2016 Cruise Travel With I-512 EAD/AP Combo Card

[TXLatino832 4]

Hello everyone i just wanted to share our experience with sea travel with the combo card. We received the combo card in late October 2015 and booked a cruise soon after. I did so with the expectation that we would have the green card before the cruise. Our departure date soon approached and no green card, I was nervous to say the least. I took it upon myself to call the travel agent who booked our cruise who referred me to a visa company they utilize and I could never get a straight/consistent answer. Not even calling the cruise line helped. We reside here in Houston, the same place the cruise departed from. I took it upon myself to go to the port weeks ahead of time before the cruise departed, I spoke to a security supervisor who verified with the cruise line check in agents that we could indeed board the ship with no problems. I was skeptical and kept asking "Are you sure?". They assured me everything was ok.

The day of the cruise (Jan. 23, 2016) came and I was still super nervous we would be turned away. When our time came at the check in desk, the cruise line agent did seek assistance regarding the EAD/AP combo card, he asked a co-worker or superior about the card and he was informed to treat it just like a green card.

So there you have it, my new Filipino husband was able to depart Houston and visit Mexico, Belize and Honduras with only his Filipino passport and his EAD/AP combo card. No visa was required to any country, the combo card and his passport sufficed.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I would recommend you consider asking at the port of departure well in advance if the documents you have are enough to board without any problems. So many people over the phone told us so many different things. Verify in person at the port if possible.

On our return to Houston, my husband and I were escorted to a small room where his documentation was verified. It took maybe 15 minutes, his passport was stamped and we were on our way. Absolutely no problems at all. Good luck and I hope this helps.

[R2B 2]

all those countries are visa free for US visa holder,

[Soulmate1971 9]

Hey there,

I stumbled upon your post which i found very interesting. I too was planning on taking my husband to a cruise. We are just about to submit our adjustment of status and EAD. I was wondering about the EAD/AP, How did you get it? was it given when you applied for adjustment of status? if not what form did u use? thanks a lot for your post! Hope you get back to me asap coz if i need another form, I have to include it with our I 485 form. Have a great day! Btw my husband and i are both form Phil. We live here in Texas. Thanks a million in advance.

[R2B 2]

Hey there,

I stumbled upon your post which i found very interesting. I too was planning on taking my husband to a cruise. We are just about to submit our adjustment of status and EAD. I was wondering about the EAD/AP, How did you get it? was it given when you applied for adjustment of status? if not what form did u use? thanks a lot for your post! Hope you get back to me asap coz if i need another form, I have to include it with our I 485 form. Have a great day! Btw my husband and i are both form Phil. We live here in Texas. Thanks a million in advance.

Form I-512 I-765

http://www.visajourney.com/content/adjustmentforms

[TXLatino832 4]

A little more background on my situation...

My husband entered the US on a K1 visa which is a one time entry visa.

I also failed to mention we both did attend an appointment at the Mexican Consulate here in Houston after I went to the departing port to ask if my husband's documentation was ok. The Mexican Consulate advised he would need a visa. I disregarded this advice because the cruise line stated it was not necessary and would board my husband with just his Filipino passport and his EAD/AP combo card. I have also cruised with the same cruise line previously and have been to Mexico with them so I know... once he is on the boat, all is ok. Mexican officials do not check documentation when you get off the ship at the port.

Soulmate1971-

To answer your questions, my husband received the EAD/AP combo card about 2 months after applying for the AOS. Along with the AOS application (I-485), we sent the application for Employment Authoriztion (I-765) and application for Travel Document (I-131). I hope this helps.

Best Regards

[Tahoma 2,291]

Hmmm...When you called the cruise line, they should have given you a definite answer to your question. Maybe you did not pursue it past the tier-one customer service rep who answered the phone. It would have saved you the trouble of going down to the port.

[Soulmate1971 9]

THank you so much!

One more thing, was the application fee for i-1765 included in the 1070 fee when u applied for the AOS or

a separate fee on top of the 1070? I'm about to mail all files but not sure if i have to pay more on top of the 1070 for i-765 .

Also were you able to get out of the ship for excursions during the cruise? ... or were you just limited to just staying on the ship.

I myself have taken several cruises but i wonder if i can take my husband during excursions if he has AED/AP since he is still waiting for AOS.

Thanks again we should take cruises together!

[Tahoma 2,291]

THank you so much!

One more thing, was the application fee for i-1765 included in the 1070 fee when u applied for the AOS or

a separate fee on top of the 1070? I'm about to mail all files but not sure if i have to pay more on top of the 1070 for i-765 .

Also were you able to get out of the ship for excursions during the cruise? ... or were you just limited to just staying on the ship.

I myself have taken several cruises but i wonder if i can take my husband during excursions if he has AED/AP since he is still waiting for AOS.

Thanks again we should take cruises together!

1. The $1070 includes the EAD and the AP.

2. Your husband will be able to go on excursions.

[Soulmate1971 9]

Awesome!!! thank you guys for all your help!!!

[Destin 6]

Just saying thanks despite the old post as I can't find any new cruise experiences either positive or negative. Will be going with the combo card and a VN passport with my wife to those exact countries, but will try and re-verify at the port and by phone again prior to be safe. 

[Ontarkie 13,917]

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