Entering the US with an I 512 Advance Parole

[SunnyCalifornian 6]

I wanted to share my experience travelling outside the US while my permanent residence application (I 485) was pending. In other words, my experience when I entered the US with an I 512 Advance Parole - Travel Document. I hope sharing my experience will help others.

I entered the US while my application was pending about 20 times. I have to travel a lot for business reasons out of the country. My I 485 application took a long time to process, so I had to enter the US every time I travelled with an I 512 Advance Parole - Travel Document while my application was pending.

During that time I entered the US by airplane about 10 times, and the other 10 times I entered by land from Mexico.

I should note, I had a different experience when I entered by airplane vs land.

Airplane:

I had to fill-out an I 94 form in the plane like if I was entering with a Visa. Except that I left in blank in the I 94 form: “the city where the visa was issued”. Once I went to the immigration area, I always asked the person who was in charge of forming the lines, if I should go to the US Citizens/Permanent Residents line or to the Visitors line. Sometimes I was instructed by him to go to the Visitors line and other times I was instructed to go to the US Citizens/Permanent Residents line, but regardless of which line I was instructed to go, once it was my turn with the Immigration Officer (IO), he checked my passport, I 512 document (now included in the EAD card) and the I 94 Form, then he asked me one or two very simple questions, and then I was always instructed to go to secondary inspection. In secondary inspection, I waited approx 1.5-2.5 hours for my turn with an IO (a very long time in my opinion). Once it was my turn, they asked me between 10-50 simple questions. It took about 25-35mins. Also, some times, they also checked my bags thoroughly with x-rays, and physically. It took another 10-20 mins. After that, they stamped my passport and the bottom portion of the I 94 form with a “Paroled stamp”, the day’s date and the date paroled until (usually it was one year from the day’s date.) (The “Paroled stamp” is a different stamp than the regular “Admitted stamp” when you enter with a Visa.)

Land:

When I entered by land it was a different story:

When I entered driving my car:

When it was my turn with the IO., he didn’t ask any questions. Just checked my passport and the I 512 document (now it is included with the EAD card). One time the IO didn’t send me to secondary inspection of my car and I was good to go, but all the other times the IO sent me to secondary inspection of my car. I had to get out of my car and go to a room to wait for the officers to inspect the car. It took 20mins.- 50mins. Once they finished inspecting the car, I was good to go. They didn’t stamp my passport with any stamp, nor did they require an I 94 form to be filled out.

One time I entered by foot (walking by land) (I had left my car parked in the US side of the border):

Same line for US Citizens than visitors I passed to the IO booth, and he asked 2 simple questions, and that was it. No secondary inspection, no need to fill out I 94 forms, nor did they stamp my passport.

Also, I should note that you cannot apply to the Global Entry program (Frequent Traveller program) with an I 512 Advance Parole Travel Document. You have to wait until you have your Green Card to apply.

Hope it helps for those in a similar situation.

[Liz&Nate 23]

It helps for my situation, as I plan to visit my family in Mexico by land as soon as I get AP. Thank you so much for your post!

[TBoneTX 45,284]

One time I entered by foot (walking by land) (I had left my car parked in the US side of the border)

This is the optimal way to do it, si man. Thanks for an enlightening, valuable post.

[Fifth Echelon 6]

Those seem like very long wait times in secondary when using AP to enter the country. What POE did you use?

[jojolicious 38]

very informative post

[SunnyCalifornian 6]

Those seem like very long wait times in secondary when using AP to enter the country. What POE did you use?

The POE I entered by airplane was Los Angeles airport (LAX). I agree, that the wait times in secondary were very long.

[mrbravod 4]

Did you have to give the original I-94 Form before your departure?

thanks

[SunnyCalifornian 6]

Did you have to give the original I-94 Form before your departure?

thanks

About 3 of the 10 times when I travelled out of the US by airplane, the airline employee that checked my boarding pass right when I boarded the airplane took the original I 94 Form. The other times I travelled out of the US they didn't. In other words, it depends on the airline employee.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I wonder how much of the extra scrutiny is because you are a frequent traveler. It seems they are more interested in what you are bringing with you, than who you are.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Thank you for sharing. It will help us to help others when you are long gone . . .

[angellu0729 0]

What if I can't catch my flight because they keep me too long for the second inspection since you said it probably takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours? Is there a way they would know I have a flight to catch?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What if I can't catch my flight because they keep me too long for the second inspection since you said it probably takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours? Is there a way they would know I have a flight to catch?

It doesn't matter - you are responsible to make your own connections. My wife took almost three hours to clear customs at San Francisco.

[hmh33 117]

Typically if you miss a connection due to being delayed at immigration, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight without charge, provided the journey is booked on a single ticket. Of course you could still be waiting hours or even overnight for that flight depending on the situation.

[Shezi 108]

I returned to the US yesterday using AP, so thought I'd just mention here what the process was like just to keep this topic current.

I had my advanced parole letter, no problem at all in Manchester airport - they are very familiar with the document and it says clearly that it is authorises a carrier to transport me without liability. In Dulles, the first desk inspection was a little confusing. I'd been told I didn't need I-94 on the plane since they don't do them anymore. I'd clearly read before I left that I needed one so I checked in the immigration hall.. 'No, we stopped using them 4 months ago', I was told. Got to the desk - 'you need an I-94!' Half way through finger-printing, the officer just gave all my documents to me. I asked if I was done, he said yes. Nothing about further inspection. I went to get my bags and custom inspection and was told there I have to follow the signs to B, again nothing about further inspection, just 'follow the signs to 'B'. Very little information and explanation - don't know if they simply assume we've done it before. However, secondary inspection staff were lovely - they pointed out that my alien registration number was wrong on the letter and I had the number of a Vietnamese woman!!! (Couldn't believe I missed that having scrutinized again and again my paperwork!) But they cleared it all for me and let me through - they even had a sense of humour about it! I'm going back to the UK in October so will contact USCIS and ask them to change it. No other evidence was required even though I'd taken a wallet full of documents and ID.

For those of you planning to use an AP, it seems to me that your experience will depend very much on which routes you take. Some smaller airports around the world seem unfamiliar with the document and that can cause some delay. For Manchester - Washington, the process is very straight forward. I was in secondary inspection less than 15 minutes. From landing on the aircraft it took 1 hour 5 mins to disembark, wait in immigration hall, first inspection, second inspection, customs, recheck bags, security hall. I doubt that's everyone's experience but it's good to know that even with a significant error (like the #A on my AP), it can still be a smooth outcome sometimes.

But check every last detail on documents and then check again.

[TBoneTX 45,284]

Thanks for taking the time to relate your experience and for keeping this valuable thread current, si man.