Can we take a cruise for our honeymoon?

[MrsLopez 6]

Hello my VJ Fam!

I have read the requirements regarding the K-1 Visa. My fiance and I decided to do that because I can file the paperwork now instead of trying to save money for a wedding there in D.R. and then file after marriage. I know the CR-1 Visa is less expensive & allows him to enter the U.S. as a resident but it would take us a little longer to get all my family and friends on board with their passports, travel, airfare, lodging etc to witness our wedding in D.R. So we decided to go the K-1 route & not be apart anymore. We figured, if we filed by the end of July 2012 or the beginning of August 2012 we should be together here in Florida by February or March 2013, does this sound about right? We want to have our wedding in May 2013.

Now with all this planning raises the question as to where would our honeymoon be? We would like to take a really quick cruise on Carnival for a few days. Do we still have to wait for the approval of the AOS even though we are cruising from Miami Florida to Nassau Bahamas? If anyone has cruised for their honeymoon during this process let me know.

Also, for my D.R. family, if this cruise option does not work out in our favor, I would opt for having a PRE-honeymoon in D.R. before my finance comes here. We would plan it a few days before our interview to save $ on air fare. Please give me some ideas on resorts, beaches, restaurants, or hotels that you think would be a nice place for a honeymoon. I live online but a lot of places didn't have many pictures or reviews posted. So give me you personal opinions.

I am asking now because we have to budget for every detail regarding this jOURney and this gives us an idea of how much money we need to put together.

Thanks for your input!

[MarielManuel 0]

you can file k1 if you can get married during the process i belive you can changeit to CR1 if im wrong someone pleaseee correct me if time is a problem for you...you can just get married next time you go to dr its not expensive at all if marry at the city hall its only 7,500 pesos like 200 dollars

[Operator 1,927]

you can file k1 if you can get married during the process i belive you can changeit to CR1 if im wrong someone pleaseee correct me if time is a problem for you...you can just get married next time you go to dr its not expensive at all if marry at the city hall its only 7,500 pesos like 200 dollars

If you file for a K1 and then get married you will have to cancel the petition and file for a CR1. You will lose the filing fee for the I-129F and will have to pay to file the I-130. Doesn't make very good sense to me.

[MarielManuel 0]

then sorry i thought she could do that

[Harsh_77 718]

If I understood can OP go on cruise, to my understanding on K1 no, you will have to wait until AOS is complete and have the GC.

If you go to DR and change to CR 1 then your spouse will have to wait there until Consulate approves CR1.

Say if your fiancée enters on K1 and then you file new CR1 still he would have to wait until CR1 is approved that would not be any quicker.

[StephanieM 60]

I am pretty sure he will not be able to travel until AFTER AOS is completed which takes months.

Unless it is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY ESSENTIALLY important for your family to be there for the wedding then I'd say just use the money for the "pre-honeymoon" to get married in DR. All you have to do is go to city hall (in DR) with two witnesses and 7,000 pesos. A couple of his family members can come along, you wear a cute dress and take pics. That's it. If you want more info inbox me, if this is absolutely not an option for you then forget everything I am saying.

I am only and truly suggesting this before you say you are both on a budget and I know that although right now you might not see it, CR-1 is the cheapest option.

Unfortunely in this process I realized we have to make sacrifices, especially those of us who are on a budget. For my husband and I, that sacrifice was not having a real wedding ceremony with all of our family and friends and postponing the big ceremony to 2014.

Just a thought. If you still decide to do K1 there are plenty of resources here and people to help you so you are def not alone!

As far as vacations, you can try cheapcaribbean.com, bookit.com, expedia.com and other websites like that. You can find some great deals in those sites.

Suerte!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

*** Moving from Effects of Major Changes to Travelling during Immigration ****

[MarielManuel 0]

I would honestly suggest to go to city hall in DR and get married with close family members take some cute pictures..wear a simple dress how you want it and thats it...K1 visas are a lot more money and time consuming and they are more investigated than CR1...i was going to go to city hall get married and thats it but my family went crazy and didnt want that and we had to do a wedding (not a big one but a cute wedding) we had pictures but its not like if you dont have a great wedding they wont grant your visa...if you are planning on going soon you can get married file your I-130 and next thing you know hes here

[StephanieM 60]

P.S. No pressure just friendly suggestions. At the end of the day the decisions is yours and only you know what's best.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hello my VJ Fam!

I have read the requirements regarding the K-1 Visa. My fiance and I decided to do that because I can file the paperwork now instead of trying to save money for a wedding there in D.R. and then file after marriage. I know the CR-1 Visa is less expensive & allows him to enter the U.S. as a resident but it would take us a little longer to get all my family and friends on board with their passports, travel, airfare, lodging etc to witness our wedding in D.R. So we decided to go the K-1 route & not be apart anymore. We figured, if we filed by the end of July 2012 or the beginning of August 2012 we should be together here in Florida by February or March 2013, does this sound about right? We want to have our wedding in May 2013.

Now with all this planning raises the question as to where would our honeymoon be? We would like to take a really quick cruise on Carnival for a few days. Do we still have to wait for the approval of the AOS even though we are cruising from Miami Florida to Nassau Bahamas? If anyone has cruised for their honeymoon during this process let me know.

Also, for my D.R. family, if this cruise option does not work out in our favor, I would opt for having a PRE-honeymoon in D.R. before my finance comes here. We would plan it a few days before our interview to save $ on air fare. Please give me some ideas on resorts, beaches, restaurants, or hotels that you think would be a nice place for a honeymoon. I live online but a lot of places didn't have many pictures or reviews posted. So give me you personal opinions.

I am asking now because we have to budget for every detail regarding this jOURney and this gives us an idea of how much money we need to put together.

Thanks for your input!

Once the K-1 enters the US and gets marry, the only way the new spouse can leave the US AND RETURN is to have a green card or advance parole. It will take at least 2-3 months after you file for your new spouse to get the advance parole.

Yes, you can have your honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas (a foreign country). However, your new spouse will not be allowed to return to the US without a green card or advance parole.

If you want to do a pre-honeymoon trip, you'll have to figure out how to get your honey into the US to get to the port of departure in the US. This may be extremely difficult given his immigrant intent.

I suggest you have a US ONLY honeymoon, or wait until your spouse gets a green card to go cruising to the Bahamas.

[perez525 8]

If you want to save money then the CR1 route is the way to go, but I don't think that K1s get investigated any more or less than CR1 applicants. My fiancé and I were never asked any intimate questions and never separated during our interview. Red flags will be red flags no matter which way you go. But if you want to save more money then yes the CR1 route Is the way to go. If you want him here a little faster (1-2) months sooner and wouldn't mind paying more money for AOS when he gets here then I recommend the K1 route. Everyone has different situations, even though we spend more money I'm glad we went the way we did because in my case, my fiancé does have a good job waiting for him here even though we won't be filing the AOS right away and this I say because he will be working with a family friend. Not everyone has this opportunity and sometimes you have to make the sacrifice, getting married in dr is just for the paperwork but you know that either way you guys will have the wedding you wish for. As in regards to the honey moon is best to wait until the process is over unless you're going local (maybe Florida) because I wouldnt want to risk not being allowed back to the USA. Think this thoroughly and remember as of right now is not about making everyone else happy with a wedding is about bringing him here and getting him to work right away so he can contribute to all the expenses. As for me, even though we're just doing a city hall ceremony in October, within a year or two I will have my dream wedding no matter what

Edited July 3, 2012 by sanchez525

[perez525 8]

As for the pre honeymoon, I went to Bayahibe which is in the east side of the country right after La Romana and I highly recommend it. Bookit.com can give you good deals including airfare and transportation...Puerto Plata(north side), Salinas, Bavaro, punta Cana, las terrenas samana, vista mare, those are all good places to go in my opinion...especially for couples

[jkelly07 120]

wait until you have green card in hand before going on a cruise or out of the united states,any way if you booked a cruise you go to check in at the terminal they check your papers, if it;s not right you can not board the ship.an if you did board coming back to the us customs will not let you back in the us. so don't go.

[bigdog 376]

Get married and file for CR1. One stop shop, when she enters it will be with a GC.

[Gracenp2 14]

Get married and file for CR1. One stop shop, when she enters it will be with a GC.

I would highly recommend the CR1. But again like the previous posts the decision ultimately will be up to you. Patience is a Virtue during this process. The end result will be more less of a headache. I paid $10,000 pesos only because city hall was not going to do it for me in regards to how the place looked and the way they do the weddings is like pushing cattle through the herd. I had the marriage ceremony at my mother's house. Hired a photographer then had my reception and called it a day.

Good luck!!