Is Traveling Safe While Awaiting An Ead Card?

Traveling while on OPT or OPT STEM Extension is generally allowed for F-1 students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. They can travel outside the United States temporarily and be readmitted to resume F-1 status and employment for the remainder of the period. Travel while STEM OPT application is pending, after the Post-Completion OPT EAD expires. The Advance Parole is a travel document that allows individuals to leave and return to the U.S. while waiting for legal status without jeopardizing their green card application.

International travel is not recommended before the OPT is approved and before receiving the EAD card. If an OPT application is rejected or denied while in the U.S., it may take several months to receive status as a permanent resident. After receiving an EAD card for post-completion OPT, it is important to ensure you have the necessary travel documents to avoid complications in the petition processing.

Travel during the OPT application process is allowed but not recommended due to certain risks. You cannot travel outside the U.S. until your travel permit has been approved. USCIS will deny your adjustment of status application if you travel abroad. If you are already in H-4 status, traveling while the I-765 is pending is not a problem. However, if you are applying for H-4 status, the old law may apply.

Travel while STEM OPT application is pending, after the Post-Completion OPT EAD expires. You can travel abroad and reenter the U.S. with your expired Post-Completion EAD card. It is generally permitted to leave and then re-enter the U.S. with the appropriate travel documentation, even if you do not yet have a job or job offer.

Can I travel outside of the U.S. while waiting for a green card?

The travel document typically arrives within 150 days after submitting your green card application, and you must stay in the US for 3-5 months before leaving. While you could be out of the country for as long as you have a travel document, this is not possible due to missed fingerprinting and interview appointments. If you are unable to attend, follow the rescheduling instructions on the USCIS appointment notice. It is recommended to make arrangements to be alerted of any USCIS notices while abroad.

Returning to the US with a travel document, you are not a permanent resident and will be considered an “arriving alien” when re-entering the country. It is common for people with travel documents to be pulled aside for secondary inspection, but this is likely just verifying that you have a pending green card application.

What are the risks of traveling with advance parole?

Traveling abroad can pose risks, including medical complications or early baby arrivals, which may affect the time frame allowed by your advance parole document. This guide provides information on advance parole and what to expect before, during, and after traveling abroad. USCIS continues to accept and adjudicate applications filed by DACA recipients, and the ongoing DACA litigation has not stopped them from issuing advance parole documents. If this changes, USCIS will provide updated information.

Can I travel to the U.S. if my ESTA is pending?

The ESTA system allows travelers to travel to the U. S. without a visa, but approval does not guarantee entry. Travel not authorized requires obtaining a nonimmigrant visa at a U. S. Embassy or Consulate. Travelers must check the ESTA website for updates within 72 hours. Approval only authorizes boarding a plane or cruise ship without a visa, and U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers make admissibility determinations at ports of entry or preclearance facilities.

Can I travel with EAD approval notice?

If your OPT application has been approved and you have an EAD card, you can travel internationally. You can re-enter the U. S. in F-1 status before or after the start date of your EAD card. Proof of employment during OPT is a job offer letter. However, stricter immigration policies can make traveling risky. It is not recommended to travel before the OPT is approved and you receive your EAD card. If your OPT application is rejected or denied outside the U. S., you cannot re-enter the U. S. in F-1 status.

Can I travel while my green card renewal is being processed?

If you need to take international trips while awaiting renewal of your green card, you can apply for an advance parole travel document using Form I-131, allowing you to remain a permanent resident eligible for re-entry.

Can I travel with advance parole EAD card?

Advance parole allows individuals to return to the United States without a visa application, as transportation companies can accept an advance parole document as proof of authorization. This document does not replace a passport and does not guarantee reentry into the country. At the airport or border, a U. S. Customs and Border Protection officer will decide if reentry is allowed. Advance parole is most commonly used when someone has a pending issue.

Can we travel to India when EAD is pending?

H4 COS approval is required before traveling while H4 EAD is pending. The COS application is abandoned upon leaving the USA. If you need help filing your application, AM22Tech offers a hassle-free visa extension and EAD filing service. The application is filed within 1-2 days with all necessary documents ready and uploaded.

How long does it take to get travel document for EAD?

USCIS issues Form I-797 Receipt Notices to individuals on I-131 and/or I-765, and sends the Receipt Notice to the address listed in Part 1. Once approved, the applicant receives the AP and/or EAD via first-class U. S. mail. Processing times for APs and EADs vary, but most are produced in 60-90 days. To monitor a case, visit egov. uscis. gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay. do and insert the USCIS-issued Receipt Number.

Renewing an EAD or AP is the same procedure, but requires a new application and all supporting documents. It is recommended to file EAD and AP renewals four months before the existing EAD or AP expire to avoid gaps in work authorization or travel authorization. AOS applicants can apply for a Social Security Number by presenting their EAD and other documents and completing a Form SS-5 in person at the nearest Social Security Administration office.

How long does it take to get a green card after EAD?

The process involves receiving the employment authorization document and advance parole, an interview appointment notice, a welcome notice, and a 10- or 2-year green card in the mail within 90 days after filing.

Can I travel when my 765 is pending?

The USCIS allows travelers in H-4 status to travel without a visa, but advises against it due to potential delays due to RFE issues or fingerprinting. If accompanied by a lawyer or someone else, they can handle these issues and provide updates. If the change of status application is pending, traveling during this time is not a problem. However, if the old law still applies, traveling during this time will result in the application being considered abandoned and the I-765 being denied.

The government has stated that 90 days will be given to adjudicate the I-765 if both are filed simultaneously, but the time will continue until the H-4 is decided. The visa is not related to the H-4 EAD, and the individual does not need to visit the embassy. The government’s approach to adjudicating the I-765 is unknown.

Can I travel while waiting for an EAD card?

Traveling internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card is advised. If your OPT application is returned, rejected, or denied while abroad, you cannot re-enter the US in F-1 status to re-apply for OPT. If you need to return to the US, you may need to re-enter in another visa category (ESTA or tourist visa) to prepare for departure. It is important to note that responding to special requests from USCIS may be difficult, even with a friend checking your mail.

If your EAD card is received in the U. S. before your return, it is recommended to send a scanned copy via email. If you decide to travel, enter through JFK or Newark airport and request re-entry in F-1 status.