Q: Can immigrant on conditional status be granted green card in 2-3 wks time? If so, can he leave U.S. and be back in less than 6 months? does the Social security number come before the green card? can he leave U.S. with either the Social Security number or the green card immediately and be back in 5 months?

A: When you are applying for permanent residency as an immediate relative to a US citizen you can also apply for an advance parole (travel document). These types of adjustment of status applications, in Southern California, take approximately 5-7 months to adjudicate. Adjudication of advance paroles takes about 10 weeks. You can travel immediately upon issuance of an advance parole. Social Security card is obtained from the S.S. Administration after you are obtain your work authorization.