PARANOID About Travel Even With I-512 Employment/Advance Parole Card

[John Tanglewood 3]

I'm very sorry to post such a question.  Perhaps I am just looking for some clarification, or just some reassurance.

 

I am a US Citizen, born and raised.  Recently I married my wife, who came here legally from South America with her family on an H-1B visa over 10 years ago and since expired.  DACA helped to allow her younger sister to renew her work/education visa through DACA, but unfortunately my wife barely missed the age cutoff and thus remained in the country without visa.

 

We married almost a year ago and have gone through all the steps (applications, biometrics) to apply her for permanent residency.  We recently received the I-512 Employment Authorization card in AUGUST and at the bottom it says "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole", which is my understanding that it is a work/travel combo card.  We then used this I-512 to apply for a social, which she also received just about a month ago.

 

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

 

While we wait, I am still worried to travel outside the country despite having the card, as it says USCBP can still stop us at the point of re-entry and refuse her if they'd like.

 

For this reason I was thinking of possibly taking her to Hawaii (we currently live in the Northeast and have frequented California several times), but I am STILL paranoid as it's not part of the continental US.

 

• How worried should I be about her being stopped during "re-entry" from Hawaii into NYC?  I know you don't even need a passport to go to Hawaii, but I was still told there is CBP presence who carefully checks all identification.
• What percentage chance would she be denied entry?  Again I don't want to take any risks if we are in the waiting process for our interview.

 

With all the new legislation and actions by President Trump, we cannot help but be fearful of her not being allowed back into the country for whatever reason, even if it is from a US territory like Hawaii.  Am I being paranoid for no reason?  Should this I-512 AP be 100% sufficient for travel to and from Hawaii?  Or should I just continue waiting for our appointment and then only leave the country once she's obtained her residency?

 

Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthily post.

Edited November 3, 2017 by John Tanglewood

[John Tanglewood 3]

7 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

I use a TX Drivers licence when travelling domestically, but if she doesnt have a state DL, then she will need to use her passport, and carry the EAD/AP as evidence of lawful presence.. 

Due to the law passed by Pres Obama allowing immigrants to obtain Drive-Only Licenses (DO, not DL), she did obtain a  DO license so she could legally drive a vehicle.  And she was able to use that license for travel within the continental US.

 

With her having this, her home country passport, and her EAD/AP card, should we be OK going to and returning from Hawaii to NYC?

 

Thanks!

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

I'm glad you realize you are being paranoid

[John Tanglewood 3]

3 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

I'm glad you realize you are being paranoid

I'm sorry - again I am completely new at this.  

 

Does this mean it is a no-brainer that we should be OK to travel to a place such as Hawaii?  If the reply is sarcastic I'm fine with that - Just looking for people with experience/knowledge to help assure me of our situation.  Not trying to take any risks in this process.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

Just now, Dee elle said:

It takes some time to stop being paranoid I think!!!!

And the help of some people confirming one's suspicion of said paranoia  

[John Tanglewood 3]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

It takes some time to stop being paranoid I think!!!!

No one knows the complete story for any OP, but there is no reasonable fear of this travel with an EAD / AP Card for you, unless there are significant issues that haven’t been declared .... but no one can ever say never. 

Enjoy the trip!!!!! 😁

But of course - aside from her mother and father remaining in the US likely without updated Visa's, my wife has a 100% clean record and there would be no other reason for us to be paranoid about re admittance.

 

 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

4 minutes ago, John Tanglewood said:

I'm sorry - again I am completely new at this.  

 

Does this mean it is a no-brainer that we should be OK to travel to a place such as Hawaii?  If the reply is sarcastic I'm fine with that - Just looking for people with experience/knowledge to help assure me of our situation.  Not trying to take any risks in this process.

You should definitely be okay. The reason it's said that there are no guarantees on re-entering the country is cause, as mentioned, there never are. Unless there are crimes or similar things, ya'll will be fine. Anyone can also be pulled into secondary, that's also perfectly normal and nothing to stress about. People who should stress are people with something to hide or ineligibility of some sort etc.

Regarding Hawaii it's the same as flying anywhere in the mainland. Go and enjoy your holiday

Edited November 3, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

15 minutes ago, John Tanglewood said:

Due to the law passed by Pres Obama allowing immigrants to obtain Drive-Only Licenses (DO, not DL), she did obtain a  DO license so she could legally drive a vehicle.  And she was able to use that license for travel within the continental US.

1.  Drivers Licenses are controlled by STATE authority, not by anything Obama did.

2.  As of 2016, only 12 states issued allow DO licenses.

 

EDIT:  I'm just saying that a DO license would probably not serve as a REAL ID credentials for flying..

Edited November 3, 2017 by missileman

[John Tanglewood 3]

46 minutes ago, missileman said:

1.  Drivers Licenses are controlled by STATE authority, not by anything Obama did.

2.  As of 2016, only 12 states issued allow DO licenses.

 

EDIT:  I'm just saying that a DO license would probably not serve as a REAL ID credentials for flying..

Apologies for my ignorance on that!  I should have specified that the DO is for Connecticut!

 

And actually we have been able to travel with her just using her DO as identification (I myself have Global Entry), but I understand this won't last.  In either case she always carries her South American passport.

[Suudsu 66]

58 minutes ago, missileman said:

I'm just saying that a DO license would probably not serve as a REAL ID credentials for flying..

An EAD is a REAL-ID compliant ID for Federal purposes. A driver's license from a REAL-ID compliant state marked 'Not for Federal Identification' is not REAL-ID compliant.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

 

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=805&q=547216

Can I use my Drive Only license for identification?
No.  Drive Only licenses are only valid for driving purposes and cannot be used as identification.  In addition, Drive Only licenses are not valid for identification for voting purposes.

 

I would recommend using the EAD at TSA as it is REAL-ID compliant. The timeline for enforcement of REAL-ID compliant documents (especially for TSA checkpoints) seems to always be shifting.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

5 hours ago, John Tanglewood said:

I'm sorry - again I am completely new at this.  

 

Does this mean it is a no-brainer that we should be OK to travel to a place such as Hawaii?  If the reply is sarcastic I'm fine with that - Just looking for people with experience/knowledge to help assure me of our situation.  Not trying to take any risks in this process.

There is no reason here to be paranoid.  She is going to want to travel on Passport/EAD/AP.  You guys have a fun trip!

Edited November 4, 2017 by Nitas_man

[caliliving 606]

 

8 hours ago, John Tanglewood said:

I'm sorry - again I am completely new at this.  

 

Does this mean it is a no-brainer that we should be OK to travel to a place such as Hawaii?  If the reply is sarcastic I'm fine with that - Just looking for people with experience/knowledge to help assure me of our situation.  Not trying to take any risks in this process.

also, if you are looking to travel to Hawaii it is a US sate, so no issue there!!!!

 

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

13 hours ago, John Tanglewood said:

Apologies for my ignorance on that!  I should have specified that the DO is for Connecticut!

 

And actually we have been able to travel with her just using her DO as identification (I myself have Global Entry), but I understand this won't last.  In either case she always carries her South American passport.

Have fun!!! Enjoy Hawaii 

[NYCruiser 423]

20 hours ago, John Tanglewood said:

I'm very sorry to post such a question.  Perhaps I am just looking for some clarification, or just some reassurance.

 

I am a US Citizen, born and raised.  Recently I married my wife, who came here legally from South America with her family on an H-1B visa over 10 years ago and since expired.  DACA helped to allow her younger sister to renew her work/education visa through DACA, but unfortunately my wife barely missed the age cutoff and thus remained in the country without visa.

 

We married almost a year ago and have gone through all the steps (applications, biometrics) to apply her for permanent residency.  We recently received the I-512 Employment Authorization card in AUGUST and at the bottom it says "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole", which is my understanding that it is a work/travel combo card.  We then used this I-512 to apply for a social, which she also received just about a month ago.

 

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

 

While we wait, I am still worried to travel outside the country despite having the card, as it says USCBP can still stop us at the point of re-entry and refuse her if they'd like.

 

For this reason I was thinking of possibly taking her to Hawaii (we currently live in the Northeast and have frequented California several times), but I am STILL paranoid as it's not part of the continental US.

 

• How worried should I be about her being stopped during "re-entry" from Hawaii into NYC?  I know you don't even need a passport to go to Hawaii, but I was still told there is CBP presence who carefully checks all identification.
• What percentage chance would she be denied entry?  Again I don't want to take any risks if we are in the waiting process for our interview.

 

With all the new legislation and actions by President Trump, we cannot help but be fearful of her not being allowed back into the country for whatever reason, even if it is from a US territory like Hawaii.  Am I being paranoid for no reason?  Should this I-512 AP be 100% sufficient for travel to and from Hawaii?  Or should I just continue waiting for our appointment and then only leave the country once she's obtained her residency?

 

Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthily post.

Wow..where does one start? Your post as so many misunderstandings it is mind boggling...

 

1. Hawaii is one of the States of The USA. You do NOT need immigration clearance.

 

2. Re:

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

Yes.

 

3. President Trump like other Presidents is ENFORCING the law...this should have been done by previous administrations more strictly!! Your EAD/AP card is fine for a) Employment b) Travel out of the USA within a reasonable time c) Services as an ID for DMV purposes and others...

 

Hope this helps

 

[John Tanglewood 3]

On 11/4/2017 at 1:24 PM, NYCruiser said:

Wow..where does one start? Your post as so many misunderstandings it is mind boggling...

 

1. Hawaii is one of the States of The USA. You do NOT need immigration clearance.

 

2. Re:

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

Yes.

 

3. President Trump like other Presidents is ENFORCING the law...this should have been done by previous administrations more strictly!! Your EAD/AP card is fine for a) Employment b) Travel out of the USA within a reasonable time c) Services as an ID for DMV purposes and others...

 

Hope this helps

 

Hi,

 

I don't believe there was any misunderstanding - I stated that Hawaii is part of the US but they also do have a USCBP presence.  

 

Thanks so much for your feedback as to the interview appointment!