Applying for a travel document.

[AjT1 13]

Hello!

 

Just a quick question and I apologise if I have posted it in the wrong place. I'm currently waiting for my green card after applying for AOS in mid January. My case is being dealt with in Charlotte, NC, and their office is showing processing times from 8.5 months to 26.5 months. Now with covid I'm expecting that these times will be much longer and because I would like to see my family back in the UK I'm now thinking that it might be a good idea to apply for a travel document. It has been four and a half months since I applied for AOS, so looking at the shortest processing time I may have four months left, although it is likely to be closer to the longest processing time of 3 years. The current processing time for the travel document is 3-5 months, but this also could be affected by covid. 

 

Do you think it would be worth it to apply for the travel document in the hope that I may be able to travel in the next six months? Or should I just continue to wait for the green card as I have already been waiting for four and a half months? 

 

Thanks you and I'm sorry again if this is posted in the wrong place. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,232]

You already should have applied for the AP and the EAD when you applied for AOS. Go for it now and attach the NOA1 from AOS with your application so it's free. 

[Ayrton 965]

14 minutes ago, AjT1 said:

Hello!

 

Just a quick question and I apologise if I have posted it in the wrong place. I'm currently waiting for my green card after applying for AOS in mid January. My case is being dealt with in Charlotte, NC, and their office is showing processing times from 8.5 months to 26.5 months. Now with covid I'm expecting that these times will be much longer and because I would like to see my family back in the UK I'm now thinking that it might be a good idea to apply for a travel document. It has been four and a half months since I applied for AOS, so looking at the shortest processing time I may have four months left, although it is likely to be closer to the longest processing time of 3 years. The current processing time for the travel document is 3-5 months, but this also could be affected by covid. 

 

Do you think it would be worth it to apply for the travel document in the hope that I may be able to travel in the next six months? Or should I just continue to wait for the green card as I have already been waiting for four and a half months? 

 

Thanks you and I'm sorry again if this is posted in the wrong place. 

By your post I'm assuming you didn't apply for EAD and AP with the AOS?

 

EAD/AP is taking around 6 months to be approved. 

Edited May 31, 2020 by Ayrton

[Quarknase 1,072]

It’s free so it won’t hurt. You should apply for EAD too (also free with I-485)

[Crazy Cat 39,572]

***Moved to Working and Traveling During US Immigration discussion area*****

 

Note to all Adjustment of Status applicants:  Submit an I-765 (EAD) and an I-131 (Advance Parole) as part of the Adjustment of Status package.  There is no fee when submitting them concurrently or after submission of the I-485.  There is no reason NOT to submit them.  You might need one or both of them in the future before your Green card arrives.

Edited May 31, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,079]

6 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

Note to all Adjustment of Status applicants:  Submit an I-765 (EAD) and an I-131 (Advance Parole) as part of the Adjustment of Status package.  There is no fee when submitting them concurrently or after submission of the I-485.  There is no reason NOT to submit them.  You might need one or both of them in the future before your Green card arrives.

And this is true even if you don't expect to work or travel outside the US within normal GC processing time at your local field office.

 

Unexpected things happen. That's why they're called "unexpected". And what you consider an emergency and what USCIS considers an emergency may not be the same thing.

[AjT1 13]

19 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

You already should have applied for the AP and the EAD when you applied for AOS. Go for it now and attach the NOA1 from AOS with your application so it's free. 

IT'S FREE? I knew the EAD was free with the AOS, I applied for them together, but I thought that the travel document was something I had to pay for regardless. I feel a bit daft for missing that key piece of information. I'm going to apply for it today in that case. 

 

19 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

***Moved to Working and Traveling During US Immigration discussion area*****

 

Note to all Adjustment of Status applicants:  Submit an I-765 (EAD) and an I-131 (Advance Parole) as part of the Adjustment of Status package.  There is no fee when submitting them concurrently or after submission of the I-485.  There is no reason NOT to submit them.  You might need one or both of them in the future before your Green card arrives.

I didn't know that the AP document was also free with the AOS package... I feel a little stupid for not realising... As I don't plan on travelling until December at the earliest I may be alright with the expected processing times for the travel document if I apply over the next few days.

 

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that it is free! 

[geowrian 22,336]

2 hours ago, AjT1 said:

IT'S FREE? I knew the EAD was free with the AOS, I applied for them together, but I thought that the travel document was something I had to pay for regardless. I feel a bit daft for missing that key piece of information. I'm going to apply for it today in that case. 

 

I didn't know that the AP document was also free with the AOS package... I feel a little stupid for not realising... As I don't plan on travelling until December at the earliest I may be alright with the expected processing times for the travel document if I apply over the next few days.

 

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that it is free! 

It's also noted in both the I-485 and I-131 instructions.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/i-485instr-pc.pdf

Quote

Filing Form I-485 with Forms I-765 and I-131

If you properly file Form I-485 and pay the required fees, you may file Form I-765 and Form I-131 without paying additional fees. You may file these forms together, or if you choose to file Form I-765 or Form I-131 separately, you must also submit a copy of your I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence that you filed and paid for Form I-485.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/i-131instr.pdf

Quote

NOTE: If you filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and you paid the Form I-485 application fee required, then no fee is required to file a request for an Advance Parole Document

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by geowrian