Advanced Parole and DUI - this is what happened!

[Lisa-O 8]

Hey Guys,

So a few weeks back, some of you will recall me asking whether there would be any problems re-entering the US on an AP with a past DUI and an expired B1/B2 visa which was used to clear me through immigration in the past?

I took a trip back to the UK from Newark to Edinburgh...Newark staff weren't happy that I had booked the ticket in my married name (to coincide with my AP) and not my maiden name (which is in my passport), I was referred to a supervisor who checked my marriage cert, then printed my boarding pass.

Back to Blighty...had a great time, my husband met a lot of new family...enjoyed visiting York (the usual touristy things)

Travel back to Edinburgh to return home...

So I had with me: Passport, Advanced Parole Card, Marriage Cert, copies of DUI report and Social Security (yes going overboard now) I wanted to make sure I had more than enough documentation with me

Got to the desk to check in...ah Mrs O do you have your marriage cert...ME: yes.... Click, click, click...oh I'm sorry you need an ESTA number or we cannot print the boarding pass. ME: starting to get nervous as the B1/B2 visa was used in place of the ESTA and had now expired?!?! Spoke to a supervisor who confirmed they needed an ESTA number...I have a complete meltdown at the thought of me not being allowed to go home!!!

So the staff were adamant I needed an ESTA...and was ushered to the special ESTA computer...reluctantly filled out the form, for the computer to come back with 'TRAVEL NOT AUTHORIZED'. Obviously my K1 and AP superseded the ESTA. Now I'm panicking!!

So we go back to the desk, and explain the situation, the supervisor says I need to speak to the airline reps to see what they can do. As they hadn't heard of a case like mine before, they call JFK...the adviser on the phone tells them to input the AP like a Green Card and use the A# for the number they need...and bingo...just like that, everything is as it should be.

Sitting on the plane ready to fly to Newark...thinking to myself...if that's getting on the plane, what on earth is Homeland Security going to be like...as in the past I have always had a long wait and grilling in the secondary room about who, what, where, when...

Get to Newark, give the officer my passport and AP, takes me to the secondary interview room (which I was expecting) waited for 10 minutes...there you go Mrs O, you're good to go, I even printed out a copy of your I-94!!

So long story short in my case the DUI wasn't addressed, and if anyone comes across inexperienced agents, they need to input the AP as a Green Card using the Alien number, and you do not need an ESTA number. And always take more than enough documentation with you.

I hope this will help others, as I know no-one had had dealings like this in the past...Im not trying to say this will be the case for everyone, but this is my experience

Cheers

[Ryan H 3,795]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I explained in your other thread that you didn't need ESTA, and I explained why, and that your old B2 was not in play any more either. My efforts, for nothing

[Lisa-O 8]

I explained in your other thread that you didn't need ESTA, and I explained why, and that your old B2 was not in play any more either. My efforts, for nothing

Exactly! This is what I explained to the check in clerks, and they were adamant that I needed the ESTA...which in due course I didn't! I took your advice and you were correct...the confusion was down to the inexperienced desk staff...and this post was just reassurance for people in a similar situation, that what the desk staff tell you isn't always correct!