Any problems when traveling using I-131 to Brazil and back?

[nater9ster 0]

My wife and I are hoping to receive her combo card for travel so we can go to Brazil on Oct 7th. We were approved on Sept 21 and I've seen from others that it usually is mailed to you in about 10 days or so so we have our fingers crossed.

Her name on her passport is her maiden name and on the combo card it will be my last name is this a possible issue? Should we bring along our marriage document? Any other documents besides passport, red combo card that would be helpful?

She is nervous and I've read stories about rude and/or ignorant officers in Brazil and elsewhere.

Also her tourist visa expired in June which we are also concerned about but I've seen even if you could still be banned for 3 years as was possible prior to 2012 it would mean overstaying 6 months or more which she will not have passed in October.

Any suggestions appreciated, thanks!

-Nathan

[Dashinka 23,199]

You should have no issues, but purchase her tickets with her maiden name since this is the name on her passport. Also, keep a copy of your marriage certificate with you while traveling in case the CBP officer in the US asks any questions upon your return to the US. My wife has gone back to Russian multiple times this way with no issues, and so far no one has asked about the name difference, but she always keeps a copy of the certificate with her just in case.

I can't really comment on the tourist visa expiration. Did you file the AOS prior to it expiring? If so, I don't think you will have any issues, but I could be wrong.

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[nater9ster 0]

Thanks Bill

Yes the tickets were purchased in her maiden name.

Her tourist Visa expired in June, USCIS received our application in July.

We had a consultation with a lawyer last May because we were planning on going to Brazil in June before her tourist visa expired. She told us that was a bad idea and she might not be allowed back into the US so we cancelled the trip in June.

We filed (it took a few weeks longer than we had hoped to get it to them) and were told it had been received July 12.

In our consultation we were told not to worry about her tourist visa expiring, as long as we file within 6 months of the expiration. After that the risk increases.

I'm not really concerned with us filing a few weeks after the expiration, maybe you or someone else has thoughts on that...

I am a little concerned with running into ticket/airport agents that delay us during our flights but hope for the best. We have a 3 hour connection in Bogota before Sao Paulo each way which is good to give us plenty of time and will definitely try to get to the airports 3 hours ahead of take off.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You are worrying over nothing, and the person who you had a consultation with fed you some BS. Bon voyage!

Edited September 29, 2016 by Harpa Timsah

[nater9ster 0]

***UPDATE***

Indeed a lot of worrying over nothing

We made it successfully to Brazil and back and had a great time!

I had to enlist a co-worker to get the combo card from our mail, it actually arrived THE DAY WE LEFT for Brazil, grrr. But it all worked out with the help of UPS Worldwide Express Delivery, and we were able to return without any issues.

The first customs officer stamped my US passport and asked us a few questions and then said we had to go to another room to get her passport stamped.

The 2nd customs officer didn't even ask my wife questions, just handed the card back to her. However, the wait and lines were terrible, took about two hours to get through. First in one line to customs, then to another room where officers were asking people questions.

The takeaway advice I'd give to others is plan any trips 4 months or more if possible from the day USCIS receives your applications. Fortunately it worked out for us but was a little risky having a trip scheduled just under 90 days from the day USCIS received our application.