What constitutes "Urgent Humanitarian Reason"

[Augustine 0]

Today I received my I-512L Advance Parole document, which I applied for together with my AOS. It's multi-entry, valid for 12 months. My concern is that it states that it allows re-entry into the U.S. for "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit."

I need to know how rigidly or strictly is this enforced in practice? In the cover letter that I enclosed with my application I clearly stated that I wanted the AP in order to travel to two weddings, one in Ireland, one in the Caribbean. How likely is it that I would have a problem being readmitted here, if the officer on duty felt that my trip was not allowed under the provision of the I-512L, or do they look at it that closely?

Thanking you in advance

[raymaga 25]

Once you have your AP documents, you can leave the US for any reason you want.

Just make sure you take both copies with you to present to the officer upon re-entry into the U.S. They will stamp the AP document as well as your passport for future re-entries into the U.S.

Have a good time at the weddings!!!

[John & Annie 0]

I love the way they word that.

I personally would consider a visit to Guinness an 'urgent humanitarian' purpose.

OK really, AP has become a matter of course as an interim benefit to AOS. As long as you are not doing anything illegal you will be fine.

It is worth mentioning that AP does not guarantee you entry back to the US, it is up to the officer to allow you back in.

[Augustine 0]

I love the way they word that.

I personally would consider a visit to Guinness an 'urgent humanitarian' purpose.

OK really, AP has become a matter of course as an interim benefit to AOS. As long as you are not doing anything illegal you will be fine.

It is worth mentioning that AP does not guarantee you entry back to the US, it is up to the officer to allow you back in.

Update from the original poster

I have just returned from Grand Cayman and re-entered the US through Tampa. Neither of the two USCIS officers on duty were fully up to speed on the workings of the Advance Parole Document. I was brought into secondary processing where a senior USCIS officer used the occasion as a training opportunity for the two officers plus one other who joined them. It was handled very professionally and pleasantly and I was through in about fifteen minutes. They stressed the need for the traveller to carry both copies of the AP, which I had done. One copy was retained and the other was returned to me with the all-important stamps. The purpose of my trip to Cayman was never questioned.

[Krikit 1,163]

I have just returned from Grand Cayman and re-entered the US through Tampa. Neither of the two USCIS officers on duty were fully up to speed on the workings of the Advance Parole Document. I was brought into secondary processing where a senior USCIS officer used the occasion as a training opportunity for the two officers plus one other who joined them. It was handled very professionally and pleasantly and I was through in about fifteen minutes. They stressed the need for the traveller to carry both copies of the AP, which I had done. One copy was retained and the other was returned to me with the all-important stamps. The purpose of my trip to Cayman was never questioned.

Yaaay! I love the fact that they used it as a training opportunity. In my case, they used it as license to berate me for not changing my last name to my husband's last name in my passport. Idiots.