Tenacity and Partnership Leads to Change in AP Processing
After close collaboration with USCIS, in November 2018, Director Cissna approved a change in policy that upheld the original interpretation while giving meaning to the instructions: "If you file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to request an advance parole document and depart the United States without possession of an advance parole document that is valid for the entire time you are abroad, your Form I-131 will be considered abandoned. At times, an individual may have an approved advance parole document while a second one is pending. Individuals may travel on the approved advance parole document, provided the document is valid for the entire duration of their time abroad. The pending Form I-131 will not be considered abandoned in this situation." Our office was pleased that our tenacity, coupled with a strong partnership with our colleagues at USCIS, helped the Ombudsman’s Office make a meaningful impact on the stakeholders in our immigration system.