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Hello, so I hope this helps out all of my fellow dreamers and all others wanting to travel on advanced parole.
I am 22 and currently have DACA, but decided to apply for Advanced Parole to visit my sick grandmother in Ecuador and ofcourse fix my unlawful entry to the US. I sent out my request for AP on November 11, 2015. I received my approval on December 26,2015. When I got my approval I was crying of joy. I was finally going to get to see my family who I haven't seen in 16 years! Finally getting to visit the place I grew up in. This was a dream come true for me, but ofcourse also terrifying. On the letter it repeatedly states that although I got this approval to enter the US, it was NOT guaranteed. I spent countless night researching everyone else's experience, scared that I won't ever be able to come back. I have a minor arrest from when I was 15, for running away from home (my young and stupid days) but I never saw a judge and they let me go the next day. I was still terrified.
I had booked my flight to Ecuador on Feb 6th returning to the US on Feb 14th. The day finally came. When I got to the airport (NEW YORK-JFK) I asked a supervisor regarding my advanced parole. She said "you not need this when you leave the US, but when you come back all you need to do is show that paper and you should be ok" this gave me a little peace of mind. I went through TSA, the lady asked for my passport, I showed her my Ecuadorian passport, she just stamped and we were on our way. So I got on the airplane on my way to my beautiful Ecuador, after 6 hours I finally touched land in Ecuador. I saw my family, non stop tears of joy. I literally could not believe I was there. Your whole life you have programmed your brain to think "you're illegal! You cannot leave this country, if you ever do you cant come back!" So it felt like a dream to be there! I saw my grandmother and it was the best thing ever! I was there one week, catching up, visiting family members, telling them about my accomplishments and what my life is like here in NY. The last day there, I couldn't sleep. All I was thinking of was coming back. I got the airport in Guayaquil and the lady where I checked my bags asked me if I was flying with residency or visa. I said I was flying with Advanced Parole, she asked a colleague for help and it took about 20 minutes, she gave me my tickets and I was on my way. I went through immigration in Ecuador, the guy was a bit rude. He asked me why I didn't have residency. I told him I was flying with advanced parole and my papers are in process. He asked how long I was in Ecuador for. I said 7 days. He checked the paper to make sure it was legit and gave it back to me and I was on my way. Before I went to board the plane the lady who collects the boarding pass asked me if I was flying with residency or visa again (it's protocol) I showed her my AP document and let me go. I was finally on my way back to NY. Once I got back, I made the line for immigration. I asked what line I should make, the lady there said I should make the visitors line. Since with DACA I am technically only a visitor for 2 years. Once I was next in line, I gave the officer my passport and AP document. I told him, Im entering with Advanced Parole and my mother here is a citizen (my mother flew with me) the immigration officer asked me how long I was in Ecuador for, I answered. He said "unfortunately, with these type of documents, you have to go to the office to get them approved." I said no problem. I then asked if my mother can accompany me. He said sure no problem. He was very kind. He escorted us to the room, which he gave my documents to another immigration officer. I was waiting there for 5 minutes, until my name was called out. I went to the cubicle, the officer was so very kind. He asked me what was the purpose of my trip. I answered with "I flew for humanitarian purposes, my grandmother is ill and I went to visit her. He then asked, how long did you stay for, I answered with "7 days" he then asked about my grandmother, and asked if she's doing okay, I told him she's doing alright but she's still pretty bad. He said he was very sorry to hear that. Then he said " Give me 2 minutes and you will bein your way" hearing him say that was such a huge relief. He stamped 1 of my two AP documents, but gave both back to me. He also stamped my passport with a parole stamp. I was on my way to pick up my bags and it was such a huge relief. I am back home now, and getting married in 2 weeks. My boyfriend of 3 years proposed to me once I got back. And hopefully, I will be a resident in 6 months.
I hope I helped out. I probably left out some important details. If any of you have any questions. Please feel free to ask. I will answer as soon as possible.
I am 22 and currently have DACA, but decided to apply for Advanced Parole to visit my sick grandmother in Ecuador and ofcourse fix my unlawful entry to the US. I sent out my request for AP on November 11, 2015. I received my approval on December 26,2015. When I got my approval I was crying of joy. I was finally going to get to see my family who I haven't seen in 16 years! Finally getting to visit the place I grew up in. This was a dream come true for me, but ofcourse also terrifying. On the letter it repeatedly states that although I got this approval to enter the US, it was NOT guaranteed. I spent countless night researching everyone else's experience, scared that I won't ever be able to come back. I have a minor arrest from when I was 15, for running away from home (my young and stupid days) but I never saw a judge and they let me go the next day. I was still terrified.
I had booked my flight to Ecuador on Feb 6th returning to the US on Feb 14th. The day finally came. When I got to the airport (NEW YORK-JFK) I asked a supervisor regarding my advanced parole. She said "you not need this when you leave the US, but when you come back all you need to do is show that paper and you should be ok" this gave me a little peace of mind. I went through TSA, the lady asked for my passport, I showed her my Ecuadorian passport, she just stamped and we were on our way. So I got on the airplane on my way to my beautiful Ecuador, after 6 hours I finally touched land in Ecuador. I saw my family, non stop tears of joy. I literally could not believe I was there. Your whole life you have programmed your brain to think "you're illegal! You cannot leave this country, if you ever do you cant come back!" So it felt like a dream to be there! I saw my grandmother and it was the best thing ever! I was there one week, catching up, visiting family members, telling them about my accomplishments and what my life is like here in NY. The last day there, I couldn't sleep. All I was thinking of was coming back. I got the airport in Guayaquil and the lady where I checked my bags asked me if I was flying with residency or visa. I said I was flying with Advanced Parole, she asked a colleague for help and it took about 20 minutes, she gave me my tickets and I was on my way. I went through immigration in Ecuador, the guy was a bit rude. He asked me why I didn't have residency. I told him I was flying with advanced parole and my papers are in process. He asked how long I was in Ecuador for. I said 7 days. He checked the paper to make sure it was legit and gave it back to me and I was on my way. Before I went to board the plane the lady who collects the boarding pass asked me if I was flying with residency or visa again (it's protocol) I showed her my AP document and let me go. I was finally on my way back to NY. Once I got back, I made the line for immigration. I asked what line I should make, the lady there said I should make the visitors line. Since with DACA I am technically only a visitor for 2 years. Once I was next in line, I gave the officer my passport and AP document. I told him, Im entering with Advanced Parole and my mother here is a citizen (my mother flew with me) the immigration officer asked me how long I was in Ecuador for, I answered. He said "unfortunately, with these type of documents, you have to go to the office to get them approved." I said no problem. I then asked if my mother can accompany me. He said sure no problem. He was very kind. He escorted us to the room, which he gave my documents to another immigration officer. I was waiting there for 5 minutes, until my name was called out. I went to the cubicle, the officer was so very kind. He asked me what was the purpose of my trip. I answered with "I flew for humanitarian purposes, my grandmother is ill and I went to visit her. He then asked, how long did you stay for, I answered with "7 days" he then asked about my grandmother, and asked if she's doing okay, I told him she's doing alright but she's still pretty bad. He said he was very sorry to hear that. Then he said " Give me 2 minutes and you will bein your way" hearing him say that was such a huge relief. He stamped 1 of my two AP documents, but gave both back to me. He also stamped my passport with a parole stamp. I was on my way to pick up my bags and it was such a huge relief. I am back home now, and getting married in 2 weeks. My boyfriend of 3 years proposed to me once I got back. And hopefully, I will be a resident in 6 months.
I hope I helped out. I probably left out some important details. If any of you have any questions. Please feel free to ask. I will answer as soon as possible.
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