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jakejon

Travelling outside US before known GC interview

By jakejon in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

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jakejon Rising Star

jakejon   1,196

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Hello my VJ'ers,

 

I have a thing which may not be a thing. So I have a scheduled GC interview for Sept 12th, which is very fast for Las Vegas albeit. I'm in shock. However, lets get to it...

 

So in April I booked a 2 week trip to the UK from Aug 21st - Sept 4th ( like all K1 er's I miss home) thinking I'd be fine as Las Vegas has a huge backlog. I do have my EAD/AP combo card. 

 

My question is this: is there an issue with me travelling my dates to back home before my interview? I will be back a week before my trip. I read many stories of people asking about trips after their GC interview but not many before when people already know their scheduled interview date. Of course i plan to bring every US immigration sheet with me. I'm just worried how they will view me at the border at my POE. Should I cancel my trip-I mean I don't want to as logically I'm doing nothing wrong and I've followed every procedure correctly...

 

Many thanks,

J 

Edited by jakejon
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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   39,261

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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I see no issues at all......

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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jakejon Rising Star

jakejon   1,196

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
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1 minute ago, missileman said:

I see no issues at all......

I agree. I'm just hoping our attorney secretary doesn't talk us of trip as she wasn't keen for us to use our AP for this trip but I mean thats what AP is for, right? I know she's being protective of her clients etc...

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
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Posted (edited)

I don't see any issue either. That's what AP is for. Enjoy your trip. :)

 

Edit: I would presume an attorney would prefer not to risk it (you are not guaranteed re-entry), but the practical risk is very, very minimal.

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   39,261

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Posted
7 minutes ago, jakejon said:

but I mean thats what AP is for, right?

Exactly!!!!!  Very, very rarely do people with a valid AP document experience problems...

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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jakejon Rising Star

jakejon   1,196

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
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  • Author
Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I don't see any issue either. That's what AP is for. Enjoy your trip. :)

Thanks for replying. So would the border employees think/question why we left the US knowing our interview date? I know this seems silly but I just don't want to miss out on our trip as there is a week in-between the two. I mean, I will bring everything with me (USCIS wise) and be prepared to show them that I know my appointment for GC is booked for the following week...

Edited by jakejon
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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
3 minutes ago, jakejon said:

Thanks for replying. So would the border employees think/question why we left the US knowing our interview date? I know this seems silly but I just don't want to miss out on our trip as there is a week in-between the two. I mean, I will bring everything with me (USCIS wise) and be prepared to show them that I know my appointment for GC is booked for the following week...

They could ask, but I doubt they will care about when the interview is.

The main things to have are your passport, AP document or combo card, and marriage certificate (not required if no name change, but has been requested). The rest is fine to bring, but those items are the ones they need.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,189

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted
1 hour ago, jakejon said:

I agree. I'm just hoping our attorney secretary doesn't talk us of trip as she wasn't keen for us to use our AP for this trip but I mean thats what AP is for, right? I know she's being protective of her clients etc...

She just doesn’t want to be sued or fired by you if you, for whatever reason, are not paroled back into the country. 

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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