Family Based Green Card Holders – Traveling Before Your EAD Is Issued

If you’re a family-based green card holder, you may be wondering if you can travel before your EAD is issued. The answer is yes, you can! Here’s what you need to know.

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Applying for a family-based green card

The first step in applying for a family-based green card is to file an I-130 petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the I-130 is approved, you will need to file an I-485 application to adjust your status to permanent resident, if you are currently living in the United States. If you are living outside the United States, you will need to go through consular processing.

Applying for a family-based green card can be a long and complicated process. It is important to make sure that you have all of the required documentation, as well as patience, before beginning the process.

The process of obtaining a green card

The process of obtaining a green card, or permanent residency, can be lengthy and complex. For those who are sponsored by their family, the wait can be even longer. Family based green card holders often have to wait several months or even years for their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to be issued.

In the meantime, many wonder if they are able to travel outside the United States. The answer is yes, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First and foremost, you must have a valid passport from your home country. If you do not have one, you will need to apply for one as soon as possible. You should also be sure to have all of the required documentation for re-entry into the United States, including your green card petition and supporting documents.

If your EAD has not been issued yet, you will need to obtain a travel permit from the USCIS. This can be done by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. You will need to include evidence that you are in the process of obtaining a green card, such as your I-797 Approval Notice. Once approved, the travel permit will allow you to leave and re-enter the United States multiple times within the validity period of the permit.

It is important to note that a travel permit is not the same as an EAD. An EAD allows you to work in the United States while a travel permit only allows you to travel outside of the country and return. If you try to use a travel permit for employment purposes, you may be subject to removal proceedings.

Overall, it is possible for family based green card holders to travel before their EAD is issued. However, it is important that you take care in ensuring that you have all of the proper documentation before doing so.

The benefits of having a green card

There are many benefits to having a green card, including the ability to live and work permanently in the United States, travel freely in and out of the country, and sponsor family members for green cards of their own. If you are a green card holder who is planning to travel outside the United States, there are a few things you should know.

First, it is important to note that you can only travel on your green card if it is valid for at least six months. If your green card will expire within six months, you will need to renew it before you can travel. Second, if you are traveling before your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is issued, you will need to carry both your green card and your EAD with you when you travel.

If you have any questions about traveling with a green card or an EAD, please contact an experienced immigration attorney who can help clarify the requirements and ensure that you are able to travel without any problems.

The requirements for a family-based green card

To be eligible for a family-based green card, you must be related to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident in one of the following ways:
-Spouse
-Child
-Parent
-Sibling

If you are related to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for an immediate relative green card, which does not have an annual limit on the number of visas issued. If you are related to a legal permanent resident, you will need to wait for a visa to become available, as there is an annual limit on the number of family preference visas issued.

In addition to being related to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, you must also meet the following requirements:
-Be at least 18 years old
-Have never been convicted of a crime that would make you ineligible for immigration benefits
-Be able to pass a medical exam and background check

How to travel before your EAD is issued

If you are a immediate relative of a US citizen or Permanent Resident, you may be eligible to adjust your status to permanent resident through a family based green card. Immediate relatives include parents, spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21. If you have been granted an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, or an I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and your petition has been approved, you will be notified by USCIS and given a Notice of Action (Form I-797). This notice will allow you to stay in the United States until a decision is made on your Adjustment of Status application.

If your Adjustment of Status application is approved, you will be issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The EAD card allows you to work in the United States for any employer. You can also use your EAD card as proof of identity and employment authorization.

The documents you need to travel

Before you leave the United States, you should have the following documents:
-A valid passport for each family member traveling with you. If you do not have a passport, you can apply for one at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
-Your Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, also called a green card. Each family member traveling with you should have his or her own green card.
-Your Advance Parole document, if you have one. If you do not have an Advance Parole document, you will need to apply for one before you leave the United States.
-If your child who is under 21 years old and unmarried has his or her own green card, he or she may also travel on that card without an Advance Parole document.

The restrictions on travel

If you are a family based green card holder ( spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or parent of a U.S. citizen 21 years of age or older ), you may have been told that you cannot travel outside the United States until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). However, there are no restrictions on travel for family based green card holders, as long as you have a valid passport and green card You can travel freely within the United States and its territories, and to any other country for which you have a valid visa.

How to renew your EAD

If your EAD has expired or is about to expire, you will need to renew it before you can continue to work in the United States. The process for renewing your EAD is the same as the process for applying for an EAD for the first time. You will need to file an I-765 form with the USCIS and pay the appropriate fees. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a new EAD card with a new expiration date.

The cost of renewing your EAD

If your EAD expires while you are outside the United States, you will need to renew your EAD before you can return. The cost of renewing your EAD will depend on the type of green card you have.

If you have a family-based green card, you will need to file form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and pay a $410 filing fee. You may also need to pay an biometrics fee of $85.

If you have a employment-based green card, you will need to file form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and pay a $460 filing fee. You may also need to pay an biometrics fee of $85.

The expiration of your EAD

It’s important to note that your EAD will expire, even if your green card does not. This is because the EAD is only valid for a certain period of time, while the green card is valid indefinitely (as long as you don’t do anything to violate the terms of your status).

If you want to travel outside the United States after your EAD expires, you will need to apply for a new EAD. You can do this by filing Form I-765 with USCIS. You will need to include a new photo and pay the filing fee. If you are still within the validity period of your green card, you will also need to include a copy of your green card with your application.