Holiday travel, what would you do?

[beachgirl 3]

Hi all, been a while since I've been on. Life got quite busy after the move Quick background, I entered the states early August, got married August 25 Sent AOS package Sept 12 I think and everything went perfect. Of course, I got the bio letter for an appointment on Oct 25 which I had to send back and request a different date as we were having a second wedding in Vegas. No problem, bumped my bio to Nov 6. Went fine. I was hoping to get AP/EAD early enough so I could book a flight home to visit for Christmas. I checked a few times on USCIS site, but nothing was moving. Then, out of nowhere, I got a letter for the 485 interview for Dec 19th! ACK... Still didn't have AP, and called asking if it's possible to go to interview and get approved and turn around and fly home the next day and they said yes, as long as I have the 512? can't remember, but a stamp that you get on the spot, you're free to travel and come back. Phew, okay.. Then yesterday poof.. AP/EAD card arrives.

Now, I don't expect any problems with the interview, we have everything as far as I know, and haven't had a single problem this whole process. But, the panic has set in and now I'm curious if it's worth holding off the interview until after the holidays and traveling with the AP now that I have it. I know it's possible the interview could go wrong, and then we'd be stuck here cause once you interview, the AP card is void as I understand it. Should I just trust that we have it all together, go to the interview and then be on our merry way back home 2 days after? Or, do we put off the interview, travel with AP and then not be so stressed out until after..

I'm very very very happy that this process went as smooth as it did. Sure, the paper work to start AOS in insane, but taking time and doing it right sure pays off. All together, we got bio appointment with in 5 weeks, got the interview date within 7 weeks and AP/EAD about 50 days from application date.

Thanks in advance!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The Ap is not void when you have the interview... it's only void when you are either approved or denied (you won't be denied). At your interview, if you are approved, then you can ask for a stamp in your passport that shows you are a Legal Permanent Resident (bring proof that you are traveling soon). If they need to do some checking after your interview before approval, you can still travel on AP. Fellow member Little_My traveled on AP after her interview and her GC was approved while she was out of the country, and she had no problems and was told that it happens all the time. You could also reschedule if you want. Good luck.

[bigdog 376]

We are paranoid did not travel on AP and just waited till GC. When it came went on a honeymoon to Mexico.

[ceadsearc 516]

I would not try to reschedule. Occasionally USCIS doesn't communicate well so a person requests to reschedule and the message doesn't make it to the local office (who then denies them for not showing up). You don't want to be abroad if that happens.

Go to your interview. If you are approved on the spot ask for the I-551 stamp, if not use your AP.

[CANbirdUSman 11]

I agree... go to the interview.

You guys have worked hard to get to this point.

Get it done, and travel later.