Travel with AP - GC approved while gone

[garebear397 55]

I was wondering if anyone has thoughts/experiences on traveling on an AP, then the GC is approved while they are gone. 

 

Me and my wife (she is applying for GC) have her GC interview on December 8th so hopefully we are approved then and it isn't a problem. But we were wondering if they decide they need more time to review her GC case, can she travel back to her home country of Chile (with an AP), in order to plan a secondary larger wedding ceremony we are planning for January 21st. She would like to get there a month before the wedding date. Of course our AP still isn't approved, but we are working with our representative to do so. 

 

So then my question is: is it any kind of problem to travel with AP after GC interview, presuming then the GC will be approved while she is gone? Also if it is approved, and I am in the US to receive it in the mail, then I go to Chile closer to our ceremony date, should she present her GC or AP on reentry to the US? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

[Starkilla09 366]

2 hours ago, garebear397 said:

I was wondering if anyone has thoughts/experiences on traveling on an AP, then the GC is approved while they are gone. 

 

Me and my wife (she is applying for GC) have her GC interview on December 8th so hopefully we are approved then and it isn't a problem. But we were wondering if they decide they need more time to review her GC case, can she travel back to her home country of Chile (with an AP), in order to plan a secondary larger wedding ceremony we are planning for January 21st. She would like to get there a month before the wedding date. Of course our AP still isn't approved, but we are working with our representative to do so. 

 

So then my question is: is it any kind of problem to travel with AP after GC interview, presuming then the GC will be approved while she is gone? Also if it is approved, and I am in the US to receive it in the mail, then I go to Chile closer to our ceremony date, should she present her GC or AP on reentry to the US? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

Not an issue. So here are your spouse’s options though;

1. You guys attend interview and she gets approved on the spot but has to travel before receiving physical green card. What she does here is show proof of urgent travel and request an I-551 stamp (aka temporary green card stamp on passport). Fairly easy to get, I had it as well on same day of my I-485 approval interview, as I had the travel the week after.

2. You guys attend interview, I-485 needs review and decision changes to approved after she has already left the U.S. with her AP. What she does is travel with her AP to and fro back to the U.S. At the port of entry CBP officer will admit her as a lawful permanent resident and not a parolee upon checking her records. If you join her later overseas and have her physical green card with you, she can likewise use it rather than her AP.

[garebear397 55]

5 minutes ago, Starkilla09 said:

Not an issue. So here are your spouse’s options though;

1. You guys attend interview and she gets approved on the spot but has to travel before receiving physical green card. What she does here is show proof of urgent travel and request an I-551 stamp (aka temporary green card stamp on passport). Fairly easy to get, I had it as well on same day of my I-485 approval interview, as I had the travel the week after.

2. You guys attend interview, I-485 needs review and decision changes to approved after she has already left the U.S. with her AP. What she does is travel with her AP to and fro back to the U.S. At the port of entry CBP officer will admit her as a lawful permanent resident and not a parolee upon checking her records. If you join her later overseas and have her physical green card with you, she can likewise use it rather than her AP.

Ok great -- yeah that is definitely our plan for point 1. She gets approved and we get the I-551 stamp. And good to know about point 2 as well. Thanks!  

[Scandi 3,970]

It would be interesting to know how it really works. From my understanding the AP is invalid from the minute you become a LPR, which means that if you're abroad when getting approved all you have is an invalid AP and no greencard on hand to prove anything when you try to enter the US. 

[garebear397 55]

34 minutes ago, Scandi said:

It would be interesting to know how it really works. From my understanding the AP is invalid from the minute you become a LPR, which means that if you're abroad when getting approved all you have is an invalid AP and no greencard on hand to prove anything when you try to enter the US. 

Yeah I am planning on asking them when we go to the interview as well -- just so we are all clear. I mean in theory if the GC ships to our house while she is gone, but I am still in the US -- I could bring it down with me and she could have it when re-entering. 

 

 

 

[Rose_3001 23]

On 12/4/2017 at 12:36 PM, garebear397 said:

Yeah I am planning on asking them when we go to the interview as well -- just so we are all clear. I mean in theory if the GC ships to our house while she is gone, but I am still in the US -- I could bring it down with me and she could have it when re-entering. 

 

 

 

Hi -- I know this was a little while ago, but I might soon be in the same situation of having to travel very soon after the GC interview. Can I ask how your wife's experience was in the end? Did she come back into the US using AP? Many thanks!

[garebear397 55]

9 hours ago, Rose_3001 said:

Hi -- I know this was a little while ago, but I might soon be in the same situation of having to travel very soon after the GC interview. Can I ask how your wife's experience was in the end? Did she come back into the US using AP? Many thanks!

We actually didn't have to go through that process. She ended up getting approved and getting her physical green card before she left the country, so she never used the AP. She actually never received the AP since she got her Green Card pretty quick after applying. She just used her green card for her travel and had no problems.