Travel Safety Tips: What to Know Before Leaving the US This Holiday Season

Zuhra Aziz
11 hours ago
4 min read

Choose Your Reading Experience:

⚡ Express Read

Quick Summary: Holiday travel can complicate your immigration status if you leave the US without proper preparation. Before traveling, confirm your passport and immigration documents are valid, review any travel restrictions that may apply, and be ready to answer questions from Customs and Border Protection when you return.

If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to travel, call Antonini & Cohen today at (470) 428-3200 to schedule a consultation with one of our Atlanta immigration attorneys. We will review your situation, identify any risks, and help ensure your return to the US is as smooth and secure as possible.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

📖 Standard Read

For many families, the holiday season is a time of reuniting with loved ones abroad. For many immigrants, international travel requires careful planning to ensure a safe return to the United States without delays or complications. Attorney Zuhra Aziz shares three essential travel tips to help you prepare and protect your ability to reenter the country safely.

Know your travel risks before you plan a trip. Contact Antonini & Cohen today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced immigration attorneys. We will review your immigration history, identify any travel restrictions, and provide clear guidance on the safest way to travel.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

Review Your Travel Documents Early

Before booking your flight, confirm that your passport will remain valid for at least six months after your return. Gather copies of the immigration documents you rely on to demonstrate your immigration status – such as Green Cards, employment authorization documents (EADs), visas, advance parole documents, or approval notices.

Carry both physical and digital copies to ensure you can quickly provide information if requested during inspection upon your return to the US. A preventable paperwork issue should never be the reason you are denied reentry. If any document is missing, expired, or even close to expiring, consult an Antonini & Cohen attorney before traveling.

Understand Travel Restrictions and How Travel Impacts Your Status

Entry rules vary depending on your nationality, type of immigration benefit, and criminal or immigration history. Some travelers may face stricter screening, while others may be subject to travel bans or restrictions.

Travel may also affect your immigration eligibility. Long or frequent trips abroad may raise concerns about your US residency which could impact your lawful permanent residency or naturalization application. Knowing these risks ahead of time allows you to plan wisely.

Prepare for Your Return to the United States

When you arrive back at a US port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer may ask about your travel, your employment, or your immigration status. These questions are a normal part of the inspection process, but they can feel intimidating if you’re unprepared.

Stay calm and keep your responses clear, honest, and limited to what is asked. If denied admission, you also have the right to request a hearing before an immigration judge.

For more information, read: Returning to the US as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Plan Your Trip Confidently with A&C

The holidays should be a time of celebration, not immigration stress. If you have any doubts about traveling internationally due to your immigration status, speak with one of our Atlanta immigration attorneys before making travel arrangements.

Contact Antonini & Cohen today to schedule your consultation. We will identify any risks that could affect your reentry and provide a clear plan to protect your ability to return to the United States safely.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

📚Transcript

Hi, I’m attorney Zuhra Aziz with Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group. The holiday season is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, so here are some tips to help you travel safely and return to the United States without complications.

First, check your travel documents. Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Also, ensure that you have the correct immigration documents needed for traveling, such as your visa, advance parole notices, or travel authorization. Having this information readily available will help make the inspection process go more smoothly. If anything is missing or close to expiring, consult with an immigration attorney before making plans.

Second, check for travel restrictions. Review any travel restrictions or new rules that may apply to your nationality or your immigration status. Traveling can also affect your eligibility for future immigration statuses. Overstays, long trips abroad, or frequent travel can raise concerns, even for permanent residents.

Lastly, prepare for questions. Customs and Border Protection may ask you about your travel plans, your job, and your immigration status. Remember you have the right to remain silent, but if you choose to answer, answer honestly and clearly.

The holidays should be a time to enjoy family and rest - not to worry about your immigration status.

If you’re unsure whether traveling is right for you right now, schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

Resources

Zuhra Aziz is an associate attorney at Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group, where she is deeply committed to helping clients navigate family-based and humanitarian immigration matters with skill and compassion. With a background in public interest law and experience working with organizations that support refugees and asylum seekers, she is passionate about expanding access to justice and helping immigrants find safety and stability in the United States.