After you apply for a visa, you must in a way put your life on hold during the waiting period until you receive an approved visa. For some people this is difficult. It is risky to visit your home country without an approved visa. Before you decide on whether to travel, you should seek legal advice. Maryland immigration lawyers specialize in helping people in your situation make the best decision.
Submitting a visa application does not guarantee you re-entry privileges. Without a valid visa you will be stuck outside the U.S. until a decision has been made on your application. You may be transferred to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Even if your visa comes through while you are abroad, it can be a month or more before you can return to the U.S. And if your application is denied, you will not be able to return to the U.S. without applying for a different visa.
Traveling to your home country with a pending visa can also trigger a revocation of your application on grounds that you do not have a permanent U.S. address. This can happen if you stay out of the country for a long period of time.
The bottom line is that you should not travel outside of the U.S. until a decision has been made on your visa application. In the event of a family emergency, you can apply for “advance parole” for a short trip outside of the U.S. However, it can be difficult to get this permission. The best way to go about it is to work with an immigration lawyer.
Thompson Legal Group are Maryland immigration lawyers who help people who are trying to defend their right to live and work in the United States. If you need to travel to your home country while your visa is still pending, you should contact Thompson Legal Group.