Honeymoon (out of US)

[CharlieTanger 76]

My fiancé and I would like to go on a cruise in the carribean for our honeymoon after we marry and apply for adjustment of status. Since my fiancé is changing name to my last name the day we marry. How would this be possible with passport, visa, airline, cruise line, etc. issues? Is it possible? Are we allowed to leave the country on a cruise for our honeymoon while on adjustment of status? What should we do to ensure that everything runs smoothly?

[clairegie 265]

If you have your EAD/AP combo card by then you shouldn't have any issues. Just bring your marriage certificate if her passport etc is still showing maiden name.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You must have a combo card or a green card for your spouse to return to the US after the cruise or you will have to file a CR1 visa and wait for a year to be back together after the cruise. The K1 allows her into the country once, leaving without the above means the AOS is abandoned and without the above a CR1 is the way back into the US.

[VOL 425]

Check into Closed Loop Cruise and research.

My wife was from PHilippines and couldn't find her GC and we used her driver license to get into and out of USA on a cruise.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Travel should be booked in the passport name because it's easier to deal with airlines, etc. A copy of the marriage certificate is often taken for proof of name change with needed.

A K1 visa gets him into the US one time, then it is no longer valid. If your honeymoon is to a foreign nation, he has no valid visa to re-enter the US. It is considered abandoning AOS. You would be married then, so would start from scratch getting a spouse visa.

When you apply for AOS, you can apply for an Advance Parole card (free) with the AOS. That should take 60-90 days to receive. It allows re-entry and can be used while waiting on the actual green card approval.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Check into Closed Loop Cruise and research.

My wife was from PHilippines and couldn't find her GC and we used her driver license to get into and out of USA on a cruise.

The OP's spouse won't have that green card status or a US driver license yet.

[CharlieTanger 76]

Travel should be booked in the passport name because it's easier to deal with airlines, etc. A copy of the marriage certificate is often taken for proof of name change with needed.

A K1 visa gets him into the US one time, then it is no longer valid. If your honeymoon is to a foreign nation, he has no valid visa to re-enter the US. It is considered abandoning AOS. You would be married then, so would start from scratch getting a spouse visa.

When you apply for AOS, you can apply for an Advance Parole card (free) with the AOS. That should take 60-90 days to receive. It allows re-entry and can be used while waiting on the actual green card approval.

So basically we should try and book a "in-country" honeymoon just to be on the safe side! And then once the green card is issued my spouse can then travel freely, correct?

[CharlieTanger 76]

Does anyone know of any cruises that just cruise the Florida Keys? That way we would be safe.

[sailorgal 33]

YES you may travel or go on a honeymoon while waiting on your AOS interview but you cannot leave without informing the officials or the USCIS would consider your foreign spouse has abandoned their AOS application and you will have to start all over and this time probably by applying for a K-3 visa and your foreign spouse will have to wait in their country while the K-3 application is processed.
To avoid that hassle just file for Advance Parole application (either together with the AOS application or separately) along with proof that your AOS application has already been filed if filing separately. Once you receive the Advance Parole, your AOS application will be preserved in its place in line. Your honeymoon would not delay the process. You may also be granted a multiple entry Advance Parole with which the foreign spouse can enter/leave US multiple times.The form you file for Advance Parole will ask you why you qualify for it. So just state your reason there. The Advance Parole keeps your AOS application active while you’re gone but the foreign spouse might be pulled into a separate line for secondary inspection upon their arrival in the States (which is normal so don't worry if that happens to you)

Here an AOS checklist

• Form I-131
• A separate sheet of paper explaining why you qualify for Advance Parole and why your application should be approved (no need to spend too much time on this one or make up any details, most requests are approved)
• Copy of the receipt notice you would receive when you file for AOS
• Copy of a photo IDs, e.g. driver’s license, passport etc
• Two color passport style photos

Advance parole has no filling fee!

Edited May 22, 2015 by sailorgal

[VOL 425]

The OP's spouse won't have that green card status or a US driver license yet.

How do you know they won't have the Driver License yet?

Very possible to be able to get a DL with initial entry using I-94, It is in my state

[clairegie 265]

So basically we should try and book a "in-country" honeymoon just to be on the safe side! And then once the green card is issued my spouse can then travel freely, correct?

Yes, in country is the safest. Spouse can travel with the AP/EAD combo card if you don't have the GC yet.

With GC, yes can travel freely.

Edited May 22, 2015 by iammrsregie

[CharlieTanger 76]

Is travel to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands considered "out-of-country?" Even thought they're United States territories?

[clairegie 265]

Is travel to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands considered "out-of-country?" Even thought they're United States territories?

Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?

U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR's) who travel directly between parts of the United States, which includes Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), without touching at a foreign port or place, are not required to present a valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Green Card. However, it is recommended that travelers bring a government issued photo ID and copy of birth certificate.

Hawaii is a U.S. state and therefore passport documentation requirements for U.S. citizens and LPR's do not apply.

Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/980/~/needing-a-passport-to-enter-the-united-states-from-u.s.-territories

[CharlieTanger 76]

Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?

U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR's) who travel directly between parts of the United States, which includes Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), without touching at a foreign port or place, are not required to present a valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Green Card. However, it is recommended that travelers bring a government issued photo ID and copy of birth certificate.

Hawaii is a U.S. state and therefore passport documentation requirements for U.S. citizens and LPR's do not apply.

Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/980/~/needing-a-passport-to-enter-the-united-states-from-u.s.-territories

Let me be clarified: so travel to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands IS ALLOWED when my spouse is on Adjustment of Status? Just want to make sure I'm reading that correctly... As it states travelers "from" US Territories. But my spouse would still be considered a non-resident until green card. I assume. Edited May 22, 2015 by CharlieTanger

[sailorgal 33]

Well we had Bahamas on our honeymoon-wishlist and it's kinda right off the coast since we would be living in Florida but we scraped it off the list after we figured all the name change, Advance parole, waiting for advance parole and travel document hassles. So yea like the others I'd suggest that you go for an in-country honeymoon too and go abroad after your fiance has her green card. But even then she can't leave States for more than 6 months at a time, that way she would abandon her green card.