AP Card/ Restricted GC

[llindsay 21]

I'm not sure if anyone has a answer to this question but I will ask anyways. When you fiancé arrives and you get married and do the proper forms ( AOS,EAD, AP), can you take your fiancé on a Cruise? Like going on a carnival or royal Caribbean cruiseline that leaves from florida and comes back to florida? I know if your a us citizen passports isn't required for a cruise as long as your coming back to the same port that you leave from that's in the usa you can have a drivers license and birth certificate but passports is whats recommended. Now I know of this cause I was a travel agent for 10 years but I was curious since no passport is required by us citizen can a restricted gc holder do this as well even thou she isn't a permanent gc holder until 2 years without restriction? If know one knows the answer then I guess I will call the us embassy on this one.

Thanks

[Caryh 5,206]

She will need her passport, that option is only available to USCs.

If you're going to any ports of call, she will likely also need a visa for entry. Green card holders have an easier time of it, but that does not extend to AP holders. You'll need to check each country specifically.

[sweet cakes 326]

I'm not sure if anyone has a answer to this question but I will ask anyways. When you fiancé arrives and you get married and do the proper forms ( AOS,EAD, AP), can you take your fiancé on a Cruise? Like going on a carnival or royal Caribbean cruiseline that leaves from florida and comes back to florida? I know if your a us citizen passports isn't required for a cruise as long as your coming back to the same port that you leave from that's in the usa you can have a drivers license and birth certificate but passports is whats recommended. Now I know of this cause I was a travel agent for 10 years but I was curious since no passport is required by us citizen can a restricted gc holder do this as well even thou she isn't a permanent gc holder until 2 years without restriction? If know one knows the answer then I guess I will call the us embassy on this one.

Thanks

Depends on the destination points. If it goes out of US, then no (until she gets her GC). My husband and I went to NCL Pride of America cruise around the islands of Hawaii. I did not encounter any issue at all.

Edit: Once she has her GC, she could go. But have to check if PH citizens are required to apply visa for entry to each port of destination.

Edited May 19, 2014 by sweet cakes

[llindsay 21]

Depends on the destination points. If it goes out of US, then no (until she gets her GC). My husband and I went to NCL Pride of America cruise around the islands of Hawaii. I did not encounter any issue at all.

Edit: Once she has her GC, she could go. But have to check if PH citizens are required to apply visa for entry to each port of destination.

Yeah I know we can probable do the ncl Hawaii cruise cause you are always on us territory so that may be the only option we have until she gets her permanent gc...

[sweet cakes 326]

Yeah I know we can probable do the ncl Hawaii cruise cause you are always on us territory so that may be the only option we have until she gets her permanent gc...

We were also looking at the other cruise destination options, but seems like the Hawaii cruise was our safest bet. Or maybe anybody here has other ideas we missed.

[cathy2904 97]

I'm not sure if this is what you are asking, but once she has her conditional green card she has the same travel rights as a 10 year green card holder. In both cases she would need a visa if that country required one from PH citizens.

[llindsay 21]

I'm not sure if this is what you are asking, but once she has her conditional green card she has the same travel rights as a 10 year green card holder. In both cases she would need a visa if that country required one from PH citizens.

yes that is what im asking...yes I know all about calling each embassy of the port of call to make sure she doesn't need a visa for that country...thanks

[cathy2904 97]

Well then there are no restrictions on her travel that would not also apply to a 10 year GC holder.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

It is not a restricted green card. There is nothing you cannot do with a 2 year conditional green card that you can with a 10 year green card. They work exactly the same way, with all the same benefits of being a permanent resident. The only difference is that you must file to remove the conditions within 90 days before the conditional card expires. The conditions are that the marriage is a valid one and the relationship was not for immigration purposes only. When you file for ROC, you will be providing evidence that your marriage has been, and is legitimate and real. Proving that gets you a 10 year green card.

[Pitaya 2,577]

A Form I-1551 is also known as a "Green Card." There is not a "restricted" Green Card. There is a "conditional" Green Card that is valid for 2 years. There is also a Green Card that is valid for 10 years. The only difference between the two Green Cards are the respective allotted expiration limits.

[llindsay 21]

A Form I-1551 is also known as a "Green Card." There is not a "restricted" Green Card. There is a "conditional" Green Card that is valid for 2 years. There is also a Green Card that is valid for 10 years. The only difference between the two Green Cards are the respective allotted expiration limits.

So based on what you said she will have a conditional GC for the first 2 years and with that we can take a cruise on Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise as long as the ports we are visiting doesn't require a visa for a Philippine citizen?

[Tahoma 2,292]

A cruise that begins and ends in the U.S. is known as a "closed-loop" cruise, even if the cruise includes foreign ports of call. To go on a closed-loop cruise, your wife will need her Philippines passport (which won't expire for at least six months from the date of the cruise), her conditional green card, and possibly your marriage certificate. If her passport and her conditional green card have different names on them, your marriage certificate would bridge name difference.

To find out whether your wife will need a visa to visit foreign ports of call, simply call the cruise lines and ask them. Also, if your wife has her advanced parole, but doesn't have her conditional green card, ask the cruise line about that issue.

When Chinook had her green card, we took a closed-loop cruise to Alaska which began and ended in Seattle, but had a stop in Canada. Chinook had no problem using her Philippines passport which was in her maiden name, and her green card which was in her married name. She was never asked for our marriage certificate, but we had it with us just in case. Canada does not require green card holders to have a visitors visa, so Chinook had no problem with that issue.

The bottom line: the cruise line determines who boards the ship.

[blk 87]

So based on what you said she will have a conditional GC for the first 2 years and with that we can take a cruise on Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise as long as the ports we are visiting doesn't require a visa for a Philippine citizen?

If you are married for less than 2 years when the Green Card is issued it will be a conditional one valid for two years. Then 90 days before the 2 year anniversary you have to apply for ROC & if approved then a 10 year Green Card is issued.

The Green Card with her passport are used to get back into the USA, it's proof of her right of residency & right to work in the USA. You don't need to show it to get out of the USA, or to enter another country. Her passport is for that, plus any Visa's that are needed to enter any of the country's that the ship visits.

[Pitaya 2,577]

So based on what you said she will have a conditional GC for the first 2 years and with that we can take a cruise on Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise as long as the ports we are visiting doesn't require a visa for a Philippine citizen?

All I am saying is she will have a 2-yr conditional Green card.

The visa issue is a totally different problem.

[Caryh 5,206]

If you are married for less than 2 years when the Green Card is issued it will be a conditional one valid for two years. Then 90 days before the 2 year anniversary you have to apply for ROC & if approved then a 10 year Green Card is issued.

The Green Card with her passport are used to get back into the USA, it's proof of her right of residency & right to work in the USA. You don't need to show it to get out of the USA, or to enter another country. Her passport is for that, plus any Visa's that are needed to enter any of the country's that the ship visits.

Some countries allow USA green card holders entry without a visa, when normally their passport country of origin would normally requires a visa. Those countries are Canada, Mexico, and come Caribbean countries.