Question regarding I-485, I-131 and I-765

[Katiedog 6]

My wife and I filed her I-485 in June along with an I-131 (Application for Advance Parole) and an I-765 (Application for Work). We have been to Biometrics and completed the process. We received a notice on July 18 requesting we complete the newest form of I-864 (which was done promptly and returned. They acknowledged the new form on August 1. My questions are about the time frame we might expect to get her approval (we think positively) for the I-131 and the I-765 Work Application. She is wanting to visit her family in Ukraine as soon as she gets these documents and we can obtain a Social Security number for her.

Also with the I-131 approval in our possession, is it safe for her to travel to Ukraine while the Green Card application (I-485) is still pending without encountering any problems returning to the USA?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

The wait time for EAD/AP is 2-3 months after filing. Getting an RFE can halt the processing of the EAD/AP as well, so you may need to add a little time to the typical estimate.

Yes, once she gets the AP she can travel and use it to re-enter the US while waiting for her green card approval. That is the purpose of the AP. Once she gets her green card, the AP will no longer be valid or needed. The green card will be used for work and travel then.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Usually without RFE, the EAD/AP card takes 2 month (60-70 days). I got mine a month later after my biometric app. Once she receive it, she is free to go and visit her family. The thing is that if she is having an interview, she will need to able to come back ASAP (but usually they give you 2-4 weeks between the appointment notice and the day of the interview) so she will have a fews days. If you are adjusting from a k1 visa she can also have her interview waive, so your wife can get her approval without interview. The only issue: if she wants to reentry, she will need to go through the immigration room again, but nothing else.

[Sveta & Ron 23]

hi katiedog be ready for a problem at kiev and amsterdam airport for return flight as I had to threaten to call the embassy if they refuse sveta boarding as they tried to say her ap/ead card was not good for flight to usa make sure you stand your ground took 45 minutes in kiev before a supervisior agreed ap\ead card would allow back to usa and the same problem in amsterdam but was lucky another rep that had been trained stepped in

[agrabs 241]

hi katiedog be ready for a problem at kiev and amsterdam airport for return flight as I had to threaten to call the embassy if they refuse sveta boarding as they tried to say her ap/ead card was not good for flight to usa make sure you stand your ground took 45 minutes in kiev before a supervisior agreed ap\ead card would allow back to usa and the same problem in amsterdam but was lucky another rep that had been trained stepped in

My husband had the same problem traveling with his a/p card coming back from vacation in mexico. Frontier Airlines was not familiar with the AP combo card. They insisted that the a/p card was not valid for travel and that he needed to have separate travel papers to re-enter so the ticket agent would not issue him a boarding pass. Call the airline you are traveling on and make sure they are familiar with the AP card. We even pulled up the USCIS website for the ticket agent and showed her where it said that the combo card now serves as the documentation for travel; however, right below that it states that the ap card doesn't guarantee admittance into the US. Since it stated that it didn't guarantee admittance the ticket agent would not issue the boarding pass, so make sure the airline knows what the ap card is. Plenty of people travel with the combo card and have no trouble.

[Katiedog 6]

hi katiedog be ready for a problem at kiev and amsterdam airport for return flight as I had to threaten to call the embassy if they refuse sveta boarding as they tried to say her ap/ead card was not good for flight to usa make sure you stand your ground took 45 minutes in kiev before a supervisior agreed ap\ead card would allow back to usa and the same problem in amsterdam but was lucky another rep that had been trained stepped in

That is a bummer. I really like flying through Amsterdam. The Dutch always seemed to be helpful and professional. Paris is my nightmare with the security checks.

My husband had the same problem traveling with his a/p card coming back from vacation in mexico. Frontier Airlines was not familiar with the AP combo card. They insisted that the a/p card was not valid for travel and that he needed to have separate travel papers to re-enter so the ticket agent would not issue him a boarding pass. Call the airline you are traveling on and make sure they are familiar with the AP card. We even pulled up the USCIS website for the ticket agent and showed her where it said that the combo card now serves as the documentation for travel; however, right below that it states that the ap card doesn't guarantee admittance into the US. Since it stated that it didn't guarantee admittance the ticket agent would not issue the boarding pass, so make sure the airline knows what the ap card is. Plenty of people travel with the combo card and have no trouble.

Thank you for the heads up. I am going to try to get her a direct flight from Kyiv to DFW or Houston and avoid connections.

[Sveta & Ron 23]

That is a bummer. I really like flying through Amsterdam. The Dutch always seemed to be helpful and professional. Paris is my nightmare with the security checks.

Thank you for the heads up. I am going to try to get her a direct flight from Kyiv to DFW or Houston and avoid connections.

i know klm has the shortest flights iah-kbp and their food is kinda good also lol also from what i find the ticket has been cheapest also