my experience traveling with EAD/AP Combo Card

[clairegie 265]

So.. I just got back from the Philippines last Feb. 18, 2015 and thought of sharing my experience.

It starts at the Philippine airport (NAIA Terminal 2). At check-in, they asked me for proof that I am admissible to the US. They need to make sure they wont get in any trouble for allowing/carrying you on board their plane to USA. I showed the lady my combo card and she has never seen it before. She asks for my greencard so I explain to her why I have the combo card instead and what it's for. She goes to her supervisor who is equally clueless about it so they decided to just go ahead and give me my ticket and a small yellow form I had to fill out, then told me show my combo card to the customs officer who would know more about it. At customs, I gave them my passport, combo card, and that little yellow sheet and no questions were asked.

After 12 hours ... Arrived at LAX 6:00AM

I asked the lady assisting passengers if I should line up at the Visitors or Permanent Resident/Citizen lane, and she said just line up anywhere since everywhere is pretty much empty. She also said that she usually asks combo card users to line up at the Visitor lane though. I handed the CBP officer my passport, customs declaration paper, and my combo card. He asked me what food I brought in since I checked that on the declaration paper. And then he asked me to put my fingers on their machine for fingerprinting.

He continued checking my documents and looked extremely lost so I offered my AP NOA2 letter which he gladly accepted. He said the letter was familiar to him, but the combo card wasn't. He even asked if I had a letter/form with a picture on the bottom right of it, to which I said no. (no idea what letter he was referring to.) After checking things on his computer, he kept my documents and just asked me to stand near by and an officer will come get me for my secondary inspection.

The 2nd officer then brought me to an office nearby. I think it was called the Admissibility Office. He just asked me to go in and sit and reminded me that cellphone use is prohibited. It was pretty early and there were only 3 other people there who were also in the same flight I was, so I only had to wait about 10 mins to get called. The officer just asked if I was travelling alone, nothing else. He checked if I was out of status at any point. (I was, but was below 180 days. I had no arrests or convictions and my record was clean). He just wrote and typed a lot and then gave me a small paper detailing that I was admitted to the US on parole which is good for 1 year. I verified if my pending petition for adjustment would get affected, and he said No and I was good to go. He said that since I have No status as my adjustment petition is still pending, the paper lets me stay for 1 more year until a decision is made on my AOS. I just handed my passport and parole form to the lady at the desk before leaving the office, and then I collected my bags and went on to my connecting flight to NC. I arrived in Jacksonville, NC around 9pm and found my loving husband waiting for me with a bouquet of flowers. (Ehem! Guys, this is a really sweet thing to do.. )

It was scary since my entry back into the US was relying on someone else's discretion and the combo card was not an assurance that I could get back in. I read a lot of stories about it here on VJ but I still didn't know what to expect. But overall, the entire experience was not as stressful as I expected. I was prepared to show all my papers, including NOA2's, the letter that came with the combo card, and my marriage certificate etc., but he never asked me for it. Still, its better to keep these things in your carry-on since not a lot of CBP officers are aware that the combo card even exists. There ya go, hopefully this will help others who are planning to come back in using the combo card.

Edited February 21, 2015 by iammrsregie

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Do I have this right. You traveled on your combo card prior to you receiving your GC. Right?

[Al422 221]

Technically, the combo card gives you a privilege to enter the US, not a right. It got you back in, and no reason why it should not, but a privilege is more fragile than a right, hence all the cautionary stuff.

Did you file your AOS within 90 days of your arrival in the US? We know that a late filing gets accepted and processed just fine, but technically it puts you out of status until you get your GC. That might be what the talk was about out of status and the one year probation.

All in all, I would not worry any further. If you want complete peace of mind that this will not affect your AOS you can talk to an immigration lawyer, but I don't see any real need. Everything you did was in good faith.

[Hank_ 9,173]

Good info. Good idea to carry a copy of your NOA for AOS, I will try to remember that.

It does state on the USCIS website that entry is still at the discretion of the CBP agent, which can always be scary.

[VOL 425]

Good write up

How long have they been giving these AP/EAD Combo cards?

A few years ago you just got a piece of paper stating AP and or EAD.........

[Rissa92 1]

So.. I just got back from the Philippines last Feb. 18, 2015 and thought of sharing my experience.

It starts at the Philippine airport (NAIA Terminal 2). At check-in, they asked me for proof that I am admissible to the US. They need to make sure they wont get in any trouble for allowing/carrying you on board their plane to USA. I showed the lady my combo card and she has never seen it before. She asks for my greencard so I explain to her why I have the combo card instead and what it's for. She goes to her supervisor who is equally clueless about it so they decided to just go ahead and give me my ticket and a small yellow form I had to fill out, then told me show my combo card to the customs officer who would know more about it. At customs, I gave them my passport, combo card, and that little yellow sheet and no questions were asked.

After 12 hours ... Arrived at LAX 6:00AM

I asked the lady assisting passengers if I should line up at the Visitors or Permanent Resident/Citizen lane, and she said just line up anywhere since everywhere is pretty much empty. She also said that she usually asks combo card users to line up at the Visitor lane though. I handed the CBP officer my passport, customs declaration paper, and my combo card. He asked me what food I brought in since I checked that on the declaration paper. And then he asked me to put my fingers on their machine for fingerprinting.

He continued checking my documents and looked extremely lost so I offered my AP NOA2 letter which he gladly accepted. He said the letter was familiar to him, but the combo card wasn't. He even asked if I had a letter/form with a picture on the bottom right of it, to which I said no. (no idea what letter he was referring to.) After checking things on his computer, he kept my documents and just asked me to stand near by and an officer will come get me for my secondary inspection.

The 2nd officer then brought me to an office nearby. I think it was called the Admissibility Office. He just asked me to go in and sit and reminded me that cellphone use is prohibited. It was pretty early and there were only 3 other people there who were also in the same flight I was, so I only had to wait about 10 mins to get called. The officer just asked if I was travelling alone, nothing else. He checked if I was out of status at any point. (I was, but was below 180 days. I had no arrests or convictions and my record was clean). He just wrote and typed a lot and then gave me a small paper detailing that I was admitted to the US on parole which is good for 1 year. I verified if my pending petition for adjustment would get affected, and he said No and I was good to go. He said that since I have No status as my adjustment petition is still pending, the paper lets me stay for 1 more year until a decision is made on my AOS. I just handed my passport and parole form to the lady at the desk before leaving the office, and then I collected my bags and went on to my connecting flight to NC. I arrived in Jacksonville, NC around 9pm and found my loving husband waiting for me with a bouquet of flowers. (Ehem! Guys, this is a really sweet thing to do.. )

It was scary since my entry back into the US was relying on someone else's discretion and the combo card was not an assurance that I could get back in. I read a lot of stories about it here on VJ but I still didn't know what to expect. But overall, the entire experience was not as stressful as I expected. I was prepared to show all my papers, including NOA2's, the letter that came with the combo card, and my marriage certificate etc., but he never asked me for it. Still, its better to keep these things in your carry-on since not a lot of CBP officers are aware that the combo card even exists. There ya go, hopefully this will help others who are planning to come back in using the combo card.

What's the combo card? is the cr1 visa can also have it?

Your from Jacksonville im here in Fayetteville

[Darnell 8,478]

Good write up

How long have they been giving these AP/EAD Combo cards?

A few years ago you just got a piece of paper stating AP and or EAD.........

5 years, iirc.

[Darnell 8,478]

1. What's the combo card?

2. is the cr1 visa can also have it?

3. Your from Jacksonville im here in Fayetteville

1. a card given to k-1 visa holders who AOS and apply for the I-765 and I-131. One handles work authorization, the other advance parole.

2. no. no need. read your visa foil stamp inside of the passport, for 'why'.

3. OOOOOH - I smell a meet up at Disney !

[Rissa92 1]

1. a card given to k-1 visa holders who AOS and apply for the I-765 and I-131. One handles work authorization, the other advance parole.

2. no. no need. read your visa foil stamp inside of the passport, for 'why'.

3. OOOOOH - I smell a meet up at Disney !

[Hank_ 9,173]

What's the combo card? is the cr1 visa can also have it?

Your from Jacksonville im here in Fayetteville

You don't need one you have a green card, and if that hasn't arrived yet you have the stamp in your passport which gives you the same benefits and privileges.

[Rissa92 1]

Thank you :)

[ito84 2]

So.. I just got back from the Philippines last Feb. 18, 2015 and thought of sharing my experience.

It starts at the Philippine airport (NAIA Terminal 2). At check-in, they asked me for proof that I am admissible to the US. They need to make sure they wont get in any trouble for allowing/carrying you on board their plane to USA. I showed the lady my combo card and she has never seen it before. She asks for my greencard so I explain to her why I have the combo card instead and what it's for. She goes to her supervisor who is equally clueless about it so they decided to just go ahead and give me my ticket and a small yellow form I had to fill out, then told me show my combo card to the customs officer who would know more about it. At customs, I gave them my passport, combo card, and that little yellow sheet and no questions were asked.

After 12 hours ... Arrived at LAX 6:00AM

I asked the lady assisting passengers if I should line up at the Visitors or Permanent Resident/Citizen lane, and she said just line up anywhere since everywhere is pretty much empty. She also said that she usually asks combo card users to line up at the Visitor lane though. I handed the CBP officer my passport, customs declaration paper, and my combo card. He asked me what food I brought in since I checked that on the declaration paper. And then he asked me to put my fingers on their machine for fingerprinting.

He continued checking my documents and looked extremely lost so I offered my AP NOA2 letter which he gladly accepted. He said the letter was familiar to him, but the combo card wasn't. He even asked if I had a letter/form with a picture on the bottom right of it, to which I said no. (no idea what letter he was referring to.) After checking things on his computer, he kept my documents and just asked me to stand near by and an officer will come get me for my secondary inspection.

The 2nd officer then brought me to an office nearby. I think it was called the Admissibility Office. He just asked me to go in and sit and reminded me that cellphone use is prohibited. It was pretty early and there were only 3 other people there who were also in the same flight I was, so I only had to wait about 10 mins to get called. The officer just asked if I was travelling alone, nothing else. He checked if I was out of status at any point. (I was, but was below 180 days. I had no arrests or convictions and my record was clean). He just wrote and typed a lot and then gave me a small paper detailing that I was admitted to the US on parole which is good for 1 year. I verified if my pending petition for adjustment would get affected, and he said No and I was good to go. He said that since I have No status as my adjustment petition is still pending, the paper lets me stay for 1 more year until a decision is made on my AOS. I just handed my passport and parole form to the lady at the desk before leaving the office, and then I collected my bags and went on to my connecting flight to NC. I arrived in Jacksonville, NC around 9pm and found my loving husband waiting for me with a bouquet of flowers. (Ehem! Guys, this is a really sweet thing to do.. )

It was scary since my entry back into the US was relying on someone else's discretion and the combo card was not an assurance that I could get back in. I read a lot of stories about it here on VJ but I still didn't know what to expect. But overall, the entire experience was not as stressful as I expected. I was prepared to show all my papers, including NOA2's, the letter that came with the combo card, and my marriage certificate etc., but he never asked me for it. Still, its better to keep these things in your carry-on since not a lot of CBP officers are aware that the combo card even exists. There ya go, hopefully this will help others who are planning to come back in using the combo card.

Awesome story, I was worried about not being admitted at the POE!

Thanks for sharing your story!