Are airlines asking for AP copy...

N

Nice_guy73

Registered Users (C)
I am planning to visit India for urgent personal reasons and after waiting for 120 days my AP still has not come (RD: May 15)... I am asking my co. to mail the AP copy to me in India....I have an expired visa on my passport but my H1 extension papers are with me so i plan to travel with them and get my visa stamped in india..

My Question is to people who have travelled recently on AP or with H1 extension papers.....

1. Does airline like singapore air ask for AP copy before your board the flight..or do they look whether u have an visa or not ?
2. Are there any risks involved here....

Pls share your views.....

Thanks a ton guys...
 
1. Does airline like Singapore air ask for AP copy before your board the flight..or do they look whether u have an visa or not ?
--------------- when you board a flight for US airline would like to see Visa stamp or AP, it is better to make 2-3 extra copies of AP , also keep the I-485 filing receipt with you at POE they may ask for it Or get H1 visa stamped in PP
 
2 copies of AP

ginnu,
1. Do we carry both the AP documents sent to us?
2. Do they stamp both of them at the POE?
 
1. Do we carry both the AP documents sent to us?
-------Yes
2. Do they stamp both of them at the POE?
---- They will stamp only one
 
AP copies

You should keep both. Airlines will ask to see them but they should do nothing with it and give back all the copies. You are not required to carry any photocopies either but taking additional phtocopies is a safe thing. Airlines do not always know what they are doing so you may want to tell them AP is the visa.
 
Q's at port of Entry

What questions are asked by the immigration officer when using AP? Does he check where you are employed etc or just that your papers are filed?
SDD
 
immigration question

When you enter at the POE, the immigration officer reviews the AP and the I-94 and asks if you have filed an adjustment application (as if he does not really know), to which you should say Yes! Otherwise you should not really be getting an AP.

Then the Officer will personally escort you out of the cube into a private enclosure to meet with a bigger officer and hands over all the papers and hisses something into his/her ear and comes back to ask you to take a seat. You wait there and observe what the bigger officer does. He looks at the papers from different angles, squints his eyes and looks through a computer system which is hidden from your view by a built in wooden case.

After ten minutes of different reviews, he stamps different things on the AP and the passport and takes all the documents and walks over to a different office down the hall with you still waiting in the wings. After a few minutes he comes back and asks you if you are employed by the same company which filed for the I-485. You should tell him the truth on your current employer. He already verifies that your I-485 is pending so he does not normally ask you that question.

The curious thing is the I-94 stamp on the AP and the passport. He stamps a parole stamp valid for one year even though your AP expires before that.

markz

I am not a lawyer so this is free advice......... take this with the best of your judgments
 
Ha!

Interesting,
So they do ask about your employment! Its been less than 180 days since I filed I485 and I am not longer employed by the company that sponsored my GC. In fact I am no longer employed. Seems a little risky to travel out of the country right now - right?
SDD
 
questions

Yes. But if you say you are out of work and looking for work, I am not sure why they should deny you entry. But there is some risk and maybe more levels of questioning in that case. However AOS pending more than 180 days means they should stamp your passport and let you walk in.

markz

not a lawyer........... but likes to engage in knowledgeable dialogues to help fellow immigrants.
 
Re: questions

I just spoke with my attorney. They are of the opinion that I should leave the country only 180 days after filing I485 and that too after getting a job and doing AC21 !
That Sucks...
sdd

Originally posted by markz
Yes. But if you say you are out of work and looking for work, I am not sure why they should deny you entry. But there is some risk and maybe more levels of questioning in that case. However AOS pending more than 180 days means they should stamp your passport and let you walk in.

markz

not a lawyer........... but likes to engage in knowledgeable dialogues to help fellow immigrants.
Click to expand...
 
AP Vs. Visa

markz,

Thanks for your excellent posting. I am curious if while leaving India for US, the Indian Airport immigration officials understand what is AP, or do they pick up expiry of the visa stamp in Passport as another excuse to ask more questions and........?

Any inputs?

Thanks

Planet3rd
 
Indian Immigration

Good point. Indian Immigration does ask you some questions. But they do not exactly know what the Green Card is. They ask you if you have a green card but if you pick up the AP to show them they do not want to see it since they don't have enough time to ask such questions when you are leaving.

Further, technically it is not their job to ask you such questions when you are leaving. Only the Carrier can verify if you have the visa to board the plane. So as long as you have the boarding pass, the Immigration (or emigration ) is satisfied. Since the carrier suffers a liability for transporting without proper visa, they may ask to see your visa at different points. And yes you have to explain to them what an AP is. But this is lot easier than explaining to the immigration guys.

As for Indian Immigration is concerned, I learned a good lesson this time. When you get to pick the line, just walk in front and see the age of the officer. If it is a relatively young guy, pick that line. They are fast, efficient and are on a stamp spree so they pick up your passport, and stamp and say have a good day. The older gentlemen are very slow and ask all kinds of questions, as to if you are married, you have children, do you live in the US, have you always lived in the US, what are you going to do in India and when will you get your green card etc. Unless you enjoy chatting with Indian beauracrats, try to pick your line getting into India.

Hope this helps you.

markz


not a lawyer........... but likes to engage in knowledgeable dialogues to help fellow immigrants.
 
very tricky

Out of status is a serious issue and more serious than unathorized work. You need to definitely consult a lawyer and may be two to get the right opinion. I think the officers only have access to whether you are AOS pending, but will they give you a hard time if they know all the facts......... they may!!

But technically if you have a valid AP and AOS pending, everything should be a ok. But don't take my words........... consult Khanna! He is the best, most knowledgeable and an absolute Gentleman!

best regards,
markz

not a lawyer......... cannot compete with Rajiv, so decided to take up a different profession! Just use what is written here with your best judgement.
 
wonderful discussion on Advance Parole.

I am applying for 485 next week. Got expired H1/H4 stamps on passports, dont have time to stamp them in india, AND wish to travel to india at the earliest.

I see that AP is taking a lot of time.
Can we apply for the emergency AP (get in a day or so) directly?
If yes, what kind of proof do they ask for, to say that it is an emergency? Can I just say a close relative died?!

thanks for your time
confusedalien
 
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