Traveling with an AP letter during AOS

[saphina 7]

Hey everybody,

My husband and I had a very successful day yesterday, we got approved for our bank loan and I was granted an AP at our local USCIS office to travel to Germany next week for a second wedding.

I had asked during my biometrics appointment last month if there is any chance for me to receive the AP earlier. (I had asked in the forums here before and it was clear we wouldn't have it in time, but since I had driven the 2 hours for me 5 minute biometrics app I figured I'd might as well ask) they were really nice and made a copy of my I-797 for the AP and said they'd email to ask for quicker processing. However the nice gentlemen also to,d me to come back if I don't have it until the week before we would like to leave. He obviously couldn't guarantee anything but it is really important to us so we took the trip yesterday and it was signed of on! I almost couldn't believe it! I handed them my original application and the explanation that I had sent with it then and he gave me a piece of paper to explain again why we really need to travel next week and it was approved! We must have the nicest USCIS office, no appointment needed and approvals!

Anyway my question is, since I received it right then and there it is not a card like everyone always talks about and it actually isn't a stamp in the passport like I had read before. It is a letter with my passport photo on the bottom and a seal and signature. There's a space for an entry stamp and I actually got 2 of them. Has anyone had that before?

I'm stil worried to leave and my husband says I'm being dumb since they gave it to me I won't be denied when we come back... If it wasn't for my family and especially my grandmother, I wouldn't go, I'm just worried something will go wrong....

Also, do they take my I-94 upon departure? I know they should but then what?

And when I return do I fill out a new I-94 for immigration? Since my visa is already used (K-1) and I don't have my green card yet what status am traveling under?

Thanks guys!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yep, this is the paper AP. It's only recently that they started making EAD/AP "combo cards" and that is only for people doing AOS. There are still plenty of people that have paper APs.

You take both letters with you for travel. I called CBP about this and they advised that my husband take his I-94 out of his passport and keep it because you need that for AOS. The leaving and entering on AP is sort of parenthetical to your main entry. You will also get a new I-94 but it might be paperless now. The new I-94 before the paperless thing was stamped "parole." Good luck.

[saphina 7]

Does that mean I have to go to secondary inspection again?

I'm nervous, sorry! Glad to hear paper is normal though...

Never even thought of taking the I94 out myself... Do you by any chance have a number for CBP?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

All people traveling on AP will go to secondary, yes.

I found their number on their website, cbp.gov

I am sure that many people didn't keep the original I-94, but when we had our interview the officer was very glad we had the original one. You are AOS pending now so your exits aren't really important, but they'll be tracked by flight manifest anyway, not through the I-94.

[saphina 7]

Awesome, thank you!

I feel a little safer now!