Travelling out of the U.S. With AP/EAD approval letter

[gingernugget 1]

I've tried searching threads and can't seem to get an answer for my Advanced Parole question.

I received my approval letter at the beginning of May and they updated my case status to say they mailed me photo card out on May 12th and I still haven't received it. I know I need to call by June 10th if it doesn't arrive but i was wondering if anyone tried to travel to Canada with just the letter? Or do I need the photo card?

I haven't seen my family in nearly 7 months now and my husband booked off a long weekend for this weekend a long time ago for us to go back to Canada for my sisters Engagment party (which I am hosting as I'm the maid of honour)

[tolitzpogi 37]

My wife's EAD/AP was approved on 05/12 and she received it on 05/20 ... it may be your location but it shouldn't take this long to receive the card. I would call anyway.

As for travelling without the card, personally I wouldn't risk it ... I'd wait for the card ...

[Pitaya 2,577]

To be on the safe side, suggest that you wait for the card.

[rodeo 11]

I've tried searching threads and can't seem to get an answer for my Advanced Parole question.

I received my approval letter at the beginning of May and they updated my case status to say they mailed me photo card out on May 12th and I still haven't received it. I know I need to call by June 10th if it doesn't arrive but i was wondering if anyone tried to travel to Canada with just the letter? Or do I need the photo card?

I haven't seen my family in nearly 7 months now and my husband booked off a long weekend for this weekend a long time ago for us to go back to Canada for my sisters Engagment party (which I am hosting as I'm the maid of honour)

Hello gingernugget,

my wife is also in the same situation. usps seemed to loose her EAD/AP card in the mailing process last may 2015. we filed and attended an info pass appointment last week here in our local office, and we were able to talk to a very nice Immigration Officer (IO). Here is what she told us, theoretically since my wife already have the approval notice for the EAD/AP combo card and the card has already been produced, the Applicant can now travel out of the USA bringing with her the Approval Notice, but she might be denied entry when she returns back to USA, the CBP at the port of entry may not be fully aware of the process and may not accept the Approval notice and will still ask for the card. The IO suggested that when there is really a need to travel out of the country, she advised us to visit again the local office and they will issue a special travel document for the smooth re-entry to the country. Regarding the request for the reproduction of the new EAD/AP card, she did not advise us to request for a new one since it will cost us now around 700 USD, since the said card is still active it will no longer be free as part of the Adjustment process to reproduce, the process will again take another 60-90 days, just wait for the green card approval which will take around 3 to 6 months more as the IO said. Hope this helps.

[gingernugget 1]

Did you each get a U.S. Postal Service tracking number? I did not.

Hello gingernugget,

my wife is also in the same situation. usps seemed to loose her EAD/AP card in the mailing process last may 2015. we filed and attended an info pass appointment last week here in our local office, and we were able to talk to a very nice Immigration Officer (IO). Here is what she told us, theoretically since my wife already have the approval notice for the EAD/AP combo card and the card has already been produced, the Applicant can now travel out of the USA bringing with her the Approval Notice, but she might be denied entry when she returns back to USA, the CBP at the port of entry may not be fully aware of the process and may not accept the Approval notice and will still ask for the card. The IO suggested that when there is really a need to travel out of the country, she advised us to visit again the local office and they will issue a special travel document for the smooth re-entry to the country. Regarding the request for the reproduction of the new EAD/AP card, she did not advise us to request for a new one since it will cost us now around 700 USD, since the said card is still active it will no longer be free as part of the Adjustment process to reproduce, the process will again take another 60-90 days, just wait for the green card approval which will take around 3 to 6 months more as the IO said. Hope this helps.

To be on the safe side, suggest that you wait for the card.

My wife's EAD/AP was approved on 05/12 and she received it on 05/20 ... it may be your location but it shouldn't take this long to receive the card. I would call anyway.

As for travelling without the card, personally I wouldn't risk it ... I'd wait for the card ...

Hello gingernugget,

my wife is also in the same situation. usps seemed to loose her EAD/AP card in the mailing process last may 2015. we filed and attended an info pass appointment last week here in our local office, and we were able to talk to a very nice Immigration Officer (IO). Here is what she told us, theoretically since my wife already have the approval notice for the EAD/AP combo card and the card has already been produced, the Applicant can now travel out of the USA bringing with her the Approval Notice, but she might be denied entry when she returns back to USA, the CBP at the port of entry may not be fully aware of the process and may not accept the Approval notice and will still ask for the card. The IO suggested that when there is really a need to travel out of the country, she advised us to visit again the local office and they will issue a special travel document for the smooth re-entry to the country. Regarding the request for the reproduction of the new EAD/AP card, she did not advise us to request for a new one since it will cost us now around 700 USD, since the said card is still active it will no longer be free as part of the Adjustment process to reproduce, the process will again take another 60-90 days, just wait for the green card approval which will take around 3 to 6 months more as the IO said. Hope this helps.

To be on the safe side, suggest that you wait for the card.

My wife's EAD/AP was approved on 05/12 and she received it on 05/20 ... it may be your location but it shouldn't take this long to receive the card. I would call anyway.

As for travelling without the card, personally I wouldn't risk it ... I'd wait for the card ...

Hello gingernugget,

my wife is also in the same situation. usps seemed to loose her EAD/AP card in the mailing process last may 2015. we filed and attended an info pass appointment last week here in our local office, and we were able to talk to a very nice Immigration Officer (IO). Here is what she told us, theoretically since my wife already have the approval notice for the EAD/AP combo card and the card has already been produced, the Applicant can now travel out of the USA bringing with her the Approval Notice, but she might be denied entry when she returns back to USA, the CBP at the port of entry may not be fully aware of the process and may not accept the Approval notice and will still ask for the card. The IO suggested that when there is really a need to travel out of the country, she advised us to visit again the local office and they will issue a special travel document for the smooth re-entry to the country. Regarding the request for the reproduction of the new EAD/AP card, she did not advise us to request for a new one since it will cost us now around 700 USD, since the said card is still active it will no longer be free as part of the Adjustment process to reproduce, the process will again take another 60-90 days, just wait for the green card approval which will take around 3 to 6 months more as the IO said. Hope this helps.

To be on the safe side, suggest that you wait for the card.

My wife's EAD/AP was approved on 05/12 and she received it on 05/20 ... it may be your location but it shouldn't take this long to receive the card. I would call anyway.

As for travelling without the card, personally I wouldn't risk it ... I'd wait for the card ...

[Dave&Roza 748]

Did you each get a U.S. Postal Service tracking number? I did not.

Usually when they mail the card out they update the on-line system to where you can get the tracking number to see if it was actually delivered. Your case sounds like one of three things happened: 1) the EAD/AP card is still at the USCIS and has not been mailed and thus no tracking number, or 2) mail with a tracking number, but you did not get the e-mail notification, but the website was updated and you have not been able to check on that and then lost by the USPS, or 3) mailed without a tracking number and the USPS delivered it to the wrong address. Does not mattter as you do not have the card in your hands. I would make an INFOpass apointment to see where the card is and also see if they will either give you an I-512 stamp to act as an AP or an I-551 stamp to act as the GC. I would not risk travelling on just the approval letter unless you check with the CBP at the re-emtry point as to whether they would let you enter the US or not--I would also get the person's name and position.

Is your name on/in the mailbox? I had a letter the other day addressed to my wife redelivered with a sticker attached with my name on it. So I put a card back into the mail box with both of our names on it--the first card had faded and come loose. So even 4 years later, there is some USPS employee who thinks my wife does not live at our house and I have completed all forms the USPS has on who lives there, yet for some reason the previous owner's mail is delivered without question. My wife uses her maiden name.

Dave

[rodeo 11]

Did you each get a U.S. Postal Service tracking number? I did not.

Yes, it has a tracking number, and for almost 14 days now, it is stuck and not moving in one of the usps facilities, unfortunately as of now they can't physically locate the parcel/mail int the said facility, we have still an ongoing case filed with them and it is still in a waiting mode.....

[Hypnos 6,576]

You should not depart the US without your AP in your hands.

[gingernugget 1]

So I called the USCIS and got my tracking number and walked down to the post office and the same thing happened with mine. They showed me that it departed my local sorting facility on May 13th but was never delivered and they can't locate it or tell me when it's going to turn up.... Isn't that lovely!?