Travel abroad on EAD combo card - visa info for airlines

[justmarriedusciti 7]

Hello, 

I booked my tickets via American airlines and it is asking for my visa information. I have an expired H1B, and an approved EAD Combo card. Should I just put in the EAD number in the visa section? 

Edited February 15, 2020 by justmarriedusciti

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

Yes 

[Loren Y 2,755]

EAD AP card is for entry into the United States, you didn't specify if you were coming into the US with it, I am assuming you are, if you are visiting a country outside the US where you are required to have a Visa, you need to enter that visa number. I usually add the Visa info if I need one to where I am traveling when I check in 24 hours before my flight, they reverify when you get to the airport anyway.

 

Otherwise, yes, use the AP card number for entry into the US.

Edited February 15, 2020 by Loren Y

[justmarriedusciti 7]

9 hours ago, Loren Y said:

EAD AP card is for entry into the United States, you didn't specify if you were coming into the US with it, I am assuming you are, if you are visiting a country outside the US where you are required to have a Visa, you need to enter that visa number. I usually add the Visa info if I need one to where I am traveling when I check in 24 hours before my flight, they reverify when you get to the airport anyway.

 

Otherwise, yes, use the AP card number for entry into the US.

I don't need a visa for my home country (UK). 

The screen on AA's website asks me to put in a US visa number and date of issue for my travel. Look at the screenshot below. 

 

[Loren Y 2,755]

I have seen that screen, or similar a few times. I as a US citizen never filled it out as I was returning to my Home country. But, on our last trip out of the country my wife traveled on her EAD/AP card to come back into the US, and I entered her EAD/AP card info under the Green Card selection, because the EAD/AP is more like a green card, than a visa. If I remember correctly and you can check it, when you select Green card it will have an issue date, and a expiration date selection for when your EAD/AP card expires. Honestly in my experience it isn't going to matter very much anyway, even if you don't fill it out they will be checking all your documents when you check-in for your flight. No matter how many times I pre-fill the information, they still always check at the counter, so even if you don't fill it out I don't think it will matter, but there is no worry of filling it out wrong, as they verify everything again.

[Lil bear 4,210]

3 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I have seen that screen, or similar a few times. I as a US citizen never filled it out as I was returning to my Home country. But, on our last trip out of the country my wife traveled on her EAD/AP card to come back into the US, and I entered her EAD/AP card info under the Green Card selection, because the EAD/AP is more like a green card, than a visa. If I remember correctly and you can check it, when you select Green card it will have an issue date, and a expiration date selection for when your EAD/AP card expires. Honestly in my experience it isn't going to matter very much anyway, even if you don't fill it out they will be checking all your documents when you check-in for your flight. No matter how many times I pre-fill the information, they still always check at the counter, so even if you don't fill it out I don't think it will matter, but there is no worry of filling it out wrong, as they verify everything again.

Agreed. Technically as an LPR I shouldn’t have to fill it in either .. but the airline( Qantas )  software seems to demand it be completed .. so , just like USCIS and the IRS, I give it what it asks for ! 🤪

[justmarriedusciti 7]

22 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I have seen that screen, or similar a few times. I as a US citizen never filled it out as I was returning to my Home country. But, on our last trip out of the country my wife traveled on her EAD/AP card to come back into the US, and I entered her EAD/AP card info under the Green Card selection, because the EAD/AP is more like a green card, than a visa. If I remember correctly and you can check it, when you select Green card it will have an issue date, and a expiration date selection for when your EAD/AP card expires. Honestly in my experience it isn't going to matter very much anyway, even if you don't fill it out they will be checking all your documents when you check-in for your flight. No matter how many times I pre-fill the information, they still always check at the counter, so even if you don't fill it out I don't think it will matter, but there is no worry of filling it out wrong, as they verify everything again.

Thanks Loren, has your wife traveled frequently on the EAD/AP card? How was her experience at the Port of Entry upon return to the US while traveling on that card?

[Just Paul 4,595]

8 minutes ago, justmarriedusciti said:

Thanks Loren, has your wife traveled frequently on the EAD/AP card? How was her experience at the Port of Entry upon return to the US while traveling on that card?

Last year I seemed to travel each international trip with an combo card holder.  Usually no delay at all.   Once someone got sent to secondary but the CBP agent said there was something wrong with his computer.

[Loren Y 2,755]

12 minutes ago, justmarriedusciti said:

Thanks Loren, has your wife traveled frequently on the EAD/AP card? How was her experience at the Port of Entry upon return to the US while traveling on that card?

Yes, I have a few posts on here about it. In a 3 month span from November 2019 thru January 2020 my wife and I took 3 international trips together, and I figured why not really break in the AP/EAD card, and see how it works at different POE's. We traveled to her home country in Thailand in November and returned via air thru Seattle ( Seatac) airport. First use of the card, and no issues at all, I was expecting secondary and all sorts of things that you see people post about, but no issues at all. Next in December we did a trip to Mexico via the San Ysidro, CA land border crossing south of San Diego,CA ( The busiest land border crossing in the world as I recall), and once again, right thru CBP with no serious delays or secondary, or anything more than the usual questions. I'm thinking, great, lets keep going. So, in January I had booked a Cruise on Carnival out of the Long Beach, CA cruise ship terminal. So we entered back into the US via a Seaport this time. This was the easiest of all of them ( I've noticed cruise port POE's are more laid back than other POE's I think because the travel is more regulated, I have been thru cruise terminals in Long Beach, CA, Galveston, TX, Cape Canaveral,FL. and Miami, FL, and they all are about the same). We left the ship and walked to CBP and just a cursory glance at the travel documents, and have a nice day. I wasn't even sure if her entry was recorded it was so fast, but it was definitely recorded via wireless chip because at our AOS interview on February 5th a few weeks after we got back, we were asked about all 3 of the entries and exits at the interview as they obviously had access to her I-94 records, and knew about every trip. This was a good thing because he was able to match the trips I submitted as evidence with photos and stuff to the actual entry and exit log, and added even more validity to my evidence. This is all just my personal experience, and YMMV, but it seems as the AP/EAD card works as it should. We just received her green card a few days ago, and I'm looking to try that out next.

[Loren Y 2,755]

22 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Last year I seemed to travel each international trip with an combo card holder.  Usually no delay at all.   Once someone got sent to secondary but the CBP agent said there was something wrong with his computer.

I have had about the same experience, but the one time I was sent to secondary ( I have global entry) the officer said there was "something wrong with his computer". I ended up in secondary for 2 hours while they checked everything and searched my bags, and did a full rundown it seemed like. I wasn't worried, I wasn't doing anything illegal, but other than that over 5 years ago at least, because I have renewed my Global entry once since then, I have had no issues. Even with Global entry they can send you to secondary if they want, but no big deal, just roll with it, and Global entry has been great ever since I have had it, so I have no complaints, and I'm not letting one incident give me a reason to badmouth the Global entry program, It has been great 99 percent of the time. Saved me more than once when I had connecting flights where I arrived late and needed to clear customs quickly in order to catch my next domestic flight, and I always book at minimum a few hours between flights to be safe, but things happen, and Global entry probably saved me multiple headaches. And it is basically free with my primary credit card I travel with as they reimburse Global Entry fees once every 5 years, so FREE is even better.

[Orangesapples 1,954]

1 hour ago, justmarriedusciti said:

Thanks Loren, has your wife traveled frequently on the EAD/AP card? How was her experience at the Port of Entry upon return to the US while traveling on that card?

I once had an incompetent CBP officer send me to secondary to get a permit (not applicable to me at all) but eventually a supervisor said I was good to go and I don't need to pay anything. One thing I've learned - only show your EAD at the POE, give them your passport only if they ask for it. 

[EllisAndRenz 196]

19 hours ago, justmarriedusciti said:

Hello, 

I booked my tickets via American airlines and it is asking for my visa information. I have an expired H1B, and an approved EAD Combo card. Should I just put in the EAD number in the visa section? 

I just went through this two days ago.  The airline web-site might not take it.  But let not your heart be troubled, the airlines will know how to handle it at check-in. 

 

A few things you WILL need.

 

1) Passport (obviously)

2) Your EAD/AP card

3) An ORIGINAL marriage certificate to prove you are actually married.  (This is crucial!)

 

If you have those three things you will be fine. 

 

Two other notes:

1) When you come back to the USA go to the "USA Residents line" at immigration.  When you check in at the Kiosk, add your spouse as a traveling family member.  If the Kiosk won't accept it, it's fine, you can wait in line to see the CBP agent. 

2) With EAD/AP you will get pulled into the secondary screening room.  Don't panic, but it will take a long time and you will be separated from your spouse.  This can be agonizing as at LAX it took them 5 hours to process my wife.  We missed our connecting flight (which cost us a hotel room for the night)

 

I hope this is helpful. 

[ineedadisplayname 497]

21 hours ago, justmarriedusciti said:

Hello, 

I booked my tickets via American airlines and it is asking for my visa information. I have an expired H1B, and an approved EAD Combo card. Should I just put in the EAD number in the visa section? 

It depends on the airline. I needed to check in at the counter after entering all the details from the  GC. Looks like I was selected for extra security checks(zzzz or aaaa or whatever marking) at my connecting flight to the USA. Beside the inconvenience nothing hapened. 

At the kiosk scan your ead. Sometimes the readers are not that good reading tiny cards so no panic just try it again in a different orientation, location, pushed down, held, just let it float etc... Took 6 minutes to get my GC read... Now I am wondering if something is wrong with it

[justmarriedusciti 7]

On 2/15/2020 at 7:57 PM, EllisAndRenz said:

I just went through this two days ago.  The airline web-site might not take it.  But let not your heart be troubled, the airlines will know how to handle it at check-in. 

 

A few things you WILL need.

 

1) Passport (obviously)

2) Your EAD/AP card

3) An ORIGINAL marriage certificate to prove you are actually married.  (This is crucial!)

 

If you have those three things you will be fine. 

 

Two other notes:

1) When you come back to the USA go to the "USA Residents line" at immigration.  When you check in at the Kiosk, add your spouse as a traveling family member.  If the Kiosk won't accept it, it's fine, you can wait in line to see the CBP agent. 

2) With EAD/AP you will get pulled into the secondary screening room.  Don't panic, but it will take a long time and you will be separated from your spouse.  This can be agonizing as at LAX it took them 5 hours to process my wife.  We missed our connecting flight (which cost us a hotel room for the night)

 

I hope this is helpful. 

Thank you! I wil keep all things with me, and I will post here about my experience once I travel back to the US

[justmarriedusciti 7]

Hi Guys, 

 

So I am back from the UK after a few weeks abroad. Here are my experiences: 

 

1. Before my flight out from JFK, while I was checking in at the airport, the airlines staff seemed a little confused because I had put the number of my EAD card in the visa section on their website. Other than that, nothing major happened. I guess I had to put it in the GC box instead. 

2. Nobody within TSA asked me anything about the EAD, they scanned it and sent me onwards

3. On the flight back, the CBP officer took my passport and EAD, scanned them and sent me to secondary inspection. I sat there for probably 15 minutes while they took their notes and then cleared me. No questions asked at either end. Very smooth experience. However, this was probably due to me being from the UK. There were a lot of non Europeans, most visibly Indians, who were being held up in secondary inspection for a much longer time. I asked the two on my either side if they had an EAD or visa, and one of them had an EAD. Both had been in secondary for over an hour. I wonder how long the others behind and in front of me had been there for. 

Edited March 13, 2020 by justmarriedusciti