Permanent Residency Applicants

Permanent Residents (often called green card holders) are authorized to live and work on a permanent basis in the U.S.  Penn State sponsors permanent residency petitions in EB-1B and EB-2 employment-based preference categories and specific infromation regarding Penn State's policy/procedures can be found at Permanent Residency.

Items of Note for Permanent Residency filers

There is a period of time after an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) has been sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) called a “grounding period.” It is not recommended that the applicant leave the U.S. until confirming that USCIS has received the I-485.

Advance Parole Document

If the applicant is in the U.S., s/he may apply for this form if s/he has a pending I-485 and according to USCIS, "...seeks to travel abroad for 'urgent humanitarian reasons' or in furtherance of a 'significant public benefit', which may include a personal or family emergency or bona fide business reasons."

If the applicant must travel (after confirmation of receipt and while the I-485 is pending), here are his/her options:

  • Travel on his/her H-1B visa, if s/he is maintaining status while the I-485 is pending;
  • Travel on an Advance Parole (form I-131) document while still maintaining H-1B status;
  • Do not maintain H-1B status, work using EAD and travel on an Advance Parole (form I-131) document

Please Note:

  1. If you leave the U.S. while your I-485 is pending, you may miss very important notices from USCIS about your application, which could include RFEs (Requests for Evidence).  USCIS may deem your application as being abandoned if the RFEs, for example, are not responded to within their given time frame.  Please make the appropriate arrangements to ensure this does not happen to you.
  2. If you leave the U.S. before USCIS has approved your Advance Parole Document (I-131), your application for Form I-131 will be considered abandoned.
  3. Leaving the U.S., even with an Advance Parole Document, may affect your ability to return to the United States.