@match-fixer

First of all, we are just like you.. looking for help and sharing what we have learned during this process.

#f1piditketo is right, don't travel unless it's really really important.

As far as AP letter says, there is no harm to travel provided your TPS is pending.. though your re-entry depends on approval of your TPS unless you have any other valid status (for example F1). If you never broke any rules in the past, you would must likely be okay. Make sure you have someone to check your mailbox if anything important comes up.