I am currently on OPT. My spouse is a green card holder and has filed form I-130, which is currently under review. Can I travel outside the U.S. in this situation? If yes, what steps do I need to take?
If you need a new visa to reenter, that may be difficult. If the F2A category is current, you should have also filed for an adjustment and then applied for an advance parole. Unfortunately, those are presently backlogged but investigate whether you are still current to file an F2A adjustment. This category may backlog soon.
Travel on F-1 may entail risk with a pending immigrant petition. You should consider filing I-485 and apply for advance parole for travel if eligible.
You need to have your I-20 endorsed by the DSO at your school for travel.
It might be smarter to file for adjustment of status and with that, to file for advance parole. Otherwise, as an intending immigrate, the CBP may not admit you back into the U.S. as an F-1 student on OPT.
