Experience of AP use

M

merovingian

Registered Users (C)
Hey,
I owe this forum site quite a bit so I decided to post my experience on using AP. A little background:
In USA since 2000, J1->F1->H1-B. I had to change passport while being in USA.
I planned a trip for 4 weeks and thought I would visit US embassy. My manager approved only 2 weeks of vacation. I needed to visit 2 countries, one week for each. I gave up idea about USembassy, just simply not enough time.
At Ohare Airport I've been asked to show my passport, any visas and I-94. Since my passport was new, I had I-94 with all extensions separetly. I showed AP. Everything went smoothly. I boarded my flight to England, gave fingerprints to US-visit officers, they took my picture. Airline rep took away my I-94 with all original extensions.
Thats it as for departing.
The arrival.
At Heathrow airport, England, before bording US flight I've been asked to show a valid visa or green card (airline rep did not find any in passport). I showded AP. They made a copy.
At Chicago O'hare airport, stood in visitor line for 30 min. Pretty crowded. Anyway, I had I-94 form filled out, left blank the line about visa issuance.
Officer was a pretty lady in late 20(I think that helped a bit, people care less with age in my opinion). Gave passport, custom form and new I-94. Put 3 APs on the counter. She gave back custom form, took APs.
Questions:
- Why are you using AP?
- Ahh, because I am adjusting my status
- How are you adjusting
- Through work
- What do you do
- IT specialist
She is entering the info into computer. Has this suprise look, and askes me:
- How did you enter the USA before?

I assumed the passport number had no entries in database. Well, I had my old passport with holes(void). Showed her. She looked at it, found J1 visa. Entered something.
- What did you do from 2000?
- changed my status to F1, went to school and then found a job and changed to H1-B
- Do you have any supporting info?

I am glad I had copied my F1 status and H1-B status papers (all intact, before the employer took their part from h1-b and before I separated I-94 parts for stapling to old I-94). So I gave her those copies. She looked over, I do not remember if she entered anything into computer. I was getting ready my paychecks in case she needed that stuff.

- Do you work for the same company
- Yes.

Then she proceeded to stamp AP, stamped my passport, punched I-94 on to it. Entered something into computer, took 1 copy out of 3 and let me in. She gave me back status copies.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks so much

Thanks for the info, my wife is waiting for the AP our case may be different but there will allways be the risk of not getting through or that one officer thats had a bad day, we are waiting AP I am US citizen she entered w/K-1 visa (fiance) and we have pending 485 now we will travel through Miami
to Colombia hopefully, do you have any advice or could you tell me how AP works in our case thanks Eric
 
You should have no problem at all. Your wife should have hasle free entry. I can see office asking for marriage certificate. Original will help. I don't think he/she will ask for anything else. As long as you married your wife within timeframe, everything will be just fine.
Good luck
 
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AP experience in SF airport anyone?

Wow, so much trouble by using AP in Chicagp Airport! Can some one tell me about their AP experience in SF airport? I really don't want to bring so many documents with my for traveling. I am coming back to US from SF airport, can some one give some information? Thanks.
 
to me , SFO is kind of easy, I only gave the officer the passport and one copy of my AP. He took about 5 minutes to process, stamp my passport and AP doc, and return them to me. No question was asked. He seems typed something into the computer and made a photo copy of my AP, that's it.
 
wow!!, thanks for sharing, I was about 2 travel in a week, better wait, never know

merovingian said:
Hey,
I owe this forum site quite a bit so I decided to post my experience on using AP. A little background:
In USA since 2000, J1->F1->H1-B. I had to change passport while being in USA.
I planned a trip for 4 weeks and thought I would visit US embassy. My manager approved only 2 weeks of vacation. I needed to visit 2 countries, one week for each. I gave up idea about USembassy, just simply not enough time.
At Ohare Airport I've been asked to show my passport, any visas and I-94. Since my passport was new, I had I-94 with all extensions separetly. I showed AP. Everything went smoothly. I boarded my flight to England, gave fingerprints to US-visit officers, they took my picture. Airline rep took away my I-94 with all original extensions.
Thats it as for departing.
The arrival.
At Heathrow airport, England, before bording US flight I've been asked to show a valid visa or green card (airline rep did not find any in passport). I showded AP. They made a copy.
At Chicago O'hare airport, stood in visitor line for 30 min. Pretty crowded. Anyway, I had I-94 formed filled out, left blank the line about visa issuance.
Officer was a pretty lady in late 20(I think that helped a bit, people care less with age in my opinion). Gave passport, custom form and new I-94. Put 3 APs on the counter. She gave back custom form, took APs.
Questions:
- Why are you using AP?
- Ahh, because I am adjusting my status
- How are you adjusting
- Through work
- What do you do
- IT specialist
She is entering the info into computer. Has this suprise look, and askes me:
- How did you enter the USA before?

I assumed the passport number had no entries in database. Well, I had my old passport with holes(void). Showed her. She looked at it, found J1 visa. Entered something.
- What did you do from 2000?
- changed my status to F1, went to school and then found a job and changed to H1-B
- Do you have any supporting info?

I am glad I had copied my F1 status and H1-B status papers (all intact, before the employer took their part from h1-b and before I separated I-94 parts for stapling to old I-94). So I gave her those copies. She looked over, I do not remember is she entered anything into computer. I was getting ready my paychecks in case she needed that stuff.

- Do you work for the same company
- Yes.

Then she proceeded to stamp AP, stamped my passport, punched I-94 on to it. Entered something into computer, took 1 copy out of 3 and let me in. She gave me back status copies.
Click to expand...
 
Well, I am kind of "Documentation" freak, so I had a big folder with copies of every paper I got from INS. Never know what is on their mind.
I can't tell you that I had hassle at Chicago Airport. I was a bit suprised, that they do not have much of the info you would think they would. Maybe INS officer just tests you, who knows. But asking me how I got to the USA in the first place or what did I do from 2000 - was a bit ackward.
 
balabala said:
to me , SFO is kind of easy, I only gave the officer the passport and one copy of my AP. He took about 5 minutes to process, stamp my passport and AP doc, and return them to me. No question was asked. He seems typed something into the computer and made a photo copy of my AP, that's it.
Click to expand...

People in Bay area always seem to be more relaxed than midwesterners :)
 
didnt experince any problem the whole immigration process took 5 mints .He didnt ask me one single question probably im not the primrary applicant
..no immigration line ...came back just this saturday ..took my advance parole and one copy stamped both and give the copy back
 
question for balabala

balabala, Could you tell me when you entered the SFO, which line did you line up on? Visitor line or US Resident/Citizenship line?

Were you instructed to go to the immigration office after you got thru the immigration officer? Thanks.
 
Ac21

Wonderin what would have happened if you had told the lady that you are not working for the same company.




merovingian said:
Hey,
I owe this forum site quite a bit so I decided to post my experience on using AP. A little background:
In USA since 2000, J1->F1->H1-B. I had to change passport while being in USA.
I planned a trip for 4 weeks and thought I would visit US embassy. My manager approved only 2 weeks of vacation. I needed to visit 2 countries, one week for each. I gave up idea about USembassy, just simply not enough time.
At Ohare Airport I've been asked to show my passport, any visas and I-94. Since my passport was new, I had I-94 with all extensions separetly. I showed AP. Everything went smoothly. I boarded my flight to England, gave fingerprints to US-visit officers, they took my picture. Airline rep took away my I-94 with all original extensions.
Thats it as for departing.
The arrival.
At Heathrow airport, England, before bording US flight I've been asked to show a valid visa or green card (airline rep did not find any in passport). I showded AP. They made a copy.
At Chicago O'hare airport, stood in visitor line for 30 min. Pretty crowded. Anyway, I had I-94 form filled out, left blank the line about visa issuance.
Officer was a pretty lady in late 20(I think that helped a bit, people care less with age in my opinion). Gave passport, custom form and new I-94. Put 3 APs on the counter. She gave back custom form, took APs.
Questions:
- Why are you using AP?
- Ahh, because I am adjusting my status
- How are you adjusting
- Through work
- What do you do
- IT specialist
She is entering the info into computer. Has this suprise look, and askes me:
- How did you enter the USA before?

I assumed the passport number had no entries in database. Well, I had my old passport with holes(void). Showed her. She looked at it, found J1 visa. Entered something.
- What did you do from 2000?
- changed my status to F1, went to school and then found a job and changed to H1-B
- Do you have any supporting info?

I am glad I had copied my F1 status and H1-B status papers (all intact, before the employer took their part from h1-b and before I separated I-94 parts for stapling to old I-94). So I gave her those copies. She looked over, I do not remember if she entered anything into computer. I was getting ready my paychecks in case she needed that stuff.

- Do you work for the same company
- Yes.

Then she proceeded to stamp AP, stamped my passport, punched I-94 on to it. Entered something into computer, took 1 copy out of 3 and let me in. She gave me back status copies.
Click to expand...
 
I probably would have to explain what is AC21 :) She did not ask for paycheck or something else, just the I-797 approval of H1-B.
Some officers I guess do not aks for anything...
 
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