Daca: Preparing for Re-entry After Traveling on Advance Parole

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Traveling on advance parole is a fantastic way to gain new experiences and widen

your horizons. Though speaking with immigration officers when returning from a trip

can be daunting, if you prepare yourself, you can increase the chances of having a

smoother return. It is worth emphasizing that many DACA recipients have successfully

traveled on advanced parole and returned home with no issues. This explainer is

intended to prepare you after you have been approved to travel abroad on advance

parole and are at a United States port or border seeking reentry.

WHAT IS ADVANCE PAROLE?

Advance parole is a way for people in the United States with

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to request

advanced permission to travel abroad. Advance parole

requests are reviewed and granted by U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS). Although getting a grant

of advance parole is the first crucial step, it does not

guarantee that an individual will be allowed to re-enter the

country. Immigration officers at the border or port of entry

must conduct a separate inquiry to ensure that the person is eligible for reentry.

WHAT IS SECONDARY INSPECTION?

At a port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers initially

Frequently asked questions about and tips for returning

to the U.S. after an advance parole departure

MARCH 2023

DACA: PREPARING FOR RE-ENTRY

AFTER TRAVELING

ADVANCE PAROLE

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determine whether you are admissible by reviewing your advance parole

documentation. This is called an initial inspection. Secondary inspection is a separate

process from the initial inspection, where immigration officers may conduct further

verification of your documents or additional questioning. It often occurs in a different

room where CBP officers engage in further research, regularly using various online

databases holding information about your criminal and immigration background, to

verify that you are eligible for reentry. They may ask you questions about your travel

or nationality, to help determine your admissibility.

Being taken to secondary inspection is discretionary,

meaning that individual immigration officers can pick

and choose who to send to secondary inspection. After

hearing directly from community members who traveled

on advance parole, it is common for DACA recipients to

get flagged for secondary inspection. Reasons people get flagged for secondary

inspection include having a criminal record, suspicion that you might have improper

documentation, or simply being randomly selected.

Reentry with advance parole can be an anxiety-inducing experience even on the best

day with the most respectful officers. It is helpful to keep in mind that going through

secondary inspection does not mean that you will not be allowed in, it simply means

that they need to do more research. For these reasons, it is helpful to be aware of any

of the possible scenarios that could occur when you are at secondary inspection and

prepare ahead of time.

HOW DOES SECONDARY INSPECTION WORK?

An officer may direct you to another room, separate from the main CBP customs

kiosks. Likely, they will not explain how long you will be there. The room may be plain,

and it could be crowded, depending on the day. You may have to wait there for a few

minutes or several hours, depending on many factors that may not relate to your

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individual secondary inspection.

HOW CAN I PREPARE MYSELF FOR REENTRY?

It is helpful to know that it is common to be sent to

secondary inspection, and that many people have been

able to successfully travel and return on advance parole as

DACA recipients. Over the years, the process has become

more streamlined, and there is much more information from

previous travelers on how to prepare to make it the smoothest

experience possible.

Below are some tips to keep in mind so that you can better prepare yourself for

reentry:

STAY CALM

Speaking with immigration officers might sound scary. This especially true if you are

confronted by officers who are intimidating. Remember that if you have taken the

proper steps to prepare, you should be able to return if you’re eligible, even if you are

sent to secondary inspection.

Try to stay as calm as possible throughout the process. In terms of comfort, DACA

recipients who have previously traveled suggest dressing in a way that makes you

feel confident but relaxed enough to speak with a CBP officer. You may also consider

not drinking coffee or having caffeine to avoid anxious thoughts. Do whatever makes

you feel comfortable to keep yourself in a calm and confident state of mind while

going through customs.

SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY OR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE LEAVING

Speaking to an attorney or legal representative prior to leaving the United States

is especially important for persons who have ever been arrested by local law

enforcement or immigration officers. Simply having contact with law enforcement

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or immigration officers alone would not prevent you from re-entering, and not all

criminal convictions hurt your case, but an attorney or representative can dig in more

to assess your specific situation and see if you would have problems returning.

Even though you are not allowed to have an attorney inside secondary inspection,

having their contact information could be helpful in case immigration officers have

questions about your case.

PLAN AROUND CONNECTING FLIGHTS

If you are sent to secondary inspection, sometimes you can be in there with many

other people waiting for an immigration officer to get to your case.

Be mindful of your choice of airport and state in which you return.

If you have a connecting flight, the first location where you land

will be where you will go through customs and possibly secondary

inspection. Remember, whether you are taken through secondary

inspection is at the discretion of the officers. As such, leave plenty

of extra time for travel, especially if you have a connecting flight,

because you may have to spend extra time in secondary inspection and could miss

your connecting flight.

KEEP FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS INFORMED

You may be able to make phone calls if you are asked to wait in secondary inspection

while they check your paperwork, or there may be a no-phone policy or no cell

reception, so be prepared in case you won’t be able to use your phone. For that

reason, you should notify a family member or close contact in the United States of

the exact date and time you are returning and also the possibility of being sent to

secondary inspection and having to wait longer.

BRING SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

When re-entering, bring any supporting evidence you may need, including an original

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and copy of:

 A passport from your country of origin (it should generally be valid for at least

six months after the date of exiting the United States)

 Your advance parole document, known as Form I-512

 A copy of your DACA approval notice

 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card

 State I.D. or driver’s license, if you have one

 Relevant medical documents (e.g. COVID immunization records)

 If applicable, your attorney’s contact information

 Evidence of reason for the trip abroad. For example:

B If traveling for family reasons, birth certificates showing your tie to that

relative

B If traveling for educational reasons, a copy of your enrollment documents

B If traveling for employment reasons, a letter from your employer, your

business contract or a registration form for a conference you are attending.

BE MINDFUL OF DACA EXPIRATION AND POSSIBLE TERMINATION

It is important to be mindful of extraneous circumstances that may affect your

reentry. This includes ensuring that your DACA will not expire while you are traveling.

Because DACA is currently being litigated in the court, it is also important to keep up

to date on the latest information on DACA. You can visit www.ilrc.org/daca to learn

more about these changes or follow us on social media (links in the end page footer).

HAVE COVID-19 EVIDENCE

Regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, you must currently show proof of full

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vaccination before boarding your return flight. Although you do not need a booster,

you do need to have either both or a single vaccine shot, depending on which vaccine

you are taking. If returning by land at the border, you may not have to show proof

of your vaccination, but you may have to sign a form saying you are vaccinated (an

attestation).

FILL OUT CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM

Be aware that you may need to fill out a Customs Declaration form, which will be

passed out either on the plane or when you arrive back in the United States. This

document provides the government with basic information regarding your personal

information and the items in your possession upon re-entry.

AVOID HAVING CONDEMNING EVIDENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Officers may search your belongings. For example, officers can search through your

phone or belongings without any probable cause or warrant. For this reason, it is best

to be aware of what photos and other items you have on your phone and belongings

while traveling. You may want to ensure that you don’t have incriminating photos and

that you have a password on your phone. They often will not search you at all but be

prepared.

TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES

Traveling outside the country as an undocumented person can feel very vulnerable,

and for some, it can have a lasting mental and emotional impact. Some emotions that

may come up include extreme stress, fear, familial or other relationship tensions,

depression, and isolation. As you’re deciding whether advance parole is right for

you, remember that you are not alone and that all feelings that may come up for you

throughout the process are real and valid.

Remember: Many DACA beneficiaries have successfully been able to travel using this

pathway and have enjoyed their experience. We trust that a vast majority of those

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Discover more community explainers, toolkits,

& alerts about immigration law.

Are you a California Community College (CCC) or a California State University

(CSU) student? If so, you qualify for FREE immigration legal services!

FIND OUT MORE CCC: findyourally.com CSU: findyourally.com/csu

who get approved to travel will also have painless returns. The key always lies with

preparation. Also, please don’t forget to reach out to a support network to share your

experiences, both positive and negative. It can be tremendously useful for those who

want to travel but are apprehensive or otherwise anxious about the process. Share

your story on your own time and in the way you believe is best for you.

To find a trusted legal services provider in your area, visit ilrc.me/findhelp.