Travel During AOS Process

[lovetimhortons 1]

Hello everyone. I'm in the process of AOSing from a K1, and had a question about travel during this time. Myself and my husband are planning a trip at the end of March and are not sure about where we can and can't travel.

I applied for AOS from a K1 in mid December, and estimate my EAD and AP may or may not be complete by late March. I understand my AOS will likely not be complete by late March.

Basically, we are thinking Hawaii (which shouldn't be a problem), but were wondering whether we can travel to the Virgin Islands (US Territory), Guam (US Territory), or a Hawaiian cruise (fly to Honolulu, and with no ports except for cities within Hawaii, and fly back from Honolulu). Does anyone know if there is additional paperwork for the Virgin Islands and how/where to get it done? I'm wondering if we should just keep it easy and stick to Hawaii (not the cruise).

Has anyone gone to any of these places during their AOS? Thanks for your help!!

[Barbara J 115]

Hello everyone. I'm in the process of AOSing from a K1, and had a question about travel during this time. Myself and my husband are planning a trip at the end of March and are not sure about where we can and can't travel.

I applied for AOS from a K1 in mid December, and estimate my EAD and AP may or may not be complete by late March. I understand my AOS will likely not be complete by late March.

Basically, we are thinking Hawaii (which shouldn't be a problem), but were wondering whether we can travel to the Virgin Islands (US Territory), Guam (US Territory), or a Hawaiian cruise (fly to Honolulu, and with no ports except for cities within Hawaii, and fly back from Honolulu). Does anyone know if there is additional paperwork for the Virgin Islands and how/where to get it done? I'm wondering if we should just keep it easy and stick to Hawaii (not the cruise).

Has anyone gone to any of these places during their AOS? Thanks for your help!!

If traveling within the US it's not a problem just would advise to carry your NOA1 paper with you . I am not sure but don't think you have to show passports within the USA. But the cruise may be needing passport in which case you would need your AP.If you applied for AOS mid December I doubt that it will be approved till April May. Have you had your biometrics done yet? After that you will receive your EAD and AP if you applied for them 2-3 weeks later if your lucky like i did. I applied October and don't expect AOS till end Feb beginning March. Sure someone else can answer better than me.

[HeatDeath 430]

If have your AP documents, you can go anywhere that will let you in. If you don't have your AP documents, you must avoid leaving US territory, and you must avoid going anywhere that would require you to show a passport on the way back in.

Apparently the USVI are an option, but sometimes people coming back from there are routed through US Customs because of the relative ease of people entering there from other countries. I don't know about Guam.

Hawaii [without the cruise] is the safest bet with no AP, and is apparently way nicer than the USVI anyways.

[lovetimhortons 1]

Barbara J: just did my biometrics just 2 days ago (walk in successful, original appt was early February). I guess we'll see what happens with the AP and EAD. I'd rather avoid using the AP, since it just seems complicated to use anyways.

I think we'll be sticking to Hawaii (minus the cruise). But what are the rules in terms of the cruise? Someone must know! There are cruises that start and finish in Honolulu, and we would fly directly to and from Honolulu to home. Is this allowed, or is it considered "international waters?" Also, to get to Hawaii, you are flying over the the ocean...isn't this "international waters?" What if there is an plane or medical emergency enroute and the plane is diverted to a foreign country?

[HeatDeath 430]

My understanding is that any boat trip cannot enter international waters. Flying at 36000 feet over international waters is legally quite different, apparently, from being on the deck of a boat 20 feet over international waters. It might have something to do with physical contact with the non-US real estate.

If the plane is diverted to a foreign country, you're hosed, sad to say. This is why Hawaii is generally recommended for non-AP travel but Alaska is not. At all points on the trips to and from Hawaii, the closest airports are on US territory. You couldn't possibly be diverted anywhere else. With Alaska, there is the risk of being diverted to Canada, which, as I said, would be very bad if it happened.

[Barbara J 115]

Barbara J: just did my biometrics just 2 days ago (walk in successful, original appt was early February). I guess we'll see what happens with the AP and EAD. I'd rather avoid using the AP, since it just seems complicated to use anyways.

I think we'll be sticking to Hawaii (minus the cruise). But what are the rules in terms of the cruise? Someone must know! There are cruises that start and finish in Honolulu, and we would fly directly to and from Honolulu to home. Is this allowed, or is it considered "international waters?" Also, to get to Hawaii, you are flying over the the ocean...isn't this "international waters?" What if there is an plane or medical emergency enroute and the plane is diverted to a foreign country?

Well if you did your BIO 2 days ago you should receive your AP and EAD soon. The AP papers are ok there is 2 of them and you would just carry that with your passport and marriage cert. I would stick with the cruise too around Hawaii but as said before if there was an emergency landing then you would only be landing on US soil unless Canada in which case you need t have your AP papers.

[tallcoolone 102]

We took a cruise and my wife had misplaced her Philippines passport and her LPR card. Only thing immigration needed to see when we came back from the cruise in Galvestion Texas was her Texas Drivers Licenses.

[lovetimhortons 1]

Tried calling the cruise line. Very unhelpful. They only had the requirements for US Citizens. What a waste of time!!

I've decided we will just be doing Hawaii, no cruise. Problem solved!

Thanks

[Krikit 1,165]

One of the Canadian members and his wife took a Hawaiian cruise on their honeymoon and they had no problem. Here are some posts from July09Bride:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&section=search&do=search&fromsearch=1

And here is the official word:

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=VisaRequirements#Passport

[lovetimhortons 1]

thanks krikit