I-131 Advanced Parole

[Gao Yuan]

Does anyone have any information regarding the ¡°advanced parole¡± process?

 

My SO is in the states now, we¡¯ve gotten married and we¡¯re preparing the AOS paperwork. Along with this, we are submitting the I-131 Advanced Parole form.

 

If and when she gets approval on the I-131,

• How many times can she leave the US and return?

• Does she have to return to China or can she travel to another country?

 

It¡¯s all about the honeymoon. We¡¯d like to go to Singapore for a week and then return to China. And then come back to America. Will the I-131 satisfy this?

[PapaBear]

Does anyone have any information regarding the ¡°advanced parole¡± process?

 

My SO is in the states now, we¡¯ve gotten married and we¡¯re preparing the AOS paperwork. Along with this, we are submitting the I-131 Advanced Parole form.

 

If and when she gets approval on the I-131,

• How many times can she leave the US and return?

• Does she have to return to China or can she travel to another country?

 

It¡¯s all about the honeymoon. We¡¯d like to go to Singapore for a week and then return to China. And then come back to America. Will the I-131 satisfy this?

 

Hello Gao Yuan!

 

We don't have a complete experience with filing for Advanced Parole, but we did submit our application about 1 month ago (we were "pending" our AOS and in a security/name-check and wished to travel back to China this Spring). So I'll relate to you what we know about the process.

 

When you fill out your I-131 form you are required to explain why you wish Advanced Parole. As I understand it, USCIS will review your reason and based on your reason will either grant or deny the request. Our reason was that my parents (aged nearly 80 years) planned to meet her mother (over 80 years) and family. We stated that their age and the "pending' status of our AOS necessitated our travel happen this year (next year with the Olympics would be a hardship). We filed on 12/18/06, and then received approval and our green card around Christmas time......so, approval or denial of our request is a moot point now. Whew.....thank God!

 

I also can tell you that when you fill out the I-131 application, you will be asked for your anticipated date of travel and length of stay. After answering you will be asked if this is for single entry or multiple entry. Again, I believe that approval depends on USCIS's interpetation of the need for AP.

 

A request for AP to go on a honeymoon to Singapore may not be at the top of their list for valid reason to grant AP.....but I really don't know for sure. I might suggest you schedule an appointment at your nearest USCIS Office through the InfoPass System and ask and Immigration Officier for their advice. Again, I don't believe they will have an definative answer for you (of course they can not make the decision themselves unless there is a dire emergency pressing.

 

Hope this helps give you some options before filing and paying out another $170 in application fee. Good luck to you and your's!

 

PapaBear

[Randy W]

AP's are fairly routinely given out to AOS applicants for trips to visit home, business trips with a spouse, and I'm sure honeymoons as well. Jim_julian and his wife even got one during an Infopass appointment so she could go on a business trip with short notice.

 

We got two originals of the AP form. When you re-enter, be sure you have a copy to leave with them. The airline at the other end may insist that you show them the original, as well as the IO at the point of entry, but make sure you leave the copy. The original can be used multiple times.

 

The AP is good only for entry to the US. Your SO must have passports and/or visas appropriate for whatever country you are visiting.

Edited January 22, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[jim_julian]

Yes, as Randy mentions, we have a multi entry AP. You need to specify multi entry on the form. We cited both business and humanitarian reasons that we needed AP. A short notice trip came up and, equipped with a letter from the CEO of my company, we got the AP accelerated and issued on the spot at an InfoPass appointment.

 

We have traveled to the UAE and to China on the current AP. Re-entry has been at LAX, once in the AA terminal, once in Brown. It was routine and didn't take much extra time. She gets a passport stamp on each re-entry saying she is paroled for one year while adjusting status.

[Randy W]

Make sure she has the I-797C (NOA1) for the AOS, the Marriage License, and of course her passport with visa.

 

We had a late flight w/a 1 hour connection, and a little confusion with the Immigration Officer (he didn't realize she didn't speak English - I thought he was telling me that all was okay with the AP form - so I went off to get the luggage - they had to find me to furnish the NOA1 and Marriage License). We still made the flight.