Experience using AP for the first time

[MrsB2012 10]

My husband used Advanced Parole to re-enter the US yesterday. I hope that sharing our experience might be helpful to others.

He was approved for AP on Dec 11th. We left the country on Dec 14th without the actual combo card in hand. The card arrived on Dec 20th and my mom shipped it to us in Denmark via FedEx Intl Priority. We received the FedEx shipment on Dec 27th. I think it's important to mention this because so many say not to leave without the card. We were really nervous until we got the card in hand & it was risky because if it didn't arrive or if there were any mistakes we wouldn't have been able to rectify the problem. Luckily it worked out fine.

The day before travel he was not allowed to check in online with the airline (SAS) because he had neither an ESTA approval nor is he a US Citizen/LPR. We arrived to the airport early in case there were any problems with check in. We went to the airline check-in/info counter & he presented his AP card. He was given a boarding pass without any problem. When we arrived at the gate, the gate agent wouldn't allow him to board the flight. She had never seen the AP document before. She called for a manager to come. We waited to the side for about 5-10 min until the supervisor arrived. He asked to see the card & we had to show him that the USCIS number on the card was his Alien registration number. He allowed my husband to board.

When we arrived to Newark, we waited in the US Citizen/LPR line. The CBP agent was really cool (first time ever experiencing this!). We were even joking around with him. He asked for the I-94, our Customs Declaration form (I filled it out for the two of us), our passports & his combo card. Once my husband finished doing his finger prints & retina scan, the agent said he needed to take my husband to secondary screening to complete the process. Secondary only took about 10 minutes & was a breeze. He was asked how he was adjusting his status & my husband told the agent he is adjusting through marriage to a USC. The agent stamped everything, attached the I-94 to his passport & sent him on his way.

All in all it was a pretty easy experience but I'll admit we were both pretty nervous for whatever reasons. Hopefully the next time we travel outside the US, he'll have his GC & it will be smooth sailing

[cathy2904 97]

I'm pleased that it all went pretty smoothly for you. I was also not able to check-in online for my Delta flight from Heathrow to Atlanta on New Year's Eve, even though I do have a Green Card. The system said that it was because I do not have a valid ESTA. I may need to check my profile to see if there is somewhere I can enter my A#.