Any problems traveling with AP/EAD while AOS is still pending?

[t1m1t 8]

Hi!

 

My wife recently got her AP/EAD card, and we're still waiting for her AOS to be approved (pending).  I haven't found any recent news on this, but does anyone have experience traveling out of the country with their AP/EAD card in 2018?  Everything I found ends up to 2017.  We've read that it can be difficult since Trump entered office... 

Also, would there be any other documentation that needs to be filled out before she flies out to her home country (she needs to finish up her MA degree interviews), or does she just leave and when coming back show her AP/EAD card to the immigration officer?  She has to leave again in March, and I'm assuming the AP/EAD card is good for at least a year...  Both times will be for a little over a month (about 6 weeks).

Thanks in advance!!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

23 minutes ago, t1m1t said:

Hi!

 

My wife recently got her AP/EAD card, and we're still waiting for her AOS to be approved (pending).  I haven't found any recent news on this, but does anyone have experience traveling out of the country with their AP/EAD card in 2018?  Everything I found ends up to 2017.  We've read that it can be difficult since Trump entered office... 

Also, would there be any other documentation that needs to be filled out before she flies out to her home country (she needs to finish up her MA degree interviews), or does she just leave and when coming back show her AP/EAD card to the immigration officer?  She has to leave again in March, and I'm assuming the AP/EAD card is good for at least a year...  Both times will be for a little over a month (about 6 weeks).

Thanks in advance!!

Why would it be difficult? Stop believing all the BS hoopla that is on my being spun up to make Trump look bad and to get viewers. 

 

There is no issue traveling outside the country using AP at all. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

Why is this question still seen here so often? That is literally what AP is advance parole. How can that be any clearer? People need to read the instructions of the forms of things they’re filing for. 

[t1m1t 8]

15 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Why would it be difficult? Stop believing all the BS hoopla that is on my being spun up to make Trump look bad and to get viewers. 

 

There is no issue traveling outside the country using AP at all. 

 

10 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

Why is this question still seen here so often? That is literally what AP is advance parole. How can that be any clearer? People need to read the instructions of the forms of things they’re filing for. 

Awesome, thanks for the update.  A buddy of mine was saying that he had an issue with immigration when he presented his AP card when arriving back to the states.  After googling about it, I saw a few statements from USCIS and other visa/immigration sites about some new policy that was launched in 2018 about difficulties with AP/EAD under certain visas or with pending AOS.

[mushroomspore 3,044]

25 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

Why is this question still seen here so often? That is literally what AP is advance parole. How can that be any clearer? People need to read the instructions of the forms of things they’re filing for. 

I was wondering the same thing because I feel like I've seen it come up a LOT recently. If people are that nervous about it, then just don't leave...????? Except as we've said, that's what AP is for and USCIS wouldn't issue it if it wasn't meant to be used. 

 

14 minutes ago, t1m1t said:

 

Awesome, thanks for the update.  A buddy of mine was saying that he had an issue with immigration when he presented his AP card when arriving back to the states.  After googling about it, I saw a few statements from USCIS and other visa/immigration sites about some new policy that was launched in 2018 about difficulties with AP/EAD under certain visas or with pending AOS.

Do you have links to those USCIS statements? I have not heard anything from them regarding the usage of AP. Just out of curiosity, what sort of "issue" did your friend have when he used his AP? 

[t1m1t 8]

2 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

I was wondering the same thing because I feel like I've seen it come up a LOT recently. If people are that nervous about it, then just don't leave...????? Except as we've said, that's what AP is for and USCIS wouldn't issue it if it wasn't meant to be used. 

 

Do you have links to those USCIS statements? I have not heard anything from them regarding the usage of AP. Just out of curiosity, what sort of "issue" did your friend have when he used his AP? 

From what he told me, he was held for a while and asked a lot of questions.  He was released, but he wasn't really comfortable.  It could've just been a one-off situation, or a TSA worker being an idiot and trying to strut his authority.  As for the links, I just went back to the USCIS article and it stated that issues occur while applying for AOS.  My mistake, I took it as already applied.  The other sites were other visa/immigration sites of people asking the same question and getting replies in the field of "I wouldn't risk anything until the GC is in hand".  

[vocal 41]

1 minute ago, t1m1t said:

From what he told me, he was held for a while and asked a lot of questions.  He was released, but he wasn't really comfortable.  It could've just been a one-off situation, or a TSA worker being an idiot and trying to strut his authority.  As for the links, I just went back to the USCIS article and it stated that issues occur while applying for AOS.  My mistake, I took it as already applied.  The other sites were other visa/immigration sites of people asking the same question and getting replies in the field of "I wouldn't risk anything until the GC is in hand".  

Every time you come back to the US with AP they will take you to secondary inspection. 

It is simply the procedure.

 

First time I was taken there I waited 15min and then I was let go without even speaking to me. Second time they talked to me for about 5 minutes asking me how I got my EAD/AP and where is my wife (she came on a different flight).

No problems in both cases.

[t1m1t 8]

11 minutes ago, vocal said:

Every time you come back to the US with AP they will take you to secondary inspection. 

It is simply the procedure.

 

First time I was taken there I waited 15min and then I was let go without even speaking to me. Second time they talked to me for about 5 minutes asking me how I got my EAD/AP and where is my wife (she came on a different flight).

No problems in both cases.

Thank you!  I'll be sure to let my wife know before hand.  She's the kind of person to freak out when something not-normal happens (super shy and quiet...).  

[mushroomspore 3,044]

1 hour ago, t1m1t said:

From what he told me, he was held for a while and asked a lot of questions.  He was released, but he wasn't really comfortable.  It could've just been a one-off situation, or a TSA worker being an idiot and trying to strut his authority.  As for the links, I just went back to the USCIS article and it stated that issues occur while applying for AOS.  My mistake, I took it as already applied.  The other sites were other visa/immigration sites of people asking the same question and getting replies in the field of "I wouldn't risk anything until the GC is in hand".  

Oh it doesn't sound that out of the ordinary, to be honest. Everyone with AP's taken to secondary, as the poster said above. People are obviously completely allowed to stay within the US and not use their AP at all if they're that paranoid. But for those who do want to travel, they won't have any issues coming back in.

[Larindra 9]

I just came back on AP last Saturday without issues. 

[little immigrant 801]

15 hours ago, t1m1t said:

From what he told me, he was held for a while and asked a lot of questions.  He was released, but he wasn't really comfortable.  It could've just been a one-off situation, or a TSA worker being an idiot and trying to strut his authority.  

TSA is not the one to let you back in. It's CBP. Secondary inspection is normal with AP. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

22 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

Why is this question still seen here so often? That is literally what AP is advance parole. How can that be any clearer? People need to read the instructions of the forms of things they’re filing for. 

Actually, even in the instructions on this very site it states that AP does not always guarantee reentry. 

[ThomasNC1988 762]

28 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Actually, even in the instructions on this very site it states that AP does not always guarantee reentry. 

I get so tired of people saying this like AP is less than a green card. For the purposes of re-entry AP is equal to a green card. Green card holders are not guaranteed entry either. Only USC are guaranteed entry into the US.

[Mrsjackson 300]

7 minutes ago, ThomasNC1988 said:

I get so tired of people saying this like AP is less than a green card. For the purposes of re-entry AP is equal to a green card. Green card holders are not guaranteed entry either. Only USC are guaranteed entry into the US.

Can you be more specific when you say “this”? What is the “this” that people say which you are so tired of? 

[ThomasNC1988 762]

8 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Can you be more specific when you say “this”? What is the “this” that people say which you are so tired of? 

When people say "even in the instructions on this very site it states that AP does not always guarantee reentry." People often say this as if it is somehow safer to wait for a green card. It is not, the exact same conditions apply.