Real story: traveling on Advance Parole even with red flags

B P

Aug 27, 2025

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.

tired from waitinggAug 27, 2025

well idk what person is that but sounds super fraud but thanks for story yes its risky but it works i used onces and will do it again

Hopefully hopefulAug 27, 2025

AP is issued for the purpose of travel and no amount of fear mongering should discourage anyone from using it.

Favor MercyAug 27, 2025

why do I feel like her i485 got denied on purpose when she was out of the country so she won’t be able to come back in.

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🙏 🙏Aug 27, 2025

@B P what is the denial reason???

B PAug 28, 2025

@Kings kay vawa was still pending

roberto gAug 28, 2025

@B P bro they can’t make decisions on i-485 since your vawa is still pending…so I believe this is not true

T BAug 28, 2025

@B P .. it is a nice story but USCIS can’t denied I-485 if Vawa was still pending.. something is missing 🙌

g sAug 30, 2025

even your i-485 is denied while you out of country you still have 30 days to come back and file apeal it's happened to my brother . the information you giving its wrong . i went out of country 6 times in 2 years at jfk officer never asked a single question .

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