Fly with expired visa and I-94

[Idalia 0]

I will tell you what happened to my husband while waiting for our interview. His passport had just a couple of months before expiring so he decided to travel by bus to the Dominican Consulate in NYC to renew it. All is well on his way in, but on his way back, in one of the bus stops he was questioned by ICE. His I-94 had expired a few months back but, we had filled for AOS and he had his interview letter for just a couple of weeks later on his hand. He did not have any criminal background, he has been entering the US with his visa for the past 10 years with no problems whatsoever, his background clean as a whistle, but with interview letter in hand and all, he was detained for being out of status. That threw us in a whirlwind of chaos, looking for $5000 overnight to bond him out, which btw I wont see that $$ for 2 to 6 months, hiring a lawyer to straighten the mess ($$$), delayed our approval because the case had to be approved by not only USCIS but the judge in charge of his deportation case, which delayed his getting his social security card because they kept his passport and we couldn't do anything without it. Anyway, long story short, it does matter when you are going to travel, by any means of public transportation, because it depends on who you get doing the asking. In my husband's case, everyone else including the adjudicator, lawyers, other ICE officers thought he should be set free, but the detaining officer didn't and he was the one in charge. Just my .02 worth, travel with awareness that anything can happen, even when you have done everything right, you are at ICE's mercy.

Idalia

[Krikit 1,164]

Well, if that doesn't get the point across to the other posters, I don't know what will. Thanks for posting, Idalia. I am sorry you had to go through all that.

[Idalia 0]

Well, if that doesn't get the point across to the other posters, I don't know what will. Thanks for posting, Idalia. I am sorry you had to go through all that.

Thanks, it wasn't fun at all, and still isn't, we haven't get our $$ back yet and don't expect it anytime soon, but at least we are done for 2 yrs, he has his green card in hand and it is much more at ease about going anywhere. The poor guy was really paranoid after that incident until he got his card in hand. Talk about a rude awakening and a ""Welcome to USA"".

[sjr09 155]

Technically you need a government issued photo ID. Ie drivers license or your passport. I would make the flight reservations in your maiden name so they match what is in your passport. I don't know if anyone at the airport would check the passport and make an issue of the fact that you don't have a current visa or not. So I guess technically yes, you can, but I would want some sort of evidence that I was here legally with me (especially going to CA).

Don't have current visa! GOOD LUCK

Customs is in ever airport they can ask to see your passport or ID and look into your bags. You need your ID to mach your airline boarding pass, so if your ID/Passport is full name then same for airline ticket.....

[*Giuly and Rocky* 0]

I just got back from a trip in Vegas and I can tell u that in all the 4 airport we stopped they checked our I.D./passport 2 times and they just didn't take a fast look either...Its true they didn't check my I94 but still I had my hand on my AOS NOA1 the whole time...I don't think its worth to risk it since u didn't apply for AOs yet but, hey, maybe u could be lucky and nobody is going to give u problems.

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

Also the ticket is in my married name eventhough my passport is still on my maiden name, that's why you need to present your marriage certificate.

I don't know about this..... every ticket agent is supposed to deny you entry onto the plane if your passport doesn't match your ticket/boarding pass. You must've gotten a new guy or he was just really lazy and didn't even look.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Eric-Pris

[ccndyeth 0]

Actually I was a reservation agent of United before I enter the US and that's what we always advise our passengers.. if your ticket is in your married name and your ID/passport is in your maiden name you just need to provide a marriage certificate (original copy)

They're not lazy, they did their job pretty well as they suppose to. When they saw my ticket in my married name they ask for my marriage certificate.

[sam808 0]

Thanks guys! Your answers helped alot! Now I have another question that I have to put in another page.... Hope you could help me again on this issue. Again, thank you so much!

[Krikit 1,164]

Also the ticket is in my married name eventhough my passport is still on my maiden name, that's why you need to present your marriage certificate.

I don't know about this..... every ticket agent is supposed to deny you entry onto the plane if your passport doesn't match your ticket/boarding pass. You must've gotten a new guy or he was just really lazy and didn't even look.

I was with a family member who was denied check-in because the passport name didn't match the ticket name, even though they had government-issued photo ID with their old name. They had to go to the airline reservations desk and have it changed over. It was a tad stressful, to say the least. lol