Can you travel to Costa Rica for a honeymoon?

[Sunnyland 639]

OP,  if a honeymoon is so important then travel to Florida or even souther...The Florida Keys. You will enjoy a nice weather and won't leave the US territory. Costa Rica does not belong to U.S. so we all advise you not to leave the U.S until Advance Parole or Green Card in hand. Otherwise you will be facing a very high % of not being allowed to re-enter.

The fun ride does not end with the approval of K1, it begins there.  One of the "pitfalls" of K1 is that after arriving in the U.S, marrying and applying for AOS (with EAD and AP included), you should not be leaving the country until receiving at least the AP which can take a few months.

 

Read the very complete guide for AOS (from K1) that you can find on this website.

 

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

[cd37 229]

5 hours ago, geowrian said:

We waited until my wife had AP for Hawaii even...in case the flight got diverted.

FYI: Hawaii is fine either way even if flight gets diverted. In that case the nearest diversion from hawaii is California or any other west coast state. All overwater flights are operated under ETOPS. So hawaii is always fine.

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

21 hours ago, Tracey&Terence said:

Oh OK. What if you haven't filed for AOS yet? Can you not enter with an ESTA? 

you should try to file for aos ap and ead right away.. its taking super long now days (ead/ap like 5+ months) 

[JFH 12,190]

A valuable lesson also for others contemplating whether to pursue a K-1 or a CR-1. As you have discovered, a K-1 (especially for VWP folks) is nothing more than an overpriced tourist visa that lets you stay in the USA if you follow certain very strict rules. Break one of the rules and it's game over. 

[Sunnyland 639]

OP, did you end up going to Costa Rica? Did they let you in in the US? 

[Tracey&Terence 19]

On 30/04/2018 at 12:34 PM, Sunnyland said:

OP, did you end up going to Costa Rica? Did they let you in in the US? 

No, we decided against it in the end. Wasn't worth the risk. We will file for AOS as soon as we receive our marriage license. We specifically wanted Costa Rica as our friend has a hotel there. Thanks everyone for responding. 

[Sunnyland 639]

Ok. Great decision. When you file for AOS also include the forms for employment authorization and the travel document (AP). The AP will take a couple months to get approved and once in hand, just then you guys can travel to Costa Rica for honeymoon. Remember greencard is taking 1 year or more.