K1 to AOS - Is it risky to travel to a border state?

[serret 55]

Hi,

 

I’ve recently moved here with a K1 visa. I landed in the US on September 3 and we got married on September 16. We sent our AOS package on October 11.

 

We live in Minnesota. For Thanksgiving we want to fly to El Paso, Texas to spend the holiday with my husband’s brother and his family. My husband’s brother will be moving abroad soon and we probably won’t be able to see him for a year or two. 
 

I don’t want to be apart from family but I also don’t want to risk my AOS by going that close to the US-Mexican border. Especially since we’re also going by air. My gut feeling says not to do it but I also tend to be a scaredy cat so I might also be exaggerating. So please tell me fellow visa journey members, is this a risky move?

Edited October 15, 2023 by serret

[Crazy Cat 41,833]

Your I-485 receipt is proof that you have authorized stay in the US.  

[ineedadisplayname 496]

1 hour ago, serret said:

Hi,

 

I’ve recently moved here with a K1 visa. I landed in the US on September 3 and we got married on September 16. We sent our AOS package on October 11.

 

We live in Minnesota. For Thanksgiving we want to fly to El Paso, Texas to spend the holiday with my husband’s brother and his family. My husband’s brother will be moving abroad soon and we probably won’t be able to see him for a year or two. 
 

I don’t want to be apart from family but I also don’t want to risk my AOS by going that close to the US-Mexican border. Especially since we’re also going by air. My gut feeling says not to do it but I also tend to be a scaredy cat so I might also be exaggerating. So please tell me fellow visa journey members, is this a risky move?

As long as you are not leaving the USA you will be fine. (So do not cross the land crossing in El Paso. In any circumstances DO NOT go over to Mexico, not even for lunch or dinner, check out the area and so on. It is easy to leave, hard to come back)

Bring your passport and the I-485 receipt with you.

 

If you all driving around Texas or just outside of El Paso make sure you have these on you because there are US Border Patrol Checkpoints within the US where they will pull cars over and check ids/ may ask people in the car if they are citizens.  (Some of these checkpoints are even on google maps lol, if you search for US Border Patrol Checkpoint or immigration checkpoint)

 

Never lie. If the officer asks probably the people you are traveling with in the car (your husband/friends/family) will be citizens and even if it is inconvenient for them you should point out that you are not a us citizen and if asked provide your documentation Probably if they asks for ids it will be obvious to the officer that you are not a citizen.

 

Most of the time these checkpoints are painless and fast since there are a bunch of cameras (at the bigger ones) so it scans license plate etc so they will know at least who owns the car and probably the owner's info.

 

Been through 2 different checkpoints multiple times in the last couple of years in south Texas, close to the gulf. (I was already a resident at that time). My experience was fine. The longest I've been there at a small checkpoint it was like 5 minutes because it was like super duper close to the boarder and the officer was interested of what I was doing down there because I don't live in Texas + checked my green card and there were literary 0 traffic behind me. The other 3 times they didn't even ask if I was a citizen or not, just gave them my driver's license, got it back in like 15 seconds and drove away.

 

Noticed that it's definitely helps if you "look american" unfortunately.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by ineedadisplayname