Got Married, preparing AoS, wanting to honeymoon in Hawaii, is passport needed?

[ALIENRJ187 43]

Stupid question I know, but she doesn't have a permanent resident card and it worries me. We just got married and are preparing our AoS packet. It will be finished and sent out a few weeks before the trip in February. She has a US ID card and we are planning to travel to Hawaii and back from the continental US. We will not be going out of country, only from WA to Hawaii and back with no international stopovers. Will she require any additional paperwork?

I don't think passports are necessary since its US state to US state, but just her status is what worries me. Don't want any problems in the airport.

[JFH 12,190]

Is it not possible to wait until after the trip to send off your AoS packet? Just to be on the safe side...

I have travelled on many domestic US flights with just a UK drivers license. Government issued and has a photo - that's all that's needed. At the moment anyway. The way things are going, who knows what we will need to get on a plane in the future.

[Alajoofori 0]

She needs to carry her passport EVERYWHERE she goes, as she is not a US citizen. She doesn't have to have a permenant resident card to travel within the US but once she has it she needs to carry a copy (never the origional) with her where ever she goes, even in your home town, it's the law. She must carry her passport with her just like you are required to do so when visiting a foriegn country as she's not a permenant resident yet. It contains the I 94 that shows her port of entry to the United States to validate she is legally in the United States. Traveling within the US should not be an issue but with all the increased security by TSA at the airports I would hate to see her turned away for not having her passport and I 94. ( I was previously married to a immigrant so base this post on information provided when my husband entered the states)

[NikLR 13,227]

She needs to carry her passport EVERYWHERE she goes, as she is not a US citizen. She doesn't have to have a permenant resident card to travel within the US but once she has it she needs to carry a copy (never the origional) with her where ever she goes, even in your home town, it's the law. She must carry her passport with her just like you are required to do so when visiting a foriegn country as she's not a permenant resident yet. It contains the I 94 that shows her port of entry to the United States to validate she is legally in the United States. Traveling within the US should not be an issue but with all the increased security by TSA at the airports I would hate to see her turned away for not having her passport and I 94. ( I was previously married to a immigrant so base this post on information provided when my husband entered the states)

No she does not. She just needs government issued ID. She has state ID and that's all that's needed to travel domestically.

Legally she should carry her green card (not a copy) after it's issued. Many people don't however, because they have state ID and the green card is expensive to replace.

[ALIENRJ187 43]

No she does not. She just needs government issued ID. She has state ID and that's all that's needed to travel domestically.

Legally she should carry her green card (not a copy) after it's issued. Many people don't however, because they have state ID and the green card is expensive to replace.

This is what I was thinking, I'm just being extra concerned because I don't want anything to happen in the airport. Every domestic flight I've ever taken has only required a state issued ID card which she now has, so it should be fine. The AoS paperwork would be sent out before the trip if that makes any difference.

Edited January 2, 2016 by ALIENRJ187

[Alajoofori 0]

USCIS officer told my husband at AOS interview to carry a copy of his green card unless he needs the origional for verification purposes (I.E. employment) as they are very expensive to replace :-)

The law of carrying registration papers (I 94) is stated as follows:

The law requires individuals over the age of 18 to carry their "registration" documents with them at all times.

INA Section 264(e) reads

"(e) Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both."

As stated in my first reply, I am basing this information as given to my immigrant husband by Homeland Security officer and information provided with his I 94 document. This same information is explained in detail at this website:

http://www.visaservices.duke.edu/TravelWithinUS.html#q2

[NikLR 13,227]

She could carry her I-94, but the CBP can look at it if they want. Since she's not leaving the country the point is rather moot. Carrying her passport is overkill. The only thing in her passport is the K1 visa which is no longer valid because it's been used.

State ID is fine.

I'll take the $100 fine over the $450 replacement card thanks.

But you do what you want to do and feel is right and correct.

[neoblast 138]

Traveling inside the country requires a gov issued idea including your foreign passport and driver's license. I traveled to Las Vegas with my passport and Quebec license no problem. I don't have a Florida driver's license yet.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I've travelled domestically using my Ontario health card before

[NikLR 13,227]

I travel just fine with my CO driver's license. I go through TSA more often than I travel to pick up my kid at the airport and it works great then too.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Gee folks. Started with really bad answers. Thank goodness the regular posters came on with real answers.

This is a domestic flight. Hawaii is a US state. No one is leaving the US. There is no CBP for domestic flights.

OP's wife is here legally. She can travel through all 50 states and other US territories.

All she needs is a valid ID to fly. She has a state ID.

There is no problem.

[Unidentified 2,930]

She needs to carry her passport EVERYWHERE she goes, as she is not a US citizen. She doesn't have to have a permenant resident card to travel within the US but once she has it she needs to carry a copy (never the origional) with her where ever she goes, even in your home town, it's the law. She must carry her passport with her just like you are required to do so when visiting a foriegn country as she's not a permenant resident yet. It contains the I 94 that shows her port of entry to the United States to validate she is legally in the United States. Traveling within the US should not be an issue but with all the increased security by TSA at the airports I would hate to see her turned away for not having her passport and I 94. ( I was previously married to a immigrant so base this post on information provided when my husband entered the states)

This is the worst advice ever. You do NOT WALK AROUND with your passport 24/7. That's how it gets lost or stolen and then someone else uses it... When you travel abroad YOU DO NOT walk around with your passport. That's why most hotels offer safe deposit boxes for your passport... There is no law that tells you to carry around your passport so you can lose it and give it to someone who will use it for really bad stuff.

She can travel on her US ID without any issues.

[Jawaree 717]

It is a domestic flight, however I would advice her having a copy of of PP/1-94

copy of marriage cert and of course her valid Gov ID...Laws changes everyday

in light of current situations...be prepared....last wk they announced they are

thinking about requiring PP to get on a plane even for Domestic flights (Its not

yet implemented) Border patrol tend to regularly now do airport spot checks

especially PR & Hawaii flights, of course this is not on a daily basis

[Unidentified 2,930]

It is a domestic flight, however I would advice her having a copy of of PP/1-94

copy of marriage cert and of course her valid Gov ID...Laws changes everyday

in light of current situations...be prepared....last wk they announced they are

thinking about requiring PP to get on a plane even for Domestic flights (Its not

yet implemented) Border patrol tend to regularly now do airport spot checks

especially PR & Hawaii flights, of course this is not on a daily basis

Passport only applies if you live in a state where the ID's doesn't measure up to the "Safe ID standards". As far as I know only 4 states do not have ID's that measure up to those standards: Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.

[Mike&Imelda 3]

Stupid question I know, but she doesn't have a permanent resident card and it worries me. We just got married and are preparing our AoS packet. It will be finished and sent out a few weeks before the trip in February. She has a US ID card and we are planning to travel to Hawaii and back from the continental US. We will not be going out of country, only from WA to Hawaii and back with no international stopovers. Will she require any additional paperwork?

I don't think passports are necessary since its US state to US state, but just her status is what worries me. Don't want any problems in the airport.

We just went to and from Hawaii (Oahu) with her ID (coming back on 12/24). No immigration documents were needed. The TSA doesn't even blink an eye. No problems. In fact, my wife has flown with me 3 times now domestically, and we have never had 1 second of a problem.

Also, I am TSA-pre screened. Because I bought her ticket with mine, she also gets the TSA-pre clearance and goes with me through the TSA pre-screen line.

(First 2 times she was on a K-1/I94; last time she had an AOS on file but no green card yet. But again, they never checked this.)

Edited January 2, 2016 by Mike&Imelda