Travel within the US after filing AOS??

[justmartin3 2]

Hello, my wife and I filed for AOS last week and our application package was delivered today (1/2/2019).  Would it be okay to travel within the US before they send any notices? I know it seems like a dumb question but I’m a little worried with the current administration.

[Liam2021 583]

You're free to travel within US.

[D&D_NYC 58]

You're totally free to travel within the US -- the main thing to consider (depending on dates and length of trip) is whether you might miss some of the hard copy notices as they arrive, especially a biometrics appointment notice. 

[C90 376]

You can travel in the US without any problem. Keep in mind that your biometrics are usually pretty quick after they received your application (usually 3-4 weeks), so don't go on a 2 month travel through the US till after your biometrics 😉 You'll get the letter soon

[junkmart 320]

On 1/2/2019 at 11:04 AM, justmartin3 said:

Hello, my wife and I filed for AOS last week and our application package was delivered today (1/2/2019).  Would it be okay to travel within the US before they send any notices? I know it seems like a dumb question but I’m a little worried with the current administration.

It can depends on circumstances. If the immigrant is currently out of status and pending NOA-1, then things could get tricky if the immigrant is stopped and asked for ID. Since the immigrant will not have anything authorizing them to be in the country, they could be detained. For instance, I was in the US on B-2 when I met and married my USC spouse. My I-94 has expired, and I'm waiting for NOA-1. My attorney advised me to keep a low profile, not drive anywhere, and not travel. Out of an abundance of caution, she advised me not to do any of those things until I get my EAD.

 

Also, if you will be traveling through a border patrol checkpoint, for instance when traveling north from the border region of Texas, you will most likely have a problem.

Edited February 19, 2019 by junkmart

[dentsflogged 352]

21 hours ago, junkmart said:

It can depends on circumstances. If the immigrant is currently out of status and pending NOA-1, then things could get tricky if the immigrant is stopped and asked for ID. Since the immigrant will not have anything authorizing them to be in the country, they could be detained. For instance, I was in the US on B-2 when I met and married my USC spouse. My I-94 has expired, and I'm waiting for NOA-1. My attorney advised me to keep a low profile, not drive anywhere, and not travel. Out of an abundance of caution, she advised me not to do any of those things until I get my EAD.

 

Also, if you will be traveling through a border patrol checkpoint, for instance when traveling north from the border region of Texas, you will most likely have a problem.

I didn't use an attorney, but a friend of mine who is an attorney and has gone through the whole immigration process advised me to essentially do the same thing when I asked him.  

He also said (not to bait or start arguments, just simply what he said) that the chances of being stopped and questioned for me as a white woman from an English speaking country were microscopic compared to if I were a non-native English speaker or darker skinned. 

That said, I waited until I got my NOA to travel domestically. I took the original of that, my marriage certificate, print out of my i-94 and my passport (since I don't have state issued ID yet). I didn't get so much as a side-eye from anyone, despite being really anxious the whole time (though that could have been because I had my cat with me and she doesn't like being in her travel crate AT ALL)

[junkmart 320]

19 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

He also said (not to bait or start arguments, just simply what he said) that the chances of being stopped and questioned for me as a white woman from an English speaking country were microscopic compared to if I were a non-native English speaker or darker skinned.

I would agree wholeheartedly with what your attorney friend said. White privilege is alive and well. I have benefited from it countless times in my younger years, especially during traffic stops.

[junkmart 320]

35 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

That said, I waited until I got my NOA to travel domestically. I took the original of that, my marriage certificate, print out of my i-94 and my passport (since I don't have state issued ID yet). I didn't get so much as a side-eye from anyone, despite being really anxious the whole time (though that could have been because I had my cat with me and she doesn't like being in her travel crate AT ALL)

Was your I-94 expired by the time you traveled domestically with your NOA?

[dentsflogged 352]

1 hour ago, junkmart said:

Was your I-94 expired by the time you traveled domestically with your NOA?

Yes. My I-94 expired late January (2 days after my PD) and I travelled to Phoenix in mid February to go collect my cat after she arrived from Australia .