Should You Leave the U.S. While Your Green Card Is Pending?

"My sister's wedding is in Mumbai. Can I go?"

This is one of the hardest conversations I have with clients in the green card backlog.

Many of my Indian clients have been waiting years in the permanent resident process. Some have EB-1A extraordinary ability cases approved but are backlogged because of their country of birth. Some got far enough to file the adjustment of status application and received travel permits through that process.

Back during the Biden administration, they were issuing really long travel permits. I have clients with permits valid through 2029. The government knew people would be waiting for many years, so they gave longer validity periods.

Now under the new administration, they've shortened those validity periods. New permits are only valid for about a year because they want you to keep applying. But the previously issued ones are still valid.

So my clients have authorization to travel. The question is whether they should.

When family events come up, they don't want to miss them. A parent's milestone birthday. A sibling's wedding. These moments matter.

Here's how I approach it: I give clients the information they need to make their own decision.

The airports aren't closed. Millions of people are entering the United States every day. Statistically, the likelihood of someone with valid travel authorization having a serious issue is small.

Yes, there's always some risk when you re-enter. That's true even in normal times. If something unexpected came up, like a criminal issue or something in their background, they could be stopped. But if they're not doing anything that would put them at risk, I think it's safe enough for them to travel and come back while they're waiting for their permanent resident status.

So when clients ask me, I tell them to weigh the decision themselves. What's the actual risk? How important is this event? What would it mean to miss it?

I just received an email from a client who had been facing exactly this dilemma. Her grandfather was ill, and she was terrified to travel. After we talked through the risks, she decided to make the trip. Here's what she wrote:

”I want to sincerely thank you for the advice you gave me before my travel. Your support gave me the confidence to make the trip and spend time with my grandpa, who sadly passed away last week. I am only sharing this because, without your assurance, I very likely wouldn't have had the chance to see him one last time. I can't thank you enough.”

I've had a similar experience in my own life. I understand what it means to have that last chance to say goodbye.

This is deeply personal territory, and ultimately, it's their call to make based on their unique circumstances and priorities, not mine.

Life doesn't pause because you're waiting for a green card. Sometimes you have to live it while you wait.