Travel to Hawaii

[Matt&Kaci 3]

My question is my wife and I are traveling to Hawaii in January for our Honeymoon. I know she is allowed to travel to Hawaii because it is one of the 50 US states. However, my question is when the TSA agents look at her passport either going over to Hawaii or returning and see that her I-94 has expired what happens. We are currently awaiting our AOS, do we bring our NOA1 from the pending AOS. I plan on bringing our marriage certificate as well. Thank you in advance for your responces.

[HeatDeath 430]

The whole reason Hawaii is a good place for immigrants with AOS pending status to go is that the flights to and from there are domestic US flights - which is to say that you never have to go through CBP Customs and Immigration.

The TSA agents will be checking just the ID page of her passport to ensure that she matches her ID. They aren't trained, and shouldn't even be trying, to evaluate legal presence. They just want to make sure your ID matches your boarding passes. They probably won't even look at the I-94 or the passport stamps. That's CBP's job.

Absolutely you should bring the AOS NOA1. That is her primary document showing her legal status in the US. If you have that, and the marriage certificate to document any name changes, then even in the worst possible case - the TSA officer wonders why the I-94 is expired and escorts you both to CBP Customs and Immigration - they will be able to verify her status as an AOS applicant and everything will be all right.

If you're still worried, give yourselves an extra hour or so at the airport before each flight, but I'm virtually certain you'll be fine.

[Thompson2 1]

I think Heat covered it all, but I just wanted to add that if she has a JA license or US license then she could just use that and you don't even have to bring her passport. My husband travelled throughout the US using his JA license. If she doesn't have either then don't worry at all. Like Heat said, they just are matching her name and picture to the airline ticket to make sure she is who the ticket says.

We traveled to St. Thomas right after we sent off our AOS paperwork and I was nervous, espcially with St. Thomas being a territory. We had to go through customs there, but they were more interested in what we were bringing back. The officer did ask when we got married and then I just added that we had sent off our paperwork the previous week. He didn't bat an eye and just said "Congrats. I think bringing the extra paper work is a good idea just for your peace of mind.

One last thing, I would book the ticket in her maiden name just so it's easier because that is the name on her passport. I guess you could show the marriage cert. and explain the change in name, but before I changed over my license and passport I travelled under my maiden name and it was much easier.

Lastly and most importantly..HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!! Take lots of pics!! What islands are you planning on going to? I need to get there some day.

[HeatDeath 430]

One last thing, I would book the ticket in her maiden name just so it's easier because that is the name on her passport. I guess you could show the marriage cert. and explain the change in name, but before I changed over my license and passport I travelled under my maiden name and it was much easier.

I'd go one step further. The ticket MUST be booked in the name that is in her passport. If you try to do otherwise the entire check-in and security process becomes far more interesting than you'd like, if they'll even let her on the plane at all!

[Matt&Kaci 3]

Thanks to everyone for there responce. The ticket was booked in her name that is on her passport. I will take everyones advice. We will be going to the island of Kauai, can't wait, looking so forward to it...

Edited October 23, 2010 by Matt&Kaci