can you go on a cruise as a K1 visa holder?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

10 minutes ago, Tacos said:

So I can cross Maui off for the places to honeymoon. 

You can cross the entire state of Hawaii off of your honeymoon list unless you plan on quarantining yourself for 14 days..

[Loren Y 2,755]

As others have stated, Cruises are off limits until you have advanced parole card in hand. I do cruises just about every 3 months and are very familiar with the rules, as I had to know as my wife came on a K1. The cruises you are thinking of that usually leave out of Galvaston,TX and Miami, FL are considered close loop cruises. Us citizens and LPR's or AP card holders can take these without a passport. These are possible because of the Western Hemisphere Travel initiative, I will include a link to it later in this post. It allows certain people to travel within a certain area, and enter certain countries without a passport. Also allows re-entry into the US without a actual Passport. My now wife and I did 2 cruises while on her AP card and had issues both times with the cruise line accepting her AP card as a legit travel document as most of them were not familiar with AP( but at all cruise ports CBP is readily available and both times officers were able to tell the cruise line she would be able to re-enter) Sorry, no cruise in your immediate future, but I speak from lots of experience, and actual cruises taken over the past year with how it works. Now, the loophole that exists that I haven't personally tried, but was informed it could work was that a " Enhanced state ID card" or " Real ID" would be a qualified travel document, it even mentions it in the link I will send you, but I still wouldn't risk it. You can get a real ID as a K1 visa holder ( My wife did) but still not worth the risk. Link below.....

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

Edited May 17, 2020 by Loren Y

[HRQX 4,145]

23 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

but was informed it could work was that a " Enhanced state ID card" or " Real ID" would be a qualified travel document, it even mentions it in the link I will send you, but I still wouldn't risk it. You can get a real ID as a K1 visa holder ( My wife did) but still not worth the risk. Link below.....

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

Real ID isn't a qualified document for WHTI travel unless it's also an EDL/EID. The DL or ID must specifically be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID). In the US, only Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, New York, and Washington state issue EDL/EID; and the individual must be a US citizen. In Canada, only British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec issue EDL/EID; and the individual must be a Canadian citizen.

[Thefiance 3]

@Natchy_101  

please be advised, even if people say its ok to cruise even on a closed loop i would strongly advise against it. i work for a very famous cruise line company and i can tell you its not worth the risk. i've seen people deported right from the port to the airport for breaking laws they had no idea even existed. even if its a  US territory and God forbid you have to disembark on the next American port, you still face hindrances like the "jones act" and if the CBP aren't in a good mood (experienced it first hand) it's another problem. save the romantic honeymoon for later or go to places that don't involve ships at least

[SalishSea 17,928]

6 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

I would strike cruises off that list for a few years.......in fact, I would delay the honeymoon travel for at least a year.

Honestly, I didn't think any cruise lines had resumed operations after the huge debacles with stranded ships.

[Natchy_101 0]

thank you guys so much! I really appreciate your input as I am trying to navigate this whole process 😃 Best wishes to all the visa journeys here.