Another visa question?

Can a foriegn woman travel to her country (and back to the U.S.) soon after marriage to gringo in the U.S.? I remember reading it isn't a good idea but, can't remember why.

[Neroe]

She can travel, but it wasnt recommended because it has something to do with her residency status. Gary can better explain this.

[Robert]

After she gets married they need to immediately file the Adjustment of Status paperwork.

Along with those documents they can also file an
" Advance Parole " application.

If the Advance Parole application is approved
( which they almost always are ) she will recieve an official immigration document with her photo on it that she can use to leave and renter the USA as often as she wants while her Adjustment of Status Application is being processed.

The Advance Parole doucment is good for 1 year. If she has not received her residency and her green card by the end of the year she can file another Advance Parole Application to get another Adfvance Parole good for another year.

Processing time is approx. 6-8 weeks.

There really is no negative side to using this process.

Oh I see. So the time frame from marriage to "advanced parole" is only about 2 weeks and to green card is about 6-8 weeks?

[Robert]

No - you get married. Then you file for the Adjustmeny of Status which is the residency process. The residency process can take a year or longer to go through. Once the residency is approved she get a green card. Howver, as long as you have the Adjustment of Status filed you can then file the Advance Parole Application. The approval of the Advance Parole Application geberal takes 6-8 weeks.

So, The time frame between marriage and advanced parole approval is about 6-8 weeks. If I understand correctly the advanced parole approval is needed for travel outside of the country.

[Robert]

Correct - But remember. You can not file the Advance Parole Application unless you have also filed the Adjustment of Status Application. You are allowed to file them both at the same time. The purpose of the advaice parole document is to allow the woman o travel in and out of the USA while her residency papers are pending.

Thanks Robert. Another question: When is the Colombian Valentine's day? I believe it's different than U.S.

[Austin]

It's called something different there. El día del amor y la amistad (the day of the love and friendship)is celebrated on September 17 I believe. As to the processing time of various immigration applications, it can vary a great deal. Here in Socal where so many freakin' people seem to want to immigrate, it takes much, much longer than in other areas of the country.

[Robert]

Encinoman - My wife tells me that it is Srptember 17th