Ivan b
Jul 6, 2026
Just Came Back Through Miami Airport with Pending VAWA and Valid Advance Parole
Hey everyone,
Since traveling with Advance Parole can be super stressful, I wanted to share as many details as I can from my recent experience. I was out of states for 4 weeks.
On my last arrival at JFK in January, I was asked many questions, and with the waiting time, the whole process took around 3 hours, even though there was not a huge line at secondary inspection.
Because of that, I was more nervous this time and wondering if they would ask similar questions again.
This time, I traveled from Istanbul to Miami with Turkish Airlines.
First, before boarding, I asked the officers if Advance Parole ever gets denied.
They told me it can happen in two ways:
1. When they scan the passport and enter “parole” into the APIS system, the system can give a red flag right away. They said this is very rare and usually happens in serious situations, such as if someone is wanted internationally.
2. Sometimes the system may request approval from the U.S., and that approval can come within two hours or even two days, depending on the day and time.
In my case, when they entered my information, it took only about 3 seconds to show “cleared for boarding.”
When I arrived at Miami Airport, the officer at passport control saw the Advance Parole document in my hand and said, “You know how it works. For processing, you need to go to secondary inspection.” I said yes.
She only asked me where I was coming from and whether I had anything to declare, like alcohol, etc.
Then I went to secondary inspection.
I waited around 5 minutes. An officer called my name and said, “Have a seat, please.”
He asked me:
1. “Have you adjusted your status, and do you have a pending application?”
I said yes.
2. “Are you married?”
I said no.
3. He asked something like, “Did your spouse pass away, or how did you adjust your status? Because it looks like it has been about 3 years.”
I said I have a pending I-360 form.
He kept checking and said, “Special immigrant?”
I told him I have a pending VAWA application.
He said, “Okay, give me two minutes.”
He walked away. I think his computer was not working for some reason. Then he called my name again and took me to another officer’s desk. They took my fingerprint, and all the officers were very nice.
We walked back to the room together. He stamped both my passport and my Advance Parole paper and told me, “Goodbye, take care.”
Before leaving, I asked him, “If you don’t mind me asking, is there a limit for traveling with Advance Parole?”
He said, “Don’t ask me, look at what the paper says,” and showed me that it says “multiple entry.”
So I said, “No limit?”
Then he confirmed that as long as my case is valid and pending, and the Advance Parole document is valid, I can travel multiple times.
Overall, the entire process took about 20 minutes.
Based on my personal experience: if you do not have a criminal background, your case is still pending, your Advance Parole document is valid, and you can properly answer the officers’ questions, do not be scared to travel.
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Josh ADEJul 6, 2026
thank you for this information God bless you. what are you from any of the banned countries?
phani cheruJul 6, 2026
thank you so much for sharing your experience
RJ MoJul 6, 2026
thank you
RJ MoJul 6, 2026
@Hi hi ,he mentioned that it’s a paper
David DJul 6, 2026
that officer was kind of rude by saying “don’t ask me questions” lol at the same time if all the info was in the advance parole why even asking such questions? anyways welcome home
GRACE OF GODJul 6, 2026
@Ivan b you mean came back yesterday right?
shining starJul 6, 2026
@Ivan b wat country did u visit
Have Faith 2391Jul 6, 2026
Thank you so much for sharing!
ال إيمان Jul 6, 2026
welcome home brother!
Tee BoyJul 6, 2026
@Ivan b Wow! welcome back. so happy to hear this. Am planning a trip to London in September. This really gives me hope!
tired from waitinggJul 7, 2026
welcome
back ivan thank you so much
s cJul 7, 2026
they deny entry to mostly targeted counties people
cy 🎁😘🎁 GodJul 7, 2026
what about local
chino mcJul 8, 2026
I am scare for traveling domestic I am married with citizen I have so many case pending 😁still scary this days. you are so brave congratulations thank you for sharing with us
Ivan bJul 8, 2026
scared for travelling domestic? I live at the airports almost every two weeks I fly domestic 😄@chino mc
chino mcJul 8, 2026
I am driving every where around 18 hours I have 2 pending case I am protecting immigrants lol. I just shocked I did not even applied advance parole. i am coward 😁
Dante KJul 8, 2026
@Ivan b please let me know from which country you travelled back?
Dante KJul 9, 2026
@Ivan b if you’re posting something please post with proper details or try to answer peoples queries
don’t post something and vanished. lol
Sonia JoJul 9, 2026
I was issued a five year advanced parole since two years ago and I’ve been too afraid to travel. I haven’t seen my children in more than 10 years .Thank you for clearing this up.
Ivan bJul 9, 2026
@Dante K I recommend reading my post carefully, as it already answers the questions you’re looking for.
Elle ElleJul 15, 2026
I used to have overstay. I’m very scared of traveling now. May I know if you have any similar experiences?
Ivan bJul 16, 2026
@Elle Elle I saw many people they travelled even though they over stayed. as long as you have no criminal history that’s okay. just don’t go for too long. around 3 weeks would be okay I believe
shishi kayJul 19, 2026
I got my parole i have traveled 3 times .I filed 2022 dec am still waiting for my vawa approval .Who have their I 360 approved and they filed in 2022 dec .waiting is waiting!!
VAWA APPLICANTJul 21, 2026
welcome back! this gives me so much hope! I haven’t been back to my home country in 3 years now I got my Advance parole approved this April through Pending VAWA but I am hesitant to use it ( valid for 18months)
hay jayJul 26, 2026
did you receive a parole fee notice and it seems they didn’t ask you to pay. I have a letter from Uscis that says I have to pay $1000 on each entry. I will soon travel with my parole and just want to know if anyone has paid
Odogwu IndyJul 28, 2026
Please everybody I need your help and I need an answer. I have a question and I have a little problem.. I got approved on my I 131 travel document so but the uscis made a mistake on my name and sometime they sent me a letter for barometric, whereby they already approved my travel documents, and they have already sent it. The travel document to me. Should I attend for the biometric. So today me and my lawyer call the uscis office Monday 27th . A lady picked up the call asked me my name every information she needed and she checked on her system so that the barometric was canceled by us so my lawyer told her that we did not cancel any biometric appointment so she was saying, maybe it might be mistake from the office, but it was not showing on her system that the mistake is from the office. He was showing that they the applicant council it so then she not gave me an advice that I should go for the barometric capturing that if I did not go they mine revoke it .so I should go there and tender my problem telling them about my name was not spelled correct . and my biometric appointment is on Wednesday 29. I just need you guys advice.
Ivan bJul 28, 2026
@Odogwu Indy if I were you I would definitely go and explain the situation
Odogwu IndyJul 29, 2026
@Ivan b thanks so much 🙏
Ivan bJul 29, 2026
did you go? what happened? @Odogwu Indy
Odogwu IndyJul 30, 2026
@Ivan b everything went well yesterday.... it was not up to 5 minutes. I was done.... thanks so much for your advice.
