Advance Parole Experience

[Lise+Michael 13]

Hi all,

Just wanted to write about my experience using my combo card for reentry into the USA.

I spent 17 days in Canada (wanted to stay forever!) and returned to the USA via the Vancouver International Airport which has USA customs. When I received my check in flight notice it told me to be at the airport 3 hours ahead of my scheduled flight, I thought it was crazy! However, knowing that I had to clear customs I was there 2 hrs ahead. I cleared security without any concerns and made my way to the customs area. I waited @15 minutes for my turn. The border patrol agent I first spoke with had not seen the combo card before. He asked if I had my marriage license and USCIS's notice to adjust with me. I said I did but needed to get them from my backpack. He said its okay, just wondering if you had them. He then said I had to go through secondary screening, which I expected anyway. Off I went, the next two border patrol agents had also not seen the combo card...I was thinking of no, what am I in for. I was told to take a seat. Shortly, within minutes I was called up to a counter. The counter was lined with 5 border patrol agents. I presented my passport, combo card, and customs sheet to him. Yeah, an agent who was familiar with the combo card! He started the paperwork, which essentially is the same as when I first entered the country. It was taking some time and the next thing I noticed was my luggage behind counter! I was not sure why it was there...a bit worried. The agent helping me took my fingerprints, a photo, entered more data into the system. Asked what I purchased to leave in the USA. He then told me I was okay to go, but first my luggage, backpack, & purse had to be screened again. I had seen the guards looking through somone else's luggage and was dreading them opening mine, they'd never get it packed the same lol! In the end, my luggage cleared and I was told to go around the corner where the guard would meet me. He met me to open a secured door that led to the general area. It took a full hour to clear customs! Once in the general boarding are I had time to get a tea, snack, water for the plane and then they were boarding the plane! The thing for others to keep in mind is that the line up for customs got extremely long after me, had I been further back in the line I don't know that i would have made the plane. So my advice, lesson learned is to give yourself plenty of time to clear customs. The border patrol agent also told me that this would be the process for every reentry until I have my greencard. No more going to Canada for me until my elusive card is in my hands, its been 7 months and I just received notice of an RFE! So much for CSC being quicker! Anyway I don't want to get into a rant about the greencard, this was meant to share my experience using advance parole to re-enter the USA.

Have a great day,

Lise

[didopage 337]

Thanks a lot for your review Lise!

[bobbyA 20]

Lise,

Good to know that you made it back to the USA!!

Thanks for sharing your combo card experience.

Your experience is smooth compared to what my wife read on her Chinese forum. A few months ago, a lady was stuck in Beijing for days. The Chinese immigration officers were not familiar with the new card and did not allow her to board her flight back to the USA. The US embassy in Beijing could not help her either. She finally found out from the Chinese forum that people were successful in using the combo card at the Shanghai airport, so she had to spend extra money to purchase a ticket to Shanghai in addition to extra hotel expenses etc in Beijing. What a nightmare!

Glad it only took you an hour to get through in Vancouver! But I'm sure it wasn't a fun hour.

Hope your second RFE means they're working on your AOS and you will hear something soon after you respond.

Have a great weekend!

Bobby