Honeymoon Cruise / Mexico

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Sadly not, no. Things aren't any easier for people from countries participating in the VWP.

Is there any possibility of doing a river cruise or a lake cruise? I have no idea if such cruises exist in the US but if they did you'd be able to have your cruise without leaving US territory.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Does Japan being a part of the Visa waiver program have any bearing on this situation?

If my fiancee is technically allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending, shouldn't she be able to re-enter the US after a 5 day cruise with the same ease?

Sorry if I'm being thickheaded.

No, once the K-1 is issued she can not enter using the VWP, especially if she has already entered once with the K-1. K-1 is good for ONE entry.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the VWP is for aliens who are entering the US for tourism or bussiness, for a short period of time (90 days) Your spouse (she will no longer be your fiance, when you go on your honeymoon), wont be entering the U.S. for tourism nor bussines, she'll be coming back from the honeymoon with the purpose to apply for AOS and reside permanently in the U.S.

Believe us, it's not possible. You need to apply for AP or postpone the honeymoon until she gets her green card.

Edited March 31, 2008 by eric_and_teresa

[roulette_dares 0]

Does Japan being a part of the Visa waiver program have any bearing on this situation?

If my fiancee is technically allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending, shouldn't she be able to re-enter the US after a 5 day cruise with the same ease?

Sorry if I'm being thickheaded.

No, once the K-1 is issued she can not enter using the VWP, especially if she has already entered once with the K-1. K-1 is good for ONE entry.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the VWP is for aliens who are entering the US for tourism or bussiness, for a short period of time (90 days) Your spouse (she will no longer be your fiance, when you go on your honeymoon), wont be entering the U.S. for tourism nor bussines, she'll be coming back from the honeymoon with the purpose to apply for AOS and reside permanently in the U.S.

Believe us, it's not possible. You need to apply for AP or postpone the honeymoon until she gets her green card.

Based on post 12 and the AOS Guide, we can't apply for AP until we've applied for AOS. And we can't apply for AOS until after the wedding, right?. Long story - short, is there any way to juggle the filing of this stuff to be able to take the honeymoon the day after the wedding?

[BlakeandOlha 0]

There really is no way around it... she will not be allowed back into the US without AP or green card in hand.

And there is no way I'd want to be forced to go through the separation of the K-3 process, after having just survived K-1.

There are endless romantic honeymoon possibilities within the US. If you have your heart set on a cruise, you will need to delay the honeymoon.

You've got to stay on US soil - meaning US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and Guam are all options, as well as the states. A cruise that takes you to Mexico will be a big problem and far too risky to contemplate when there are other great non-risky choices to look at. Once the Green Card is received it's all fair game.

[Krikit 1,166]

Based on post 12 and the AOS Guide, we can't apply for AP until we've applied for AOS. And we can't apply for AOS until after the wedding, right?. Long story - short, is there any way to juggle the filing of this stuff to be able to take the honeymoon the day after the wedding?

No, there is no way to juggle the filing so you can take the trip the day after the wedding. Sorry.

[roulette_dares 0]

There really is no way around it... she will not be allowed back into the US without AP or green card in hand.

And there is no way I'd want to be forced to go through the separation of the K-3 process, after having just survived K-1.

There are endless romantic honeymoon possibilities within the US. If you have your heart set on a cruise, you will need to delay the honeymoon.

You've got to stay on US soil - meaning US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and Guam are all options, as well as the states. A cruise that takes you to Mexico will be a big problem and far too risky to contemplate when there are other great non-risky choices to look at. Once the Green Card is received it's all fair game.

Hmm... I wonder if any cruises just to go Puerto Rico... I have a feeling you probably still go through customs after coming back.

The funny thing about it is I really don't care that much about Mexico as far as a destination. I just really loved the cruise ship experience on the one that I took, and with my fiancee / wife it would be 100x more enjoyable.

[roulette_dares 0]

Based on post 12 and the AOS Guide, we can't apply for AP until we've applied for AOS. And we can't apply for AOS until after the wedding, right?. Long story - short, is there any way to juggle the filing of this stuff to be able to take the honeymoon the day after the wedding?

No, there is no way to juggle the filing so you can take the trip the day after the wedding. Sorry.

Thanks for your info, Crikey! I appreciate it.

[Eric-Pris 1,610]

All I know is after all the time we are waiting to finally be together, I am not going to let her step one toe outside the continental US border, until we have the AP or green card in hand.

Just think about how you would feel if she was denied entry and was sent back home. That scenario is enough to end this whole discussion in my opinion.

[u2rsobad 0]

Does Japan being a part of the Visa waiver program have any bearing on this situation?

If my fiancee is technically allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending, shouldn't she be able to re-enter the US after a 5 day cruise with the same ease?

Sorry if I'm being thickheaded.

As someone else has stated, the visa waiver program is for tourists and business travelers, not those planning to immigrate. Your fiancee is not "technically" allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending and there have been several posts that I've seen here on VJ from Japan and other countries, where the fiancee was denied entry and sent back home while the K-1 was pending, it's up to the officer at the POE to decide. It is risky just trying to visit while the K-1 is pending because you never know. My husband and I would love to take a cruise, too, but we're waiting. I couldn't get time off from work right after the wedding anyway, so we're taking a simple honeymoon locally next month and saving the cruise for later. We just wanted to be together and it certainly wasn't worth the risk to us for something that we can do anytime. Good luck, but my 2 cents..don't risk it!

[KimandRuss 0]

Your fiancee is not "technically" allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending

I'd have to disagree with that. Many people travel here while the K1 is in progress and it's perfectly legal to do so. It only becomes a problem when the POE officer thinks there might be intent or if you cannot prove enough ties to your own country ...or ummm if you take advantage of it like we did!

To the OP... A cruise certainly is a wonderful experience. I'd find one that is sure not to leave the US!

[u2rsobad 0]

Your fiancee is not "technically" allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending

I'd have to disagree with that. Many people travel here while the K1 is in progress and it's perfectly legal to do so. It only becomes a problem when the POE officer thinks there might be intent or if you cannot prove enough ties to your own country ...or ummm if you take advantage of it like we did!

To the OP... A cruise certainly is a wonderful experience. I'd find one that is sure not to leave the US!

I didn't say it was "illeagal", and you're right, many people are allowed to enter, but on the other hand, many are not. It's up to the individuals to take the chance. But the OP's quesion of traveling outside the US without having the AP or green card is not allowed. If someone chooses to do it, then they'll have to deal with the consequences. Kind of risky if you really want to be with your SO. For most of us who have now finished the long K-1 process and have waited a very long time to be with our SO's, it isn't/wasn't worth the risk. If the OP is prepared to deal with being separated after marriage for however long it takes to have a K-3 approved, then go for it. Then he/she also runs the risk of having the K-3 denied for not following the instructions on the K-1 that clearly state travel outside the US is not allowed until you receive the AP or GC.

[StillThePrettiest 4]

if you need any further warnings, just skim through this thread... should be enough to warn anyone off

[Jeraly 4]

man, don't risk it! there were a couple of threads recently by people who left the US for far more serious reasons - family illness and such - without first getting emergency AP, and the last I read of one he was forced to stay in Scotland with his family while he applied for K3 and waited all over again

it's just not worth it, even if the risk was far lower than it is

Yeah - his mom found she had cancer and he was on like the next plane out of there... He took having to go through K-3 quite well I think although maybe it was well hidden in the posts - but how gutting to have to wait through K-1, be together a couple months then go through it all again

We are in a similar situation. My fiance and I talked about taking a cruise also for our honeymoon, but we'll wait until after her greencard arrives to do it.

It is ABSOLUTELY not worth the risk. We invested so much time and money into this whole process, why risk it?

You don't need to wait for the green card - just for the AP unless I am grossly mistaken...

Hawaii is a nice alternative

[KimandRuss 0]

I didn't say it was "illeagal", and you're right, many people are allowed to enter, but on the other hand, many are not. It's up to the individuals to take the chance.

Yeah, it was just the not technically allowed statment I wanted to clarify ...and more for the sake of the others reading the thread than for the OP. I can just see yet another thread started asking if "it's ok to travel while we wait".

[pushbrk 14,515]

Does Japan being a part of the Visa waiver program have any bearing on this situation?

If my fiancee is technically allowed to come to the US while the K-1 is pending, shouldn't she be able to re-enter the US after a 5 day cruise with the same ease?

Sorry if I'm being thickheaded.

No, once the K-1 is issued she can not enter using the VWP, especially if she has already entered once with the K-1. K-1 is good for ONE entry.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the VWP is for aliens who are entering the US for tourism or bussiness, for a short period of time (90 days) Your spouse (she will no longer be your fiance, when you go on your honeymoon), wont be entering the U.S. for tourism nor bussines, she'll be coming back from the honeymoon with the purpose to apply for AOS and reside permanently in the U.S.

Believe us, it's not possible. You need to apply for AP or postpone the honeymoon until she gets her green card.

Based on post 12 and the AOS Guide, we can't apply for AP until we've applied for AOS. And we can't apply for AOS until after the wedding, right?. Long story - short, is there any way to juggle the filing of this stuff to be able to take the honeymoon the day after the wedding?

The whole idea of a honeymoon outside the USA before receiving Advanced Parole is a non-starter. It just doesn't work. You're wasting your time and effort trying different angles. May I suggest a US destination like Key West or Hawaii. If you want to get out on the water, maybe a day cruise or fishing trip.

Save your cruise for another time. It's not going to work for you.