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B P
Aug 27, 2025
Real story: traveling on Advance Parole even with red flags
A lot of people wonder if they can really travel on Advance Parole when their immigration history isn’t perfect. Most of the time, people who share success stories don’t explain if they had a clean record or not. I want to share a true example to show that AP really can work — even with a ton of red flags. Let’s call her Clara. • Clara first married a U.S. citizen (let’s call her Maria). They filed for a green card together. At their marriage interview, Maria was pregnant by someone else — while they were applying as a same-sex couple. You can imagine the red flag this raised. • USCIS scheduled another interview and even did home visits. When officers came, Clara didn’t open the door. Eventually, the marriage case was dropped. • Later, Clara remarried, but that relationship also ended. She then applied for VAWA and filed Adjustment of Status. • At this point, she had years of unlawful presence, two broken marriage cases, and a big history of USCIS scrutiny. Still, with her VAWA case pending, she was approved for Advance Parole. Here’s what happened when she traveled: 1. First trip (to Europe for vacation): Clara had been out of status for years before filing VAWA. Despite all her red flags, she took a trip to Europe on AP. When she came back, CBP pulled her into secondary inspection and grilled her for hours about her history. It was stressful, but at the end of the day, they let her back in. Advance Parole did its job. 2. Second trip (to her home country): On her next trip, things changed. While Clara was abroad, USCIS denied her VAWA-based green card (I-485). The moment that denial was issued, her Advance Parole was automatically invalid. So even though she had the paper in her hand, she wasn’t allowed back in. ⸻ Takeaways: • The positive side: despite huge red flags — unlawful presence, failed marriages, suspicious interviews, home visits, and lots of scrutiny — Clara’s first trip on AP worked. She was questioned heavily but still admitted back into the U.S. • The risk: AP is only valid as long as your I-485 is pending. If it gets denied while you’re abroad, the AP ends instantly, and you can’t return. That’s what happened on Clara’s second trip. • Personally, my view is: if you travel once on AP and face a long interrogation but make it back, maybe hold off on a second trip until your green card is approved. But the important point is that Advance Parole is valid and works, even when your history isn’t “perfect.” I’m not a lawyer, this isn’t legal advice — just sharing this story so others can see that AP isn’t automatically closed off to people with complicated cases.
11
Eva diva
Aug 27, 2025
response
I sent a request regarding my RFE to make sure it was received since April 10th bc according to the api notes it was not received and expired. it took a month to respond and this is what I got today. Your case is within our current processing time. Our systems show that we received your response to our Request For Evidence (RFE) on your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on April 10, 2025, and processing has now resumed on your application. USCIS systems indicate that your case is awaiting an interview. Your local USCIS Field Office will contact you once they are able to schedule the appointment. Should you not be contacted by your local USCIS Field Office within 90 days of this notice, please reach out to the USCIS Contact Center for additional assistance. so correct me if I am wrong please and share your experience. 1. they resumed as of today processing my application? (what the hell were they doing the past 5 months?) 2. my application was at national benefits center. has it been already transferred or it will be transferred? thanks in advance guys.
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