Flying inside the US After K1 before AOS/Green card

[ucijeepguy 3]

Hey guys,

I have a question relating to the time in between K1 and AOS with green card. my wife and I were planning to fly to Las Vegas, but have concerns with having a valid ID to fly. She has her drivers license on the way (passed the test!) but not sure if it expires due to the k1 expiring. if that is not valid and the visa is not valid will she be able to fly within the continental united states? Not sure how big of a problem this will be.

Edited January 21, 2016 by ucijeepguy

[Merrytooth 5,748]

She can use her unexpired passport.

[Dashinka 24,508]

Yes, use her passport, just make sure the airline tickets match her name in the passport. We traveled inside the US several times during this period and my wife always used her passport for identification.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Hey guys,

I have a question relating to the time in between K1 and AOS with green card. my wife and I were planning to fly to Las Vegas, but have concerns with having a valid ID to fly. She has her drivers license on the way (passed the test!) but not sure if it expires due to the k1 expiring. if that is not valid and the visa is not valid will she be able to fly within the continental united states? Not sure how big of a problem this will be.

If she got her license based on her K1 then yes, it will expire when the K1 expires. She should use her passport.

[newacct 688]

p.s. make sure to also bring her I-485 receipt, in the unlikely case she runs into any CBP checkpoints.

[CheDan 4]

Hey guys,

I have a question relating to the time in between K1 and AOS with green card. my wife and I were planning to fly to Las Vegas, but have concerns with having a valid ID to fly. She has her drivers license on the way (passed the test!) but not sure if it expires due to the k1 expiring. if that is not valid and the visa is not valid will she be able to fly within the continental united states? Not sure how big of a problem this will be.

Just use her passport.. We flew to Florida and New york for our honeymoon and I only used my passport for identification.. The ticket should be same with her passport.

[MariaR323 199]

Yes, use her passport, just make sure the airline tickets match her name in the passport. We traveled inside the US several times during this period and my wife always used her passport for identification.

I ran into this post and thought I'd ask/chime in...

So if the K-1 beneficiary enters the U.S., gets married, changes their last name and then files for AOS... in the meantime, they should still use their previous (last) name as shown on the original passport for air travel within the U.S.?

Wouldn't it be more correct to use their now official married (last) name and still show the original passport with previous last name but also show a copy of the marriage certificate stating the name change if asked why the last name doesn't match?

Better yet, they should probably have a new passport issued with their now married last name, right?

[aaron2020 11,651]

I ran into this post and thought I'd ask/chime in...

So if the K-1 beneficiary enters the U.S., gets married, changes their last name and then files for AOS... in the meantime, they should still use their previous (last) name as shown on the original passport for air travel within the U.S.? Yes because it's easier to fly with the name on an acceptable ID than to fly with an ID that doesn't match and having to carry a copy of the marriage certificate. Traveling needing one document is better than traveling needing two. Why should it matter if she uses her maiden name to fly when it matches her foreign passport? Flying domestic has nothing to do with immigration.

Wouldn't it be more correct to use their now official married (last) name and still show the original passport with previous last name but also show a copy of the marriage certificate stating the name change if asked why the last name doesn't match? Airlines have nothing to do with immigration. Why complicate traveling when it has no impact on immigration? They could do this but it's not necessary.

Better yet, they should probably have a new passport issued with their now married last name, right? No need to do that to fly.

Edited January 22, 2016 by aaron2020

[MariaR323 199]

True, I was just thinking out loud in case it mattered at all for anything down the line in the future. Thanks!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Working and Traveling During US Immigration Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum.~

[Dashinka 24,508]

True, I was just thinking out loud in case it mattered at all for anything down the line in the future. Thanks!

It can definitely matter down the line. Airline check-in agents are not experts with the immigration process, and it can be very difficult to change passport names in many countries, so if someone does change their name after marriage, it is usually much easier to book flights with the name on the passport to avoid issues when checking-in and getting through airport security. If you fly internationally, you should keep a copy of the marriage certificate with you for re-entry, but many times no one asks as USCIS doesn't always compare boarding passes with ID when going through immigration. They are more interested with you legal documents allowing entry into the US which would be your AP or GC.