Travel Document/ Advance Parol

C

chitcute

Registered Users (C)
Hi All,

Wish you all Happy Holidays!

I have one simple question. I got recommended approval like 9months ago, but still waiting for final approval. I don't know what is going on.

Anyway what I like to know is that I think I need to apply advance parol travel document to travel out of the US. Then how long can I stay overseas with that document? Is it one time document or multiple in-and-out document like RTD one year document.

Thanks
 
I would wait for final approval. Also it is wise to wait 1 year and do not travel outside the US before applying for green card. The reason I say this is that they ask on i-485 application if you have traveled outside the US after asylum approval. If you say yes then at Green card approval time (which sadly, for you, is years away) they will ask you to provide proofs that you were inside the US for full one year before applying for i-485.

So try to wait for final approval and one year time period, if possible. Apply for I-485 after 365 days exactly. The way things are going nowadays is that even 10 days seem to add 1 year in the final notice approval time.

And yes most importantly, you HAVE to travel on RTD (NOT Advance Parole).
 
Lazerthegreat,

Are you serious about that?! :eek:

i got my asylum approved in August, i already applied for my first RTD (it should be in my mailbox next week). I was planning to meet my family in third country next May. :(

Would you recommend me to wait till August, submit my I-485 and then go?
Anybody had bad experiense getting green card approval because of travel before submittig I-485? How serious is USCIS about it? Will i get denied/delayed with my PR approval in a future? :confused:

thanks in advance :)
 
I did not intend to panic you. Its absolutely legal to travel before filing I-485. Its just that you would have to fill a blank on your I-485 application that you left country during that first 1 year period. Then at the time of approval, the immigration officer (I/O) might send you a letter to prove that you were present in the US for most part e.g. Rent roll, utility bills, employment or student enrollment etc.

So its a matter of being more cautious but nothing wrong.
 
I agree with Lazerthegreat. If you leave prior to fulfilling the 1 year residence requirment for filing I-485, it might delay your filing date if the evidence that covers your date of absence from the USA cannot be furnished. Aslyees must provide the following when filing for I-485:

Evidence of one year’s physical presence in the United States. Please keep physical presence evidence to an absolute minimum. Evidence might include a letter of employment, a lease, school enrollment records, or similar documentation, which would cover broad periods of time.

Should you decide to leave - and you can do that without harm - you will have to provide the following when filing for I-485:

Proof of any absences from the U.S. since you have been granted asylum. For example: photocopies of pages in refugee travel document or passport.

I know you are eager to see family and loved ones, but I would urge you to remain in the USA for one year - file your I-485 - then go on that trip. It is so much easier that way. You do not want to give CIS any excuse to delay the processing of your I-485, because believe me, you will be tired of waiting without the delays!

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear...but hope it helps.
 
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LolaLi said:
I agree with Lazerthegreat. If you leave prior to fulfilling the 1 year residence requirment for filing I-485, it might delay your filing date if the evidence that covers your date of absence from the USA cannot be furnished. Aslyees must provide the following when filing for I-485:

Evidence of one year’s physical presence in the United States. Please keep physical presence evidence to an absolute minimum. Evidence might include a letter of employment, a lease, school enrollment records, or similar documentation, which would cover broad periods of time.

Should you decide to leave - and you can do that without harm - you will have to provide the following when filing for I-485:

Proof of any absences from the U.S. since you have been granted asylum. For example: photocopies of pages in refugee travel document or passport.

I know you are eager to see family and loved ones, but I would urge you to remain in the USA for one year - file your I-485 - then go on that trip. It is so much easier that way. You do not want to give CIS any excuse to delay the processing of your I-485, because believe me, you will be tired of waiting without the delays!

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear...but hope it helps.
Click to expand...


Hi LolaLi,

When you apply for AP document how do you pay the INS for yourself and your family members

In 1 check consolidated or in 3 separate checks?

Thanks
 
guys, thanks a lot for all your sincere posts. :)

believe it or not, but i just got my RTD from my mailbox. It looks fine, i did not like the color though.. :rolleyes:

I guess i will have to wait till august (i hate to think it`s another eight (!!) more months). :eek:

It sucks also because RTD is valid only for one year, so mine will expire in mid December 2005. :( I guess i will have to file for a new one. Do you guys think they will issue me new one before this one expires? Lets say if i want to travel in September i will need to file sometime in May. Will i have troubles then since i will still have old RTD valid till mid December? Or can i return this one and ask to issue new one in August?

pls, share your experience. i really appreciate it.

P.S. anybody has updates with his/her I-730? I will not need RTD if my family`s i-730 gets approved by then. It would be so cool :)

thank you
 
cedar2004 said:
Hi LolaLi,

When you apply for AP document how do you pay the INS for yourself and your family members

In 1 check consolidated or in 3 separate checks?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Cedar2004 -

I would recommend issuing a separate check for each member of your family and attaching all checks together and placing them on top of the package.

The reason I say this is due to several reasons:

1. Individual checks removes the chance that CIS will make a mistake adding up the required amount and returning the applications to you

2. Individual checks enables you to write each person's name, A# and type of application being filed (i.e. I-130) on the check - this will serve as proof of payment when you receive the cashed check

--> It's always good practice to draft a letter explaining that there are multiple applications included in the package and list all the contents (i.e. the number of check and total $ amount, names of applicants, evidence included, etc.)

Has anyone else had any experience with multiple filings?

Goodluck with your filings.
 
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asylee25 said:
guys, thanks a lot for all your sincere posts. :)

Do you guys think they will issue me new one before this one expires? Lets say if i want to travel in September i will need to file sometime in May. Will i have troubles then since i will still have old RTD valid till mid December? Or can i return this one and ask to issue new one in August?
Click to expand...

Asylee25 -

Yes, CIS will allow you to apply for a new RTD before the expiration of your existing RTD. The only catch is that you must include the current RTD with your application. CIS will not issue another RTD if a valid one is in the applicant's possesion.

Hope this makes sense.
 
Lolali! This can get tricky. They sometimes insist on returning the document (last time happened to me) and sometimes they do not bother to ask you for originial document if you have enclosed copies of front page (happened to me this time).
It seems like it all depends on the "mood" of the officer handling your application.
 
Lazerthegreat said:
Lolali! This can get tricky. They sometimes insist on returning the document (last time happened to me) and sometimes they do not bother to ask you for originial document if you have enclosed copies of front page (happened to me this time).
It seems like it all depends on the "mood" of the officer handling your application.
Click to expand...

Hi Lazerthegreat -

When they asked you to return the RTD, was it still valid? And when they were satisfied with the photocopies...was it because by the time they got to your application the RTD had expired?

I am wondering if that has something to do with this. I always file for my RTD with photocopies of my existing RTD and never got asked to return anything. Of course, I always apply one month before the expiration of my current RTD...

Let me know - I'm interested to see if there is any rational thought behind what CIS Officers do. :)
 
Lolali! Well I always file photocopies first and submit my application. Last time I did that 6 months in advance when I read some posts in this forum about ridiculous time frames. So obviously my RTD was valid. But by the time they moved to my application, RTD was already expired. But they issued me a new one without asking me to return.

BUT the last time, when they reached my application, my then current RTD had expired too, yet they asked me to return it back. So the ugly conclusion is two things:

1) There is no rationale behind their processing

2) The processing depends mostly on officer's education and mood

Thats what I have been able to figure out so far by dealing with US BCIS.
 
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