Hi Monica, if you travel from Houston to San Diego, you won't have to go through passport control. In addition, when you return from San Diego to Houston, you will not be required to pass through passport control. You will be asked to show an appropriate identification to the TSA, but you will not enter or leave the United States, therefore, you will not run the risk that your residence permit is in process.
Sorry speek German ...
I don't speak Spanish
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