Does AP count as a "US visa" for the purposes of traveling to other countries?

[Hemutian 68]

My specific situation is this: My wife is a Chinese citizen. She came here on K1, her AP was just approved, and she's still waiting for the Green Card.

At some point this year, we'd like to travel to Mexico together. According to this Mexican government website:
 

Quote

 

A foreigner who submits any of the following documents will not require a Mexican visa:

 

a) Document proving permanent residence in Canada, the United States of America, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, any of the countries that make up the Schengen Area, as well as in the member countries of the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia and Peru).

b) Valid and in force visa from Canada, the United States of America, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or any of the countries that make up the Schengen Area.

 

 

I don't think a) is true in my wife's case, since she doesn't have the Green Card yet. Just AP alone doesn't constitute permanent residence, right?

So my main question is: is b) true in my wife's case? Does her AP card act as a valid and in force US visa for the purposes of traveling to other countries like Mexico here?

 

Finally, yes I realize there's a pandemic going on right now, and that the US-Mexico border is closed until further notice. 

We'll wait until the pandemic is under control before taking this trip. 

This is just a research question for future purposes. 

 

 

Hopefully the answer to this question is useful to others contemplating travel during the AOS process, and not just to Chinese citizens wishing to travel to Mexico.

 

Thanks!

[Loren Y 2,755]

My wife who holds Thai citizenship came with me to Mexico twice on just her AP card. We went to the Mexico embassy in Las Vegas because I thought she needed a Visa also, got all the way to the window and the lady said she has AP, you don't need a visa, we had no problems entering Via land ( San Ysidro) and via Cruise ship. We went to Mexico in November, then again in February I believe, no issues with just the AP card.

 

I believe the AP card falls under a valid and in force Visa from the United States of America. We had no issues land or sea, didn't fly into Mexico yet though.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Loren Y

[Hemutian 68]

10 hours ago, Loren Y said:

My wife who holds Thai citizenship came with me to Mexico twice on just her AP card. We went to the Mexico embassy in Las Vegas because I thought she needed a Visa also, got all the way to the window and the lady said she has AP, you don't need a visa, we had no problems entering Via land ( San Ysidro) and via Cruise ship. We went to Mexico in November, then again in February I believe, no issues with just the AP card.

 

I believe the AP card falls under a valid and in force Visa from the United States of America. We had no issues land or sea, didn't fly into Mexico yet though.

This is good information. Thanks much.