping this will get moved. Thanks.

Edited November 2, 2011 by B.Rossow

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

If I understand it correctly, assuming her interview goes well (and there's no reason it won't) they'll approve her AOS then and there and stamp her passport with the I-551 stamp, and she'll be free to travel on 6 December without worrying about getting back in. Right? She can use the stamp in place of an actual green card until the physical green card arrives? Just want to be absolutely sure.

Yes, you can use the stamp if you get it. Many interviews end with "Thanks for coming. We will make a decision within 60 days. We'll let you know if we need anything further from you."

[VanessaTony 3,567]

First, thanks for the clarification. I'm apparently completely confused by the AP concept. Was going by what my wife had told me, but apparently she's confused as well. Eek! So now that her AP was approved, she could go back to England whenever she wants?

Second, I didn't notice that there was an AOS forum until just now. Sorry! I have (had) the "Family & Marriage Based US Visa Immigration Discussion" sub-forum bookmarked and mistakenly thought that was the root forum. Hoping this will get moved. Thanks.

She might not get the stamp. It's becoming less common as they might approve you on the spot but say "We'll send your file for review and let you know". She should be fine using her AP but I would take the travel plans and ask for an I-551 stamp. Also, sometimes they take the EAD (if you have a combined card this would be the AP also) so I would NOT take that to the interview.