Traveling after AOS Interview / I-551 Stamp

[D&D_NYC 58]

A lot of the threads about I-551s and traveling post-interview seem to be a few years old, so curious if anyone has any recent experience with this.

 

For months, my husband and I have had plans to attend a family reunion back in Canada over Memorial Day weekend. At the time the plans were made, I assumed that I would have my EAD/AP (which I did get last month) and that my green card interview would be later in the summer, based on similar processing times and VJ timelines. However, I've been very lucky and my AOS journey was much speedier than anticipated, especially for NYC (filed in early December 2018, interview is scheduled for 5/21/19).

 

The issue is that my interview now falls barely three days before the date we planned on leaving for Canada (interview is Tuesday morning, we were going drive up Friday evening). Luckily, I never booked any plane tickets as we were always going to be driving, so I don't need to worry about cancellation fees or financial loss in that regard.

 

If we are approved on the spot at our interview, can I ask the officer for a I-551 passport stamp? And to do so, do I need to provide evidence of the trip (invites, plans, accommodations, etc.)? I imagine it's highly unlikely that our case would be approved, the card mailed, and received within less than three days. If we're not officially approved until after we leave the interview (even if approval comes later that day), can I make an InfoPass appointment and get a stamp in time? I've heard conflicting advice about the viability of traveling with AP after a green card approval, though I do have it if that is an option.

 

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I'm pretty confident that all will go well at the interview: we have a fairly straightforward case, lots of bona fide marriage evidence, Canada is generally considered a low-fraud country, etc. It's just unfortunate how the timings worked out in terms of these travel plans...and yes, I'm aware that "immigration journey is moving too fast" is a good problem to have! I would just hate to miss this opportunity to go back to Canada and see my extended family, so I'd like to find a way to make it work if I can.

 

Thanks, all!

[Just Paul 4,595]

ummmm you are not going to get a stamp.   You have to wait until your AP is processed.  

  Sorry I see you have an AP card   You use that!

Edited April 24, 2019 by Paul & Mary

[D&D_NYC 58]

But I already have my advance parole? I'm asking about the time period between green card approval at the interview and receipt of the physical card. Do they not give out the stamp at all anymore?

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, nerdese said:

But I already have my advance parole? I'm asking about the time period between green card approval at the interview and receipt of the physical card. Do they not give out the stamp at all anymore?

According to your signature you have your combo card.

03/29/2019 [Day 116] -- EAD/AP combo card received

 

That is all you need along with your passport to re-enter until you get your physical green card.  You don't need a stamp.

[D&D_NYC 58]

Thank you! I'd seen lots of conflicting info/conversations about whether the AP is still valid post-interview, but glad to hear that's the case. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, nerdese said:

AP is still valid post-interview

The combo card is valid until you get the green card.    Then put in a very safe place to have as a backup id.

[DeepakChani 738]

Hello, Just wanted to see if you had an update to share? Did the officer during the interview stamp your passport with the I-551 stamp? 

[D&D_NYC 58]

1 hour ago, DeepakChani said:

Hello, Just wanted to see if you had an update to share? Did the officer during the interview stamp your passport with the I-551 stamp? 

Hi there -- sorry, never came back to this thread (though I did post something of an update on my interview recap.) At the conclusion of the interview, the officer asked if I had any upcoming travel, and I mentioned this trip. I asked if I could use my AP or if I would need my passport stamped, and he said that using AP was fine until we got a decision. 

 

We weren't approved on the spot at the interview -- it actually took about 8 days from the interview date until my card was in production (and received the card a week after that update), so the issue of AOS being approved while I was abroad didn't come up. No issues using AP at the border, either.

Hope that's helpful!