What to Do If You’re Worried About Traveling While Your Immigration Case Is Pending

Why Travel Can Be Complicated

Leaving the United States before receiving certain approvals may create serious immigration consequences. Depending on the case, travel could:

• Delay the immigration process
• Cause certain applications to be treated as abandoned
• Create problems when attempting to re-enter the United States
• Lead to additional questioning at a port of entry

Even lawful permanent residents and valid visa holders should understand how travel may affect their individual circumstances before leaving the country.

Questions to Ask Before Traveling

Before purchasing tickets or making final travel arrangements, consider the following questions:

• Do I currently have an application or petition pending with USCIS?
• Do I need Advance Parole or another travel document?
• Will my immigration status and travel documents remain valid when I return?
• Could my immigration history affect admission to the United States?
• Have there been policy or enforcement changes that could affect my case?

Do Not Assume Someone Else’s Experience Will Match Yours

Friends, relatives, and online communities may share stories about traveling during an immigration case. Those experiences can be informative, but they should not be treated as legal guidance for your situation.

Travel risks may depend on factors such as:

• Your visa category or immigration status
• Your prior entries and departures
• A pending green card, asylum, or other application
• Past immigration violations
• Criminal history, if any
• The documents you plan to use for re-entry

How Vanderwall Immigration Can Help

Before traveling, it may be helpful to have an immigration attorney review your case and travel documents. A legal review can help you understand possible risks, identify documents you may need, and make a more informed decision before leaving the United States.

Vanderwall Immigration assists individuals and families nationwide with immigration matters and can help you evaluate how international travel may affect your immigration goals.