visa problem at the airport?

[adekin 0]

HI

I tried to find the answer here but was not successfull.

Here is my situation: I have not file my AOS yet, and my I-94 expire next Sunday. I know I am allowed to travel inside the US, but I am affraid I may have trouble at the airport...

Are they gonna check my passport as immigration etc.. or, as it is a flight Houston to Detroit, they don't check the passport/visa when you arrive in Detroit? What about at the connecting point?

My father in law just had a heart attack and have open heart surgery on Wednesday. We are not sure that he is gonna be ok so we really wanna be there. Though I am affraid It may cause me issue at some point during my travel ( visa checking in other airports when I take connecting flights for exemple)

I really don't know how it works for national flights. And my I-94 is a tourist one, am I allowed to use it as tourist when I am married? even for inside US flights?

If you have any experience/information about it please let me know.....

Thank you!

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Since you are traveling within the US, you don't even need your passport... just some form of ID. If you dont have a state issued ID, then bring your passport for identification purposes only. They will not check your I94, there is no immigration points you'll be going through on a flight from Houston to Detroit.

I'm sorry to hear about your father in law's health. Hope everything will work out ok.

[adekin 0]

Since you are traveling within the US, you don't even need your passport... just some form of ID. If you dont have a state issued ID, then bring your passport for identification purposes only. They will not check your I94, there is no immigration points you'll be going through on a flight from Houston to Detroit.

I'm sorry to hear about your father in law's health. Hope everything will work out ok.

Thank you so much for your support!

Yes my only idea is my passport, or french ID but french ID won't work I know it.

So if I take my connecting flight in Washington ( Houston to Washington to Detroit), there is no other security control? That' s a good news!

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Thank you so much for your support!

Yes my only idea is my passport, or french ID but french ID won't work I know it.

So if I take my connecting flight in Washington ( Houston to Washington to Detroit), there is no other security control? That' s a good news!

There is security, always at all airports, but you wont have to go through any immigration checkpoint where they'd check your I94. Inter-US flights only need an ID for travel, no visas, nothing else... besides your ticket

[payxibka 10,048]

It has been reported that the TSA is beginning to verify immigration status in situations where they suspect something... The answer to the OP's question is not so nearly cut and dried.

[adekin 0]

It has been reported that the TSA is beginning to verify immigration status in situations where they suspect something... The answer to the OP's question is not so nearly cut and dried.

So do you think I should not go to airports, even if my I-94 is valid for another week as tourist?

[payxibka 10,048]

It has been reported that the TSA is beginning to verify immigration status in situations where they suspect something... The answer to the OP's question is not so nearly cut and dried.

So do you think I should not go to airports, even if my I-94 is valid for another week as tourist?

1 month, 1 week, 1 day....valid is valid... If your I-94 is valid your I-94 is valid .... You will have no issues...

Edited August 11, 2008 by fwaguy

[doug and leann 0]

My foreign passport was my only form of identification when my husband and I traveled to San Diego from Houston. They looked at my visa and I-94 at the security area. If you're still legally here, your visa and I-94 being valid, then you'll be fine.

[adekin 0]

My foreign passport was my only form of identification when my husband and I traveled to San Diego from Houston. They looked at my visa and I-94 at the security area. If you're still legally here, your visa and I-94 being valid, then you'll be fine.

Thanks for the testimony, we may have to stay longer that the expiration date of my I-94 if things don't go well..

So I guess it is better for me to stay in Houston and avoid troubles....

[adekin 0]

My foreign passport was my only form of identification when my husband and I traveled to San Diego from Houston. They looked at my visa and I-94 at the security area. If you're still legally here, your visa and I-94 being valid, then you'll be fine.

Thanks for the testimony, we may have to stay longer that the expiration date of my I-94 if things don't go well..

So I guess it is better for me to stay in Houston and avoid troubles....

Another point I would like to clarify:

I know that, to travel out of US, you need an advance parol, and that without, you can travel within the US. Does it mean airport as well? How does it work once the I-94expired? I still take national flights and show our wedding license in case they say something about my I-94 expired?

[tanyaru 3]

My foreign passport was my only form of identification when my husband and I traveled to San Diego from Houston. They looked at my visa and I-94 at the security area. If you're still legally here, your visa and I-94 being valid, then you'll be fine.

Thanks for the testimony, we may have to stay longer that the expiration date of my I-94 if things don't go well..

So I guess it is better for me to stay in Houston and avoid troubles....

Another point I would like to clarify:

I know that, to travel out of US, you need an advance parol, and that without, you can travel within the US. Does it mean airport as well? How does it work once the I-94expired? I still take national flights and show our wedding license in case they say something about my I-94 expired?

Advance parole is to re-enter US while your AOS is pending. Since you didn`t file for AOS you can`t get it yet.

You can travel within the US with your passport and valid I-94. Your french ID is not gonna help. Does not take a risk to travel when I-94 is expired because TSA does check foreign passports for visa and valid I-94. They are not immigration but they refer you to them if they don`t see valid I-94. Marriage certificate is not gonna help either because marriage to US Citizen does not automatically grant you legal stay. AOS does.

Sorry for your father in law. Hope everything is going to be fine.

PS. Why don`t you guys drive??? Or at least drive back???

[journeyman 0]

File your AOS first, why the delay when you guys have gotten married.

You should not have problems while travelling within the US. If they ask for your immigration status state everyting truthfully you are here legally.

[adekin 0]

File your AOS first, why the delay when you guys have gotten married.

You should not have problems while travelling within the US. If they ask for your immigration status state everyting truthfully you are here legally.

My father in law insisted that we wait 3 weeks until my husban has vacation to come( that way he says we will have more time to spend together and he will feel better). So now, the trip is for around labor day.

Yes we were planing on driving ( it is a 22 hours drive) but my mother in law just said she can get us a buy one, get one free ticket to fly.

So now my husban wants to fly because driving 22 hours take time and is tirying. I told him it was a bad idea as my I-94 will be expired by then, but he thinks I am paranoid.

Please keep giving me your opinion/information then I can show him!

Thank you!

Edited August 12, 2008 by adekin

[vanee 13]

I can't tell you how it will be for you, but here's my recent travel experience within the US as someone who has applied for AOS but hasn't been approved yet. My husband and I flew to another state, and I used my passport for ID. My ticket was booked in my married name (a mistake, but I called the airline after my husband booked the tickets, and they said it would be fine as long as I brought our marriage certificate too). When they pointed out my different last names in the passport and ticket, I showed them the K-1 visa in the passport and the part where my now-husband was named (whose last name I now share). They accepted that. They didn't look at my expired I-94, and my AOS status didn't come up.

If you apply for AOS now, you might have the NOA1 to bring with you to show that you've applied if it comes up.

I hope your father-in-law will be fine and your trip goes well.