Travel after initial interview / I-551 stamp

[stjarna 0]

This might be a slightly long introduction until I get to the actual question, but I've never been good at keeping things short:

So not even a month ago I posted about my problems with receiving AP in time for some important trip for my doctoral research because the postal service apparently lost one of the letters USCIS sent to us, which cause a big mess for us.

See here for details:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/335352-delay-due-to-mistake-by-usps-or-uscis/

Well, as my final post in the other thread shows: Things worked out fairly nicely and I received my EAD/AP combo card on Nov. 2. I basically went ahead and immediately booked my flights for the research trips on Nov. 4 (since I was originally supposed to leave Nov. 1). Travel dates: Nov. 22-Dec. 20 and Jan.3 - Feb. 17.

Not even a week later (Nov. 10) I get the NOA for my initial interview. Interview date: Dec. 15! On the one hand: YAY! Potentially last step before receiving PR. On the other hand: That's right when I'm abroad!

We thought that it should be possible to (relatively easily) re-schedule the interview until I'm done with my trips, but after doing some research on the forum we got concerned that rescheduling might be a big problem. We consulted with an immigration lawyer and also contacted the office of our congresswoman again (they had been incredibly helpful with the AP). They told us how we could potentially request to have the interview rescheduled and that it's okay to re-schedule ONCE but that USCIS is not quick to reply to your request. We went back and forth about what to do and finally decided to change my travel plans and go to the interview. It seems like the safer choice. Luckily I booked my trip through a student travel agency and their change fees are reasonable and since I'm not flying during a busy time fare difference should be none to minimal.

From what our contact person at the congresswoman's office told us and from what I saw on the forum, I should still be able to go on the second trip (Jan. 3-Feb. 17) after the interview either with my AP card or even better if I can get an I-551 stamp.

In your experience, if I bring proof of my travel itinerary to the interview in December, will they (might they) give me the I-551 stamp right there? Do I need to wait to travel until they make a decision or can I travel after the interview even if they haven't made a final decision yet? I read that quite often the decision is actually made at the interview.

Thanks for any advice!

[Anh map 2,098]

Most people interviewing are told that the decision will be made after the adjudicating officer reviews the file. That would not result in a passport stamp. Can't hurt to bring your itinerary and ask.

You have the AP card, so there should be no issue regarding US entry.

A face to face conversation at an Infopass appointment may also yield very good information.