Leaving the U.S. without proper authorization can significantly impact your pending marriage-based green card application. If you have applied for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) while in the U.S., leaving without obtaining Advance Parole (Form I-131) will cause your green card application to be considered abandoned, meaning USCIS will deny your request to adjust your status. This can result in major delays and additional costs, as you may need to start the process again from scratch. If you do need to travel, it’s essential to apply for Advance Parole before leaving the country to protect your application.
For those going through consular processing abroad, leaving the U.S. is not an issue, but you need to ensure all documents and interviews are completed before re-entering.
