In a new rule effective November 1, 2007, USCIS has removed the requirement that H and L adjustment applicants must travel with their receipt notice.

An adjustment applicant needs certain documentation in order to travel once the I-485 application has been filed. Advance Parole is the most common travel document used by adjustment applicants. Adjustment applicants who are on H or L status, however, can travel without adjustment of status under certain conditions. Before the new rule, H and L adjustment applicants needed to have their I-485 receipt notice at the time they re-entered the United States. This proved to be challenging in that it has been taking USCIS a number of weeks, if not months, to issue receipt notices thereby limiting travel during this period of time. Under the new rule, if a person is maintaining H or L status he or she can travel without first obtaining the I-485 receipt notice.

The new rule will help thousands of H and L adjustment applicants who seek to travel after they have filed for adjustment of status but before they receive the receipt notice.