Originally posted by this_processing_killsMe
when you say they will ask for GC/Visa at the time/port of departure, what exactly do you mean? I mean that I have travelled before (not on AP though) and I have never been asked that Q by the airlines before. So 3 questions for you:
ANS: When you depart India the airlines are required to check for the VISA/GC/H1 etc for US in along with your passport. Since you wont have any of these, you show them the AP paper. That tells them that you are authorized to enter US.
1. If nobdy asks, does that mean we shouldn't care to tell anyone either about GC processing or AP or 485 pending? If nothing is mentioned, does that mean 485 processing gets dropped automatically?
ANS: The airlines are required by the FCC & US immigration to check for proper documentation for any person entering US. So they have to ask.
2. The I-94 card in the passport is surrendered at the airline counter. Is it at that time that we should ensure that we show the AP to the airline official and ask him/her to make a copy?
ANS: I94 is surrendered when you are departing US. The AP is used to enter the US. When you are leaving US all the aiirlines cares about is your I94 and whether it is valid or not. In fact there have been several occasions when the airlines did not keep my I94 and I had to remind them to take it from me.
3. At the port/time of re-entry, the official stamps 1 copy of the AP. So how many do you get to keep? Both of them? Or you just keep the stamped one and the other is kept by the immigration officer?
ANS: You get to keep both. Normally there is no need to carry both the copies with you as only one is used. But is a good idea to carry both as you never know when they might ask to inspect both copies.
I guess, under no circumstances, we should leave the airport without having the parolee stamp in the passport and a stamped AP in our hands. Correct?
ANS: You will not be allowed to leave without stamping. As soon as you show your AP paper to the INS officer at the booth, he/she will redirect you to a secondary inspection room. There they will take your PP,AP and verify the info. In about 10-15min , they will hand over the stampped AP and PP to you. That's it. No need to worry about it.
Thanks in advance,
_this