Advance Parole Travel Document Attorney in San Antonio, Texas
Travel Documents
Advance Parole: Traveling Abroad Without Abandoning Your Case
If you have a green card application pending and you leave the United States without permission, the government can treat your case as abandoned. Advance parole is the travel document that prevents that. Requested on Form I-131, it lets certain applicants travel abroad for a family emergency, work, or a special occasion and return to continue their case. For some travelers, though, leaving carries hidden risks that advance parole alone does not erase.
At Lozano Law Firm, our bilingual team advises clients across San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo on when travel is safe and when it is not, guided by Board-Certified immigration attorney Alfredo Lozano. Before you book a trip, start with a free consultation.
Permission to Seek Reentry, Not a Guarantee of Admission
An advance parole document authorizes you to travel and request parole into the United States, but it is not a guarantee of admission. Customs and Border Protection still inspects every traveler at the port of entry and can deny parole if new issues have arisen. For that reason, anyone with a complicated history should get advice before leaving. We review each traveler's record in advance so a trip taken with advance parole ends with a smooth return rather than an unexpected problem at the border.
Real Clients, Real Testimonials
Recomiendo sus servicios.
How Advance Parole Works
Advance parole is about protecting a pending case while allowing necessary travel. Whether it is right for you depends on your category and your immigration history.
Who Needs It
The most common users are people with a pending adjustment of status application. If you leave the country while that application is pending, without advance parole, USCIS generally considers the application abandoned. Certain other categories, including some humanitarian applicants, also use advance parole to travel.
The Combined Card
Adjustment applicants often receive advance parole combined with their work permit on a single card that reads valid for work and travel. We usually file the travel request together with the work permit so both benefits arrive together.
The Unlawful Presence Trap
Here is the danger that catches families off guard. If you accrued unlawful presence before your case, leaving the country can trigger the three-year or ten-year bar even if you have advance parole, because the bar is tied to your departure. Advance parole permits reentry but does not always waive that bar. This is exactly the situation where you must get legal advice before you travel.
Emergency Travel
When a genuine emergency arises before a travel document is approved, USCIS can sometimes issue expedited or emergency advance parole at a field office. We help clients gather the proof needed to request it when time is short.
Our Process
What to Expect
Free Case Evaluation
We start with a no-cost consultation to review your situation, explain your options, and identify the strongest path forward for your family.
Case Preparation
Our team assembles your petition with the documentation and evidence USCIS expects, prepared accurately the first time to avoid delays.
Filing & Follow-Through
We file, track deadlines, respond to USCIS, and prepare you for every interview until your case is resolved.
What to Expect, and How to Travel Safely
After we file Form I-131, USCIS reviews the request and, when approved, issues the advance parole document or the combined card. You should not leave the United States until it is approved and in hand, because departing while the request is pending can itself cause problems.
Even with the document, the decision to travel deserves a careful look at your history first. We review any prior unlawful presence, prior removal orders, or criminal issues before you go, because the officer at the port of entry still makes the final call on your return. In our experience, a short conversation before booking a trip prevents the kind of mistake that can set a case back by years.
News
Lozano Law Firm in the News
Lozano Law Firm
Hire a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney
Fewer than five percent of Texas immigration attorneys are Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Attorney Alfredo Lozano holds that distinction, and since founding the firm in 2006 he has brought a Marine Corps veteran's discipline, more than 20 years of immigration experience, and a fully bilingual team to every case the firm handles.
Our approach combines personalized counsel with the documentation rigor these cases demand, so your petition is prepared correctly the first time. Board Certification means the state has independently verified his experience, tested his knowledge, and confirmed his standing among peers, which is the kind of assurance that matters when your family's future is on the line.
Meet
Our Team
Our team includes experienced attorneys, legal professionals, and client-care specialists who share a common commitment: making the immigration process as clear and manageable as possible for every family we serve.
Alfredo Lozano
Managing Attorney
Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and a Marine Corps veteran who leads every case strategy.
Linda Hamilton
Attorney
Guides families and employers through petitions, waivers, and interviews with steady, detailed advocacy.
Minerva Gonzalez
Legal Assistant
Prepares documentation and keeps every case organized, accurate, and moving forward.
Mayra Juarez
Legal Administrator
Coordinates case management and client communication across our three Texas offices.
Download Our Free E-Book
How to Obtain Residency If You Are in the U.S. Illegally
Entering the country without inspection does not always close the door to a green card. Our free guide walks through the options that may apply, from Section 245(i) and Military Parole in Place to the I-601A provisional waiver, in plain language.
Download the guide to understand the paths that could be available to your family, then contact us for advice on your specific situation.
Travel Document Help in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo
We advise clients across South and West Texas on advance parole, in English and Spanish, with special attention to the unlawful presence bars that matter so much for border families. Whether you face a family emergency in Mexico or a planned trip abroad, we help you decide whether travel is safe and prepare the request. Every case begins with a free consultation.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Request Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your family's situation and our bilingual team will reach out to schedule your free case evaluation.
Advance Parole FAQs
What is advance parole?
Advance parole is a travel document, requested on Form I-131, that lets certain people with a pending immigration case leave the United States and return without abandoning that case. It is most commonly used by adjustment of status applicants who need to travel while their green card application is pending.
Can I travel while my green card application is pending?
Generally only with an approved advance parole document. Leaving without it usually causes USCIS to treat your adjustment application as abandoned. Even with advance parole, you should get advice first if you have any prior unlawful presence or other immigration history.
Is it safe to travel if I entered the U.S. illegally before?
Not necessarily. If you accrued unlawful presence, leaving the country can trigger a three-year or ten-year bar even when you hold advance parole, because the bar attaches to your departure. This is the most important reason to consult an attorney before traveling, so you do not turn a pending case into years of separation.
What is the combined work and travel card?
Many adjustment applicants receive a single card that combines the work permit and advance parole, marked valid for work and travel. We often file both requests together so the benefits arrive on one card at the same time.
Can I get advance parole for an emergency?
Sometimes. When a true emergency arises before your travel document is approved, USCIS can issue expedited or emergency advance parole, often through a field office appointment. You will need to document the emergency, and we help clients put that request together quickly.
Lozano Law Firm
Cases We Do Not Handle
Lozano Law Firm focuses exclusively on the practice areas listed above. We do not handle asylum or criminal immigration cases. When clients come to us with needs outside our scope, we refer them to trusted colleagues who specialize in those areas. Our referral network includes attorneys who handle asylum claims and criminal immigration consequences, so every person who contacts us receives direction toward the right help.
Contact Us
Start Your Journey Today
Immigration goals should not wait. Whether you are exploring your options for the first time or ready to move forward with a case, our team is here to help. Contact Lozano Law Firm for a free case evaluation and let us put our Board-Certified expertise to work for you.
Schedule your free case evaluation today.
Contact Our Immigration Lawyer
For A Free Case Evaluation