Advance Parole

We applied for Advance Parole because my husband needed to travel for work. We didn't send this with the I-485 and I-130 because we weren't sure if we'd need it and I also had gotten the impression it takes about 30 days. Later on, I learned it takes about 3 months. When we applied, then, we needed it expedited, which I wrote on the form, and we included evidence. When we received the notice that our application was received, however, there was no mention of the expedite request. We called, and the officer wasn't sure but he thought that probably meant it wasn't expedited. He helped us put in a service request to have the application expedited. At this point, I want to pause and recommend that if you're expediting an application, call as soon as you see the status updated online, instead of waiting for the notice to arrive in the mail and to tell you if it was expedited. This delayed everything for us and we ended up quite anxious.

We waited and monitored the status after submitting the service request. It was about a week later, I think, that we saw online that they had made a decision. We called, and learned that the decision was to reject the expedite request but requesting that we fax additional info (employer letter). At this point, I also want to pause and recommend that you make sure you have all of this material before you submit your application. In the end, waiting for and getting all the notices that allowed us to submit the additional information delayed our application. The officer was able to read us the letter, but said we have to wait for the notice in the mail in order to fax it in with the additional information. It was almost two weeks since they'd mailed it, and we still hadn't received it, so we called again, and at the second level of customer service, we were given the fax number, the case number, and advised to send it in even without the notice. We did this, and within two days, the request was approved only. Even more miraculously, the documents arrived the next business day in the mail. BTW, we never received that notification that we had been waiting on for so long before faxing our additional evidence.

well my experience with advance parole was the best. i left the country 10 times on a periods of 2 years with advance parole , i have tps and i was at a school that required me to travel every 2 months,8 times on the plane and 2 by boat , every time the officer would ask me for the paper, take my fingerprints, and send me to the little room, at first it was scary but by my fourth one i got used to it, well the never ask me any question except one time , that officer killed me he wanted to know everything , why i was leaving the country so many times which in my case was not surprising . well guys consult with your lawyer before leaving but don't be scared.

I would like to share my experience with Advance Parole Travel Document.
I'm waiting for a decision on my I-485 over 2 years and decided to request the Travel Document to visit my mother in Brazil which was in the hospital. I did request it in begging of October 2013. Got it on my mail after 2 weeks. I traveled to Brazil and spent 2 weeks there on November 2013. I was a little bit worried about re entry USA. I went to the Visitors line at JFK Airport. It was fast. I was called. Gave my passport and the 2 identical letter (Travel Document - Advance Parole). The officer was very nice and trying some words in Portuguese with me. He asked me how many days I stayed in Brazil and I said 2 weeks. also asked me why I still don't have my Green Card and I said because I'm still waiting for a decision. Then took my finger prints and brought me to a separate room. Left my documents and I there. There was 2 more people waiting and 2 officers to take care of us. Then one officer (woman) got my papers and started to look some informations on her computer....I could see everything but she did not call me. It took about 10 minutes. she stood up, walked to the next booth, got an stamp and stamped my passport and one of my Travel Document letter. She did not ask me anything, not even a question. Then called me, gave back my passport and letter and said: Welcome Back!
I was not too nervous because before leaving the USA I read a lot about this Travel Document and I was less scared of returning. But, leaving the country with my I-485 pending might bring me some difficult in the future to get my Green Card. Immigration can put on the table why I left the country without the Green Card. Anyway everything went smooth and I'm planning on my next trip to Brazil to visit my sick mother! Hope this post help everyone with the same doubts I had before traveling abroad. Good luck guys and there is no need to be scared of leaving and coming back.

my i485 has been pending since June 2011 after my wife and I went for the interview. I recently applied for Advance Parole to enable me travel to my country which got approved in exactly a month which I am currently waiting for documents to be mailed to me.
Lately I've been reading a lot on the AP and how people get denied entry if they had their i94 expired for more than 180 days. I entered the country in March 2010 with a B1B2 visa my i94 expired in September 2010.My wife petitioned for my i485 in February 2011.My question is Was I out of status from the date my i94 expired till the time we submitted my petition? which is (150 days) or am I out of status till date which will be 2 years plus ,since I am still waiting for a decision to be made on my case. I really want to travel but I am so confused. Please anyone with ideas or experience kindly help

Thanks

Hi friends,

I will be submitting my application for GC through marriage very soon. I am on H1-B status currently and have plans to go to India in December to see my parents. My question is should I apply for EAD plus AP? I already have H1-B but I don't have stamping on my passport. So on my way back to US , I have to get stamping and I do not want to go through all that hassle. So if I apply for EAD + AP , would I still need to get H1-B stamping on my way back to US ? When i reenter US and in case I dont get stamping on my passport , can I still use my AP to enter?
Any help is highly appreciated.

Pls do not book on any flights through UK to India if you are travelling on Advance Parole (AP). 2 weeks back i had booked on Virgin Atlantic to India through London & i have EAD/AP. My H1B expired sometime back. The virgin atlantic folks wouldnt let me board the flight on AP. They said i need to have either of these - valid tourist visa, valid work visa stamped not less than 6 months back, UK transit visa, UK tourist visa, GC or US Citizenship.

I had another indian tourist travelling with me on the same flight & he didnt have any problems & in fact UK authorities dont even check the visa at Heathrow, London.

But pls take care of travelling with AP through London

My priority date is jan, 9th2013, status fori485 is testing and interview . did my biometrics on 4th of feb. waiting for ap . applied fori485, i130 i131 together. status for i130 and i131 is initial review. waiting for the interview letter and ap approval . please tell how long it takes to receive the letter.

I am a US citizen and my boyfriend is here from Honduras on a TPS.
We filed for AP in order for him to see his family. The paperwork was handled quickly. I too was told don't go, he may not be able to re enter.
We decided it was worth the risk since he had not see his parents in 17 years. When we landed in Miami it was a mad house. We went into the room and had to wait an hour. The inspector asked if he was ever arrested, he was 8 years ao for a DUI.
YOU MUST BE HONEST WHEN answering there questions. If you lie, consider yourself screwed.
We made it home and took a trip we will,never forget.

Hi,

   I am in EAD and my wife had gone to India and would be entering in Advance Parole. I do not have job currently, had changed many jobs, can immigration officer deny entry to my wife. We did get our EAD renewed few days back. Do my wife need to show EAD also at the time of re-entry. Does anyone knows what kind of questions immigration officer asks

   Any help or experience will be appreciable

When I was travelling from Bombay to Newark,NJ with a stopover in London,I was not allowed to board the plane because according to the authorities at bombay airport I cannot go to UK JUST on advance parole even though my stopover was just for 2hours.I had not renewed my H1 visa since I have my EAD.Luckily I had a 10 years tourist visa because of which they allowed me to board the plane.
       I would advise anybody who is just going on AP to take either a non-stop flight or to do a detail research about the parole laws of that country besides just the transit visas.