Honeymoon travel while on K1 visa

[Mick_n_Leila 6]

We are planning a Ocean Cruise for our Honeymoon to the Caribbean directly after our Wedding when my fiancee arrives from the Philippines.....she will be on either K1 status or on AOS......I read some where, I think on the Immigration site that she cannot leave the US....would this include a Caribbean trip???....do we need to change our plans???....is it a non-issue and we can continue to plan our trip???....or is there something we can do.

Thanks in advance

[moemac59 193]

We are planning a Ocean Cruise for our Honeymoon to the Caribbean directly after our Wedding when my fiancee arrives from the Philippines.....she will be on either K1 status or on AOS......I read some where, I think on the Immigration site that she cannot leave the US....would this include a Caribbean trip???....do we need to change our plans???....is it a non-issue and we can continue to plan our trip???....or is there something we can do.

Thanks in advance

If she is entering on a K1 visa and you get married, she cannot leave the United States until she receives AP. The K1 visa is good for a one time entry into the states to get married

[Mick_n_Leila 6]

If she is entering on a K1 visa and you get married, she cannot leave the United States until she receives AP. The K1 visa is good for a one time entry into the states to get married

Thanks for reply.....could you please clarify what AP is.....do we need to apply for AOS, and then wait??

[moemac59 193]

We are planning a Ocean Cruise for our Honeymoon to the Caribbean directly after our Wedding when my fiancee arrives from the Philippines.....she will be on either K1 status or on AOS......I read some where, I think on the Immigration site that she cannot leave the US....would this include a Caribbean trip???....do we need to change our plans???....is it a non-issue and we can continue to plan our trip???....or is there something we can do.

Thanks in advance

Just an FYI - your AOS will be filed after you marry as you will be required to submit your marriage certificate as part of your AOS application. You will also want to file the AP/EAD applications with the AOS application. The processing time to receive the AP/EAD card can be approximately 3 months+. She cannot leave the US without this AP card. If she does then her application will be considered abandoned. I would plan for a honeymoon in the US.

Thanks for reply.....could you please clarify what AP is.....do we need to apply for AOS, and then wait??

AP is advanced parole and upon approval of that she will be allowed to leave. Yes you do need to apply for Adjustment of Status and then wait. The waiting time is quite long for some people. You should review the AOS forum on this website to give you a better understanding of what will be required.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

No AP = No outside US travel (well you can but she'll be refused entry)

Good luck!

[Mick_n_Leila 6]

OK....I understand now....thanks folks...we'll aim for somewhere in the Homeland...she wants to see some snow also....so we'll just drive north and maybe rent a cozy mountain cabin with a hot tub and learn to ski

[Tahoma 2,292]

Our circumstances are different from yours. Chinook and I went on a "closed loop" cruise to Alaska last May. A closed-loop cruise is a cruise which begins and ends at a U.S. port, but has a stop in another country. In our case, the cruise began and ended in Seattle, but had a stop in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

At that time, Chinook had a ten-year green card and a Philippines passport. Her green card was in her married name, and her Philippines passport was in her maiden name. One thing we learned is that the name on the boarding pass for the cruise must match the name on the passport. So, Chinook's boarding pass was issued in her maiden name.

When we checked in for the cruise, Chinook brought her Philippines passport, her green card, and our marriage certificate. We brought our marriage certificate to bridge the gap between the two different names. At check-in, the cruise line made a copy of Chinook's green card and a copy of the bio page of her passport. They didn't ask to see our marriage certificate.

Also, we learned that Canada does not require a visitor's visa for green card holders. I also learned that Chinook only needed her green card to reenter the U.S. Chinook had no problem entering Canada. In fact, no one was checking any papers at the dock in Victoria. Also, no one was checking any papers at the dock when we returned to Seattle.

I researched all of this before we left on the cruise. I contacted the U.S. CBP, the Canadian equivalent of the CBP, the Canadian Embassy in Seattle, and the cruise line. The cruise line was very helpful once I got past the tier-one customer service rep. Also, the documentation requirements on the cruise line's website may be different than what you find out from other sources, and it may be stricter than what the governments tell you.

However, our cruise line's website said a passport must be valid for a period of six months after the cruise. Chinook's passport was set to expire only four months after the cruise. However, the cruise line said it was fine. I took that email with us when we checked in for the cruise but did not have to use it.

I don't know what type of cruise you are planning but, at the very least, your wife is going to need to wait for her Advanced Parole (AP). The AP allows her to reenter the U.S. She would likely not be able to enter the U.S. before that time since her K-1 visa has already been used to enter the U.S. She will want to apply for AP at the same time as she applies to adjust her status. If she applies at the same time, then the AP doesn't cost any extra. She'll receive her AP before she receives her conditional green card.

As a first step, I recommend that you check with the cruise line to find out what their rules are for people with Philippines passports, an AP document, and a marriage certificate.

[moemac59 193]

OK....I understand now....thanks folks...we'll aim for somewhere in the Homeland...she wants to see some snow also....so we'll just drive north and maybe rent a cozy mountain cabin with a hot tub and learn to ski

You should go to Norther Cali..Big Bear and you could do wine country...or look at staying in a yurt on the ocean in Big Sur for a few nites.

[moemac59 193]

OK....I understand now....thanks folks...we'll aim for somewhere in the Homeland...she wants to see some snow also....so we'll just drive north and maybe rent a cozy mountain cabin with a hot tub and learn to ski

[TBoneTX 45,959]

Just to be precise, anyone is free to LEAVE the United States in this circumstance. Re-entry is the consideration.

[Mick_n_Leila 6]

You should go to Norther Cali..Big Bear and you could do wine country...or look at staying in a yurt on the ocean in Big Sur for a few nites.

Thank for the idea....we are in Alabama, and was considering we might drive to the Tennessee mountains and get a cabin there or drive up to the Great Lakes around to Niagra Falls then to NY city....I've never been that far up north and of course it will be all new to Leila....making a stop at Cedar Point for I am a roller coaster lover and she wants to try...but its all up in the air for now, still thinking.

I am from Cali. and have been there, done that already....but also thought about going there and visiting family and friends. Anything can happen.

Edited October 28, 2012 by Mick_n_Leila

[Peter_Pan 661]

Just a heads up - it is already snowing up north, so you'd wanna pack some seriously warm clothes, 36 F here at the moment, but we had less as well.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

"The north" is exceedingly large, and the weather differs greatly across this vast expanse. It is upper 60s in NYC and the leaves are still green. It is always good to check the weather before traveling anywhere.

Edited October 28, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Pitaya 2,577]

Just to be precise, anyone is free to LEAVE the United States in this circumstance. Re-entry is the consideration.

Si man.

[mandyandprzemek 0]

OK, how about this situation.

Can I leave and re-enter the US for our honeymoon on my tourist visa, after we get married using K-1 visa and before we apply for an AOS?