Emergency Advance Parole from any office?

[Jeto 118]

Has anyone done/know if it's possible to obtain emergency advance parole from an office different to your local one?

I'm currently on the other side of the US in the middle of a road trip and am looking for an immediate emergency AP due to a family medical emergency.

 

Currently in San Francisco, and my local office is St Paul, MN.

 

I phoned USCIS and they informed me I had to attend my local office where my application was. I'd like to hope that someone has succeeded in getting AP from a different office!

 

Anyone?

 

[Villanelle 4,122]

The best thing you can do is try.

 

Here is some general info to help you make a decision.

 

Technically there is no reason why a local office cant help in an infopass appt. However some local offices have strict policies and wont help you and tell you to go to your local office. So you can try.

 

For emergency AP you should be aware that only a limited number of local offices can actually issue (print) an AP document. It has to be an office attached to a service center. They are the only one with those printers. So going to the closest infopass vs the local infopass may not make a difference because its unlikely either of the locations can print AP documents.

 

You have 3 basic choices to apply for AP. One is in person. Basically you go to the local office and give them your paperwork and they forward it to the service center. Depending on how serious they take your emergency and their local office practices they MAY fax it over immediately or tell you it takes a few days. Its important to remember whichever method of applying you use- you can only get info and updates via the same method. You cant apply in infopass and then call and ask whats going on. You have to go back to infopass which can be a hassle. So they fax/mail it to the service center and the service center will approve/deny it and mail you the AP is youre approved.

 

You can also do it over the phone. This is the most convenient method but the hardest I think. You call the 800 number and the rep will take some very basic info over the phone. Be very careful and specific what you state to them. They will send your request for AP to the service center. IF the service center feels its valid based on the limited info the rep took they will contact you via email/snail mail with a fax number/address to send your documents to. So most people call and then wait and wait and then call back and the phone center says the service center denied it. Very few people get told to fax things in and then complain they were denied emergency AP w/o getting to submit proof of the emergency.

 

A third option is going to a congressperson and asking for help. They can help you submit your documents to the service center and follow up on it.

 

USCIS may grant you emergency AP or expedite your current AP application.