AP renewal - please help!

[rmquest]

hi,

We have a valid AP which expires by March 25th, 2008. Have already applied for a new AP, it's been one month since.

My question is, can my spouse (I am the primary applicant, and not her) travel out of the country now (India) and later enter back into the US using the new AP once that is approved? I will take her newly approved AP (and mine too, once they are approved) with me when I travel to India, which will be a bit later. So effectively, I will be within US when both the APs get approved.

Friends have suggested that I take an infopass appointment to get her AP expedited. But then, I don't have any valid emergency reasons for the expedition. So I don't even know if I can do that.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Thanks very much!

 

[jk0274]

No - that is not allowed. An alien must enter the US with the same AP he/she had in hand when leaving the country. If the AP was not approved before leaving the country, it cannot be used to reenter the country. One must wait for approval before leaving.

Many people have gotten away with doing what you suggest, but that's actually against the rules. You don't want to get caught doing that.