Traveling within US while waiting for AP

[Lights 56]

I'm an approved K1 visa holder and will be making my POE in the next few weeks. I will be doing my court wedding within days of entry and will be filing for AOS asap.

I will be residing in California and would like to travel to Seattle to meet with family. Just want to be 100% certain that I can travel anywhere within the US upon entry using K1 and while ap is pending. Or do i need AP to be approved and have documentation before traveling within the US?

[HollyGolightly 72]

Interstate travel is not restricted for anyone with a pending AOS petition. AP is likewise not required. For your peace of mind, you might want to wait for NOA receipt before you book a flight. This will be your proof that you have a pending AOS petition. Otherwise, none of the airlines or airport securities ask for your passport or visa. You only get inspected at a POE coming from an international port, so no need to worry.

[sweet cakes 326]

I'm an approved K1 visa holder and will be making my POE in the next few weeks. I will be doing my court wedding within days of entry and will be filing for AOS asap.

I will be residing in California and would like to travel to Seattle to meet with family. Just want to be 100% certain that I can travel anywhere within the US upon entry using K1 and while ap is pending. Or do i need AP to be approved and have documentation before traveling within the US?

Agreed with Hollygolightly. You can travel with no restriction to all 50 states of America upon entry using a K-1. If travel is by air, you might need to use your passport, only as an ID, as this is only a domestic flight.

What you can't do is leave US without an AP card or GC, which you already know, I guess.

Just a heads up though, avoid states by the borders when your I-94 expired or after 90 days of your POE date.

[nobbie 105]

No need to wait for an NOA receipt, as long as you have ID you will be fine for your trip. I was advised to stay within the continental US ie, dont go to Hawaii or Alaska or anywhere you may come in contact with CBP eg borders a stated above. Going from Ca to Seattle should not be an issue. When you travel as a tourist in the US no-one checks your immigration status so no reason for them to in your situation. Go visit your family

[sweet cakes 326]

No need to wait for an NOA receipt, as long as you have ID you will be fine for your trip. I was advised to stay within the continental US ie, dont go to Hawaii or Alaska or anywhere you may come in contact with CBP eg borders a stated above. Going from Ca to Seattle should not be an issue. When you travel as a tourist in the US no-one checks your immigration status so no reason for them to in your situation. Go visit your family

Hawaii and Alaska are fine. My husband and I had our honeymoon in Hawaii and stayed there for 14 days. Hawaii is also a POE of choice of most people from Asia.

As long as one's I-94 is valid, there should be no worries in any state of America. I won't say the same thing about US territories though, like Puerto Rico. Once the I-94 expired and the K-1 has filed AOS, a NOA for AOS filing is what gives a K-1 a new authorized stay. It is highly recommended for K-1s staying at the border states to bring a NOA copy along with their passport everywhere they go, as CBP patrol officers actively and randomly check public transports like buses.

Edited May 7, 2014 by sweet cakes

[carocaro 22]

Hawaii and Alaska are fine. My husband and I had our honeymoon in Hawaii and stayed there for 14 days. Hawaii is also a POE of choice of most people from Asia.

As long as one's I-94 is valid, there should be no worries in any state of America. I won't say the same thing about US territories though, like Puerto Rico. Once the I-94 expired and the K-1 has filed AOS, a NOA for AOS filing is what gives a K-1 a new authorized stay. It is highly recommended for K-1s staying at the border states to bring a NOA copy along with their passport everywhere they go, as CBP patrol officers actively and randomly check public transports like buses.

Border patrol officers even pulling over vehicles and then asking occupants who are not US Citizens to provide their documentation. It happened to us in New Mexico about 20 miles from the border. I was carrying my Green Card. Driving from Phoenix to Tucson we are regularly stopped at check points for same reason. Perhaps not as much of a concern in northern states.

Caro

[sweet cakes 326]

Border patrol officers even pulling over vehicles and then asking occupants who are not US Citizens to provide their documentation. It happened to us in New Mexico about 20 miles from the border. I was carrying my Green Card. Driving from Phoenix to Tucson we are regularly stopped at check points for same reason. Perhaps not as much of a concern in northern states.

Caro

Thanks for this information. I have only read of an experience here before where the border patrol officers checked a public bus and then detained a K-1 visa holder, who hasn't filed AOS yet and with an expired I-94.

Yeah, totally agree that it is not really a concern on most states far from the border. But just the same, people should not be that complacent.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I'm an approved K1 visa holder and will be making my POE in the next few weeks. I will be doing my court wedding within days of entry and will be filing for AOS asap.

I will be residing in California and would like to travel to Seattle to meet with family. Just want to be 100% certain that I can travel anywhere within the US upon entry using K1 and while ap is pending. Or do i need AP to be approved and have documentation before traveling within the US?

You can go anywhere you wish in any of the 50 states. Make sure you have your passport with you when you travel. Don't worry. Good luck!