Taking a cruise to Hawaii that stops in Mexico before Advance Parole...??

[aaron2020 11,651]

36 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

Incorrect

 

I just got off a cruise ship 2 days ago, all I showed was my DL

 

Same thing for my wife, she is non citizen with expired GC and expired extension letter, she only has i551 in her passport.  We just used the DL as ID

 

I have done the same thing using a DL on another cruise years ago with a different chick who was a non citizen, but had DL. 

 

All you need is a DL if it a closed loop tour

 

 

Neither of you were in the same position as the OP. 

 

He is a K-1 visa holder trying to reenter the US without AP.  Vastly different from a US citizen with an EDL or green card holder with an I-551.  

 

The bottom line is that the OP leaving the US without AP will be a reason to deny his AOS and leave him stuck.  

[Valor 131]

I was almost denied boarding a cruise ship two years ago even I HAD my AP at that time. The cruise agent(a major cruise line) had never heard of Advance Parole and insisted that I must have a valid VISA on my passport to board the ship. She ended up taking my EAD/AP card to the U.S. custom next door and ask them about the information. And it was a closed loop tour.  

Edited December 29, 2018 by Valor

[payxibka 10,047]

3 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

IF you had a US driver licenses you could make it happen, if not US Driver licenses I wouldn't do it.

 

That's all you need for a closed loop tour

 

 

Since the op was planning an open loop tour this info is irrelevant

[DustyM 0]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Depends on the State but normally you need your EAD first.

I applied to do my Montana Driving Licence but was told that I couldnt do it because I had not yet got my green card, and my K1 visa only lasted for 90 days. The DMV were very helpful and explained that I could drive on my UK licence for a year, and I did not have to have the EAD to take US test once my temporary green card had been granted

[Boiler 46,033]

4 minutes ago, DustyM said:

I applied to do my Montana Driving Licence but was told that I couldnt do it because I had not yet got my green card, and my K1 visa only lasted for 90 days. The DMV were very helpful and explained that I could drive on my UK licence for a year, and I did not have to have the EAD to take US test once my temporary green card had been granted

Visitors can usually drive for a year, new residents have a much shorter period to get a DL.

[kris&me 572]

K1 allows 1 time entry

anything over 3 miles out is international waters

you can fly to Hawaii as domestice

but you can not enter Hawaii after leaving the US or back into any US port as you have used your visa

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

1 hour ago, payxibka said:

Since the op was planning an open loop tour this info is irrelevant

Good point

 

I didn't catch the part where he said it started in Mexico, I thought it said he was going to a port in mexico on the way to Hawaii

 

 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

8 minutes ago, kris&me said:

K1 allows 1 time entry

anything over 3 miles out is international waters

you can fly to Hawaii as domestice

but you can not enter Hawaii after leaving the US or back into any US port as you have used your visa

So can go to and enter initially in Hawaii, and then fly to Las Vegas to get married?

 

I would have to disagree with you on that one, as it is considered domestic flight.

[geowrian 22,338]

The issue is departing the US w/o AP or a green card. Regardless of the documentation requirements for boarding, departing the US can result in AOS being deemed abandoned and/or not being permitted into the US.

A flight is a different beast, but faces similar issues if the flight gets diverted and lands outside the US.

[Ontarkie 14,440]

~~Moved to Working an Traveling, from K1 P&P - As this is not a K1 processing question.~~

[JFH 12,191]

34 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

So can go to and enter initially in Hawaii, and then fly to Las Vegas to get married?

 

I would have to disagree with you on that one, as it is considered domestic flight.

I think she is referring to a cruise that sails from California to Hawaii. Whilst a flight of this distance would be domestic, the sea is international waters. Air and sea have different issues. 

[ineedadisplayname 503]

10 hours ago, peanutismint said:

This might be a really dumb question so bear with me....

 

I'm British, final stages of K1 visa. Hopefully getting married/moving to USA in a few months and thinking about a cruise to Hawaii for our honeymoon, but a lot of the ones we're looking at stop off at a port in Mexico (outside of the US). Does anyone know whether this will cause me to abandon the green card process? Or can I just stay on the ship and not have to technically enter Mexico/leave the USA?!

I would call the CBP or USCIS and ask. I know you can fly to Hawaii or a matter of fact to Alaska but it has to be a non stop flight from the other 48 states without stopping anywhere outside of those states. Even if you fly there is a risk of the plane being diverted due to weather or mechanical problem and you might end up outside of the USA and then there is no return back without an AP.

 

Not sure about the ship. There is the international water part or if the ship stops at other countries.... I would advise against taking a cruse until you have the AP or greencard...

 

Let us know if you get some official information about going to Hawaii or Alaska by boat...

[ineedadisplayname 503]

7 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

IF you had a US driver licenses you could make it happen, if not US Driver licenses I wouldn't do it.

 

That's all you need for a closed loop tour

 

 

I don't think so...

 

"If you are not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. LPR, you will need a passport and/or the appropriate documentation based on the status you are seeking in the U.S. for any type of cruise, closed loop or not"

 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/74/kw/Closed loop Hawaii cruise

[ineedadisplayname 503]

5 hours ago, peanutismint said:

Thanks, good to know. I've always just driven on my UK license on previous visits but now that I'm emigrating will probably go the whole hog and get a state license; not sure how long they take to arrive but hopefully sooner than an advance parole permission :--) 

You can wish for it, but most states nowadays require you to have an EAD or green card to get a DL.... Not sure which state you reside in, worth a try.

Btw you can get a DL on K1 but that would expire in 90 days from your date of entering the country. After that I don't think you can use your UK DL because you have an expired US one...

 

Honestly I would not risk it without the AP. It is your choice, but I would not trust ppl saying on forums that they know somebody who came back using only a DL. A lot of non residents can get DL like work visa, student visa, etc which are MULTIPLE re entry visas not like the K1 so the can leave the country and come back while their visa is valid. Your K1 visa is void at the moment you got stamped at the border when you arrived to the states.

Edited December 29, 2018 by ineedadisplayname

[ineedadisplayname 503]

5 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

Incorrect

 

I just got off a cruise ship 2 days ago, all I showed was my DL

 

Same thing for my wife, she is non citizen with expired GC and expired extension letter, she only has i551 in her passport.  We just used the DL as ID

 

I have done the same thing using a DL on another cruise years ago with a different chick who was a non citizen, but had DL. 

 

All you need is a DL if it a closed loop tour

 

 

Expired GC doesn't mean that she is out of status!!!!!!!  It means that she has an expired GC and she probably renewing it by now... That is far from different of not having a status at all!!!! Your wife with the expired GC is still a resident!

 

May I ask if the chick was a student or had a work visa? Those are multiple entry visas so they can leave the country and come back during the validity of the visa. The K1 visa is a single entry visa and it's void at the moment you entered the country.

 

Btw I am pretty sure by checking your DL they can see your immigration status in their computers at the border....

 

 

Edited December 29, 2018 by ineedadisplayname