AP (Combo Card) Travel Experience & Question!

[sallymcp 9]

Hey guys!

 

I thought I'd share our experience travelling with my husband's combo card.

 

We flew out of LHR with Delta and weren't able to check in online.

We got to the airport extra early and my husband's info was verified before we were able to get tickets, which I wasn't expecting (but actually reassuring in a way). 

The guy who checked our info had to double-check with his supervisor before checking us in because he'd never seen a combo card before, but he was very polite and the whole process was painless. 

 

We then flew into Detroit, and our experience with the airport staff was an actual nightmare!

When we got to the border there was a woman directing people which lines to join. We asked for help and were told to "make it quick" because she was "directing hundreds of people" (there were like, maybe 20 people behind us in the entire massive hallway-- it wasn't crazy busy). She told us to join in a  certain line so we went. I realized the line was all non-US citizens with either ESTAs or tourist-type visas, so we verified with a second member of the airport staff who insisted that the combo card wasn't a real thing and could only be used for work and that my husband was probably going to get deported (cue anxiety attack and tears on my end).

 

We then frantically pulled out all our NOAs and verified we were good. Eventually we got to the front of the line and talked to a CBP agent. He was stern but cordial. Once my husband mentioned he was going to start teaching in the spring, he actually lit up and they talked about that for a minute. No issues whatsoever with the combo card. We did have to go into a secondary room for a specific stamp to be used, but that took less than 15 minutes and they didn't ask for any more information or paperwork. No one ever asked to see our NOAs or the note my husband got from work. All in all, it was pretty painless.

 

MY QUESTION: We are trying to go back to England for a week in May to surprise my husband's family at a big family reunion they're having. Do too many trips on an AP card look problematic? Is there "too much" travel for a green card interview? Based on my office's timelines, we'll be interviewing in the summer of 2018. will two trips back to the UK in the year since he's moved over look bad?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Suudsu 66]

45 minutes ago, sallymcp said:

We did have to go into a secondary room for a specific stamp to be used, but that took less than 15 minutes and they didn't ask for any more information or paperwork. No one ever asked to see our NOAs or the note my husband got from work. All in all, it was pretty painless.

Everyone using Advance Parole as a travel document has to go to secondary inspection for a 'Parole' stamp. The only documents you should need are a valid passport and the Advance Parole document (either the combo card or Advance Parole).

 

48 minutes ago, sallymcp said:

MY QUESTION: We are trying to go back to England for a week in May to surprise my husband's family at a big family reunion they're having. Do too many trips on an AP card look problematic? Is there "too much" travel for a green card interview? Based on my office's timelines, we'll be interviewing in the summer of 2018. will two trips back to the UK in the year since he's moved over look bad?

You'll be fine at the interview. Given that your proposed travel is close to the interview date, don't stay away too long (longer than one month), in case your interview notice appears while you're away.