Question about geting married on a Cruise

[wshelby 0]

My Fiancee and I are considering getting married on a cruise once she gets here on her K1 visa.

Has any one here done that?

Are there possibly problems with the Cruise liner going in to international waters, a Caribbean island that is not a US territory, etc?

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

Consulate : London, United Kingdom

I-129F Sent : 2008-03-19

I-129F NOA1 : 2008-03-21

[KimandRuss 0]

Yes, there is a problem. Once the K1 is activated by entry into the US she can not leave the US until she has AP. If you leave, even on a cruise ship, she wont get back in and you will have to be separated again and file for a spousal visa.

You MUST get married within the US and she must not leave the border without AP.

[wshelby 0]

Yes, there is a problem. Once the K1 is activated by entry into the US she can not leave the US until she has AP. If you leave, even on a cruise ship, she wont get back in and you will have to be separated again and file for a spousal visa.

You MUST get married within the US and she must not leave the border without AP.

What is AP ?

[KimandRuss 0]

AP = Advanced Parole

After you are married (within 90 days of entering on the K1) you will then file for AOS (Adjustment of Status). When filing for AOS you can also file for EAD (work auth) and AP (Advanced parole..allowing travel abroad) at no extra charge.

If you leave the US without AP you are abandoning visa and you will have to refile for either CR/K3 visa whilst waiting in your country again. You may file for AP earlier and pay the additional fee but you would have to be married first.

All of this is in the guides and faq's.

good luck

[SapphireDreams 71]

Sorry you can't get married on a Cruise with a K1. When you go on a Cruise you leave the country and have to go through U.S. Customs on your way back in.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Exactly as the others have said, the K1 is a one time entry visa. You get married within the 90 days, then file for AOS (Green card) and included in that fee is your EAD (Work Authorization) and AP (Advanced Parole) so you file for those at the same time.

The problem isn't when you leave, the problem is returning to the U.S. She could leave the U.S. at any time but without either the AP document or Green Card in hand, she would not be allowed back into the country. At that point you would be married so you'd have to start all over again with a spousal visa.

I've seen it happen here a few times where people leave shortly after arriving to go home and visit without any documentation in hand and are denied entry, it's heartbreaking.

You must get married within the U.S. within 90 days after entry and unless you want to start all over again, she should not leave the U.S. unless she has AP or her green card with her.

It usually takes about 3 months to receive your work authorization and advanced parole, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer.

Best of luck!

Edited May 5, 2008 by ~Laura and Nick~