If you submit the Form I-131 with your green card application and it is approved by the USCIS you are essentially authorized to travel in and out of the US while your green card is being processed.
Can I travel before receiving green card?
Some people wait many weeks or even months for their green cards. However,
your lack of an actual green card shouldn't stop you from traveling
. When you entered the U.S. as a permanent resident, you should have been given a stamp in your passport to show your new status.
Can you travel within the US while waiting for your green card?
However,
USCIS will allow you to travel while you wait for your permanent resident card, if you apply for and obtain an advance parole document
. This advance parole document will permit you to return to the country, even if you have not received your Green Card.
Can I travel while I-140 is pending?
You should not travel internationally while the travel document is pending
, or the entire process will be considered abandoned and your adjustment of status denied. After several months of waiting, you should then be scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer.
Can I travel while I-130 is pending?
If you are a foreign spouse,
you may apply to enter the United States via a tourist visa if you have a pending I-130 petition
, and wish to go back to your home country after the visit.
Can you travel while waiting for green card renewal?
An expired green card will generally cause a delay, may require the payment of a steep re-entry fee, and can potentially create more significant immigration problems. Even if you start the green card renewal process, it can take 8 to 10 months!
Don't travel abroad with an expired green card
.
Can I travel while my i-131 is pending?
Individuals may travel on the approved advanced parole document, provided the document is valid for the entire duration of the time abroad
. The pending Form I-131 will not be considered abandoned in this situation.
Can I travel while my i 90 is pending?
No matter the case, the processing time for an I-90 application is typically 8-10 months, which means, most likely,
the LPR in question will have to postpone international travel until they receive their new green card
.
Can I travel while my adjustment of status is pending?
Adjustment applicants who are in valid H-1B status, and their dependents, can travel abroad and reenter the United States in H status while an I-485 is pending, without having to obtain advance parole. The H1B must still be eligible for H status and returning to the previously approved employer.
How long can I stay outside the US with my green card?
If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you may leave the U.S. multiple times and reenter, as long as you do not intend to stay outside the U.S. for
1 year or more
. This 1-year rule creates a rebuttable presumption that you intended to abandon your residency.
Can I travel 3 months before my green card expires?
US permanent residents are free to travel and return to the United States up until the expiration date on their Green Card
.
Can I travel while I 485 is pending?
You can travel and your pending I485 (with or without Advance parole) will not be abandoned if you have one of these visa types to re-enter the USA: Work visas like H1B and its dependent H4, L-1, and its dependent L2. K-3 spouse or a K-4 child of a US citizen.
Can I travel to India during green card processing?
You cannot travel internationally unless you have received a travel authorization document from USCIS, known as an advance parole document
. You are required to obtain such travel authorization if you seek to re-enter the United States after temporary foreign travel.
Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2020?
This backlog is
largely due to the USCIS office closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic
. Form I-131 (“Application for Travel Document – Advance Parole”): Applications for advance parole saw a large increase in processing times, from 4.6 months in FY 2020 to 7.7 months in FY 2021.
Can I travel to US with I-130 approved?
No, unfortunately the spouse seeking a green card is expected to remain abroad until their green card is approved
. Once their green card is approved, they have 6 months to enter the United States.
Can I travel to US during consular processing?
If you choose to go through consular processing,
it can be difficult to travel to the United States while your application is pending
— even just for a short trip. This is the case even if you already have a valid tourist visa.
What happens if my green card expires while waiting for renewal?
If your green card expires, or is about to expire, while you're waiting for citizenship,
you don't need to worry
. The USCIS has created Form I-90 specifically for the purpose of replacing an expired green card.
How long does the I-90 process take?
After filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, the I-90 processing time typically takes from
6 to 10 months
. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others. In rare cases, USCIS will make a request for additional information or even schedule an additional interview.
Can I travel with my i-90 receipt notice?
Lawful permanent residents should not attempt to travel using a receipt notice printed on standard paper
. The revised I-797 receipt notice, together with an applicant's green card, will serve as temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status for 12 months from the expiration date of the green card.
