Honeymoon in U.S. territory (PR)

[jwyn3150 1]

Hi everyone,

We got our NOA2 and started to do some of the planning for the wedding. I have read and got some mixed reviews of going outside of the U.S. for the honeymoon...even to places like Puerto Rico. My question is pretty simple, is there a risk of going to PR....and would you advise agaist it? I am half PR but have never been, so I thought since we can't go anywhere exotic (And Hawaii is too expensive) that we can go to PR for the honeymoon...but now I'm not too sure.

Thanks!

[Cody and Daisy 373]

I'm not sure if it would be a problem going after you're married, but it's always safe to wait for advance parole when flying, takes up to 90 days after you send AOS.

[jwyn3150 1]

I'm not sure if it would be a problem going after you're married, but it's always safe to wait for advance parole when flying, takes up to 90 days after you send AOS.

Hmm... I guess it'll be safer to just honeymoon somewhere in one of the states. The logic of why The Virgin islands and PR may require AP or even a green card is lost on me....considering the people there are U.S. citizens.

TL;DR...that sucks.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Hmm... I guess it'll be safer to just honeymoon somewhere in one of the states. The logic of why The Virgin islands and PR may require AP or even a green card is lost on me....considering the people there are U.S. citizens.

TL;DR...that sucks.

Going over international waters?

[Project_Harajuku 28]

Because technically it's leaving the United States perhaps? I'd just play it safe and stay within the continental US.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Hmm... I guess it'll be safer to just honeymoon somewhere in one of the states. The logic of why The Virgin islands and PR may require AP or even a green card is lost on me....considering the people there are U.S. citizens.

TL;DR...that sucks.

It doesn't. You can travel anywhere in the US, including its territories. You just cannot go on any cruises or plane trips that will land you outside the US or its territories. AP is only needed to re-enter the US, if you leave it. They will need their passport. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/980/~/needing-a-passport-to-enter-the-united-states-from-u.s.-territories

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Working & Traveling During US Immigration - topic is travel ~

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

You can go to PR or any US territories provided that your plane/ship does not stop at any other place outside the US or it's territories.

So for example, if you are taking a trip to PR by ship form Miami, and your ship makes a pit stop in The Bahamas, you are screwed.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

Mike-eeh and Odie hit it on the head.

Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. It's not a foreign country. It's the U.S. Why would it be safer not to go there? It's no different than going to Hawaii.

As long as the beneficiary does not leave the U.S., then it's fine. If they fly within the U.S. to Puerto Rico, they would not be leaving the U.S. If traveling by boat, a stop at a non-US port would be considering leaving the U.S.

[Toddandcamilla 34]

Is going to Maui gonna be an issuse guys? We are doing our honeymoon there but its still the states right?

[Paul_Shannon 5]

We decided on Key West, FL for this exact reason. Still in the USA and it's still hot in the winter time! Winning! :-)

[ksm999vj 0]

PR is a possession/territory of the US.

If you fly direct to San Juan and back, there is no issue

Puetro Ricans may be culturally different, but they are all US passport holders.

You can get a glimpse of Puerto Rican culture in NYC on PR parade day

There is no immigration as you are going from and to US territory.

Its like a domestic flight from NY to TX

[ch3john 308]

My fiance and I are currently awaiting on NOA2 on a K1. We had considered these locations for our weeding. While it's totally legit to travel to PR or St Thomas if flying directly there and back,I am the type of person that looks at the worse case scenario.

This is totally hypothetical - But let's say you are flying to either one of these locations and the plane is diverted to Nassau. The plane has mechanical issues so you have to deplane. More than likely you will not have your passport since you are traveling to a US territory. What would happen in that case to me as a USC and her having a K1 Visa?

Like I said, it's totally hypothetical but not un-realistic. Anyone ever heard of or know anyone that has experienced something similar? We decided it's not worth the risk but just curious what would happen in this type of situation.

[ch3john 308]

Todd - Maui is fine as long as your are flying directly to and from Hawaii.

[Pitaya 2,576]

Is going to Maui gonna be an issuse guys? We are doing our honeymoon there but its still the states right?

Hmm, I believe that the island of Maui is part of Maui county in the 50th state of our great country. As long as your trip does not detour, for any reason, onto a non-US territory, you should be fine.

Aloha.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Pitaya

[swji89 41]

We decided on Key West, FL for this exact reason. Still in the USA and it's still hot in the winter time! Winning! :-)

Haha that's what we're doing too.