Advance Parole

Hi everyone!

This entire time, I've been looking at all of y'all's experiences and I've been wanting to share mine with you. I've been a DACA recipient since March 2015 and have renewed until March 2019 (unless Trump takes it away at some point). Keep in mind that I am doing most of this through a lawyer because I am married and will be adjusting my status soon (hopefully).

Sent AP documents and evidence (humanitarian reasons): November 26, 2017
Request for expedite through Tier 1 officer (called): January 6, 2017
AP Approved: January 16, 2017
AP mailed: January 17, 2017
AP received in mail: January 23, 2017

I got approved from 1/16/17- 3/15/17 but my lawyer advised my husband and I to go asap so I can get my adjustment of status papers in and don't have to risk Trump taking away DACA before I travel.

We took her advice and traveled from 2/2/17 through 2/5/17. I am in college so a long trip was not feasible. I also had an exam on 2/7/17 so I definitely couldn't stay too long! I flew from DFW Airport to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (where I was born and where my grandmother is) and it was AMAZING! I hadn't been back to Mexico since I left when I was 3 and I actually hadn't been in Guadalajara since I was about 1 year old. I am now about to turn 22. It was definitely an emotional roller-coaster for me but goodness was it worth it!

As for my experience getting BACK to the US, I must say I was worried for nothing! My husband went with me through the "Non US citizens" line and he handed the immigration officer his passport then I tried to hand him everything I had (EAD past, current, and future, Texas driver's license, AP document, DACA renewal approval, etc.) but all he needed was my current EAD and my AP document with my passport. He asked us how we're related and how long I was in Mexico and we answered his questions, but it honestly just seemed like he was trying to make conversation, not like he was trying to intimidate us at all. He input some information, told us to go with him and we went into a room with a few others (like 7 other people) and we just sat and waited. I saw a guy get called to a private room behind a locked door and I got a little nervous honestly. After about 20-30 minutes of waiting, an immigration officer behind a glass window called my name, handed me my documents, and sent me on my way! It was super easy. I was worried for nothing. I am not sure if they're just so familiar with it now that they don't care to look too far into it or if it was easy because I honestly speak better English than I do Spanish and my luggage had Texas A&M logos on it (where I go to college) so they could tell I'm pretty integrated into the American life.

Now that we're back and I have the legal entry stamp on my passport, my husband and I are going to meet with the lawyer to get my status adjusted. I'm so excited!

I hope this gives some of y'all a little bit of hope! Trump being in office means nothing to immigration officers right now and I hope it works out for all of y'all! If y'all have any questions on my experience, I'd be happy to help! I had been following this thread the entire time I was waiting on my AP and everyone on here has helped me so much!