What to expect when returning to USA using AP/EAD combo card?

[Lyondellic 5]

My wife and I will be traveling internationally for a few weeks and she will be using her AP/EAD combo card to reenter the USA at the conclusion of our trip. I have heard that she will automatically be pulled aside for secondary inspection during this process, is this true? If so, what usually happens during the secondary inspection and will I be able to accompany her? Lastly, should we bring any of her other documents with us, such as the I-797 forms or our marriage certificate? We are nervous about leaving the USA, and any help to answer my questions will be greatly appreciated.

[RJandHamid 1,128]

My husband traveled with the EAD/AP card in May. I was traveling with him. He/we were pulled aside for secondary inspection. All we had to do is wait in a large room with about 20 other passengers while they took his passport and combo card for inspection. We did bring our marriage certificate with us, but we were never asked to show it (I would still bring it just in case). We waited for about 40 minutes until an officer called his name and handed him back the passport and combo card. They didn't ask us any additional questions, however we did see some people being called into side office rooms. Overall I did feel a little uneasy, but it ended up being no big deal. This was at O'Hare airport in Chicago in May 2018. 

[Crazy Cat 39,136]

24 minutes ago, Lyondellic said:

My wife and I will be traveling internationally for a few weeks and she will be using her AP/EAD combo card to reenter the USA at the conclusion of our trip. I have heard that she will automatically be pulled aside for secondary inspection during this process, is this true? If so, what usually happens during the secondary inspection and will I be able to accompany her? Lastly, should we bring any of her other documents with us, such as the I-797 forms or our marriage certificate? We are nervous about leaving the USA, and any help to answer my questions will be greatly appreciated.

They will likely examine your documents and possibly ask a few questions.  It is nothing to worry about.  Enjoy your trip.

[Michelle M 133]

My husband reentered (JFK NY ) with is EAD/AP combo card, per him they just asked him why he visited Jamaica (his mom funeral) and then verified somethings in the computer, stamped his passport and sent him on his way.

[Bibijaan 19]

I travelled on AP three times this year. They always send you to secondary inspection. Waiting times vary, I flew into O'Hare once, waiting time was about 45 minutes for me. The other two times I flew into LAX, about a 45 and 10 min waiting time. They never asked me questions, just stamped my passport,  but I always travelled with my marriage certificate, my EAD/AP issuance letter and my I-485 NOA, just in case. 

 

Two of my trips were solo. The other I travelled with my husband, he was not allowed to come with me. You're not allowed to use electronic devices in the secondary inspection waiting area, so no communication. 

 

Just keep in mind, that if you have a connecting flight coming back to the US, to leave enough time between flights for the possibility to be stuck in immigration for hours.

 

Enjoy your trip!