Home for the Holidays? What Immigrants Should Know Before Traveling Abroad

For many immigrants, the holidays are a time of longing to reunite with loved ones abroad. Family milestones, emergencies, or simply the desire to return home after years away can make international travel feel urgent and deeply personal. But for individuals with pending immigration matters, leaving the United States is not a simple decision. Even a short trip can have serious legal consequences if not handled correctly. Before making travel plans, it is essential to understand how travel may affect your immigration status and your ability to return.

One of the most common situations we see involves individuals with pending green card applications. If you have filed an application for adjustment of status and depart the United States without proper authorization, immigration authorities may treat that application as abandoned. In most cases, this authorization comes in the form of Advance Parole. Without it, reentry to the U.S. may be denied entirely. Even with Advance Parole, however, travel carries risk and should never be assumed to be automatically safe.

Advance Parole is often misunderstood. It does not guarantee reentry into the United States, nor does it erase past immigration issues. It simply allows a person to request permission to return. Customs and Border Protection officers retain full discretion to inspect, question, and determine admissibility at the port of entry. If there are concerns related to prior overstays, misrepresentations, criminal history, or past immigration violations, those issues can resurface during reentry even if Advance Parole was approved.

Individuals with a history of unlawful presence must be especially cautious. Departing the United States after accruing significant unlawful presence may trigger a three- or ten-year bar to reentry. In some cases, a pending application or waiver may protect against these consequences, but in others, international travel can activate them immediately. Similarly, anyone with a prior removal or deportation order faces heightened risk. Leaving the country may result in enforcement of that order and prevent return, regardless of current applications on file.

Asylum applicants should approach travel with particular care. Traveling while an asylum case is pending—especially to the country of feared persecution—can seriously undermine the claim. Even travel to a third country may raise questions about the credibility or urgency of the asylum request. Although some asylum applicants may qualify for Advance Parole, the decision to travel should be carefully evaluated in light of the facts of the case and the potential consequences.

Temporary Protected Status also comes with important travel limitations. TPS holders must obtain proper travel authorization before leaving the U.S., or they risk losing their status. While authorized travel may be possible, it does not resolve prior immigration violations, and reentry is still subject to inspection. For some individuals, travel can later play a role in pursuing permanent status, but only if done strategically and lawfully.

Another critical factor many travelers overlook is the role of CBP discretion. Reentry into the United States is not automatic, even with valid documents. Travelers may be referred to secondary inspection, particularly during busy holiday travel periods. Officers may ask detailed questions about immigration history, prior entries and exits, pending cases, or past interactions with immigration authorities. Being prepared, consistent, and honest is essential, as is carrying copies of relevant immigration documents.

Holiday travel often comes with emotional pressure and time constraints, but immigration decisions should never be rushed. Each case is highly fact-specific, and advice that may apply to one person could be dangerous for another. Before traveling, it is wise to have an experienced immigration attorney review your history and assess potential risks.

Reuniting with family during the holidays is a powerful and understandable goal. With proper planning, travel may be possible for some immigrants. But without careful legal guidance, a holiday trip can result in long-term separation from the United States. If you are considering traveling abroad while your immigration case is pending, seeking legal advice before you leave may protect not only your trip, but your future.