Travelling inside the state on K1 visa

[A&C 1]

Hi,

We are planning our honeymoon and i have few question?

1- Can I go by plan one state to another state on K1 visa?

2- I know Hawaii is the US state but some people thing you fly on international ocean. So my question is can I go Hawaii on K1 visa?

3- Can i go to St. Thomas in central America?

Thanks

[Pitaya 2,576]

Hi,

We are planning our honeymoon and i have few question?

1- Can I go by plan one state to another state on K1 visa?

2- I know Hawaii is the US state but some people thing you fly on international ocean. So my question is can I go Hawaii on K1 visa?

3- Can i go to St. Thomas in central America?

Thanks

Sounds like some great plans! It seems that the key is to not have any intermediate stops in another country, no international layovers.

We were concerned with the same issue, and as a consequence we are holding off on any non-US mainland trips, honeymoon or otherwise, until my wife gets AP or GC approval. Besides, there are lots of great places on the mainland that she has yet to experience.

YMMV

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hi,

We are planning our honeymoon and i have few question?

1- Can I go by plan one state to another state on K1 visa?

2- I know Hawaii is the US state but some people thing you fly on international ocean. So my question is can I go Hawaii on K1 visa?

3- Can i go to St. Thomas in central America?

Thanks

You can travel to both destinations, as they are considered domestic flights provided you fly non stop from the mainland. Make sure you have your passport on you if you do.

Ps. I presume you are speaking of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

Edited August 13, 2012 by Gegel

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi,

We are planning our honeymoon and i have few question?

1- Can I go by plan one state to another state on K1 visa?

2- I know Hawaii is the US state but some people thing you fly on international ocean. So my question is can I go Hawaii on K1 visa?

3- Can i go to St. Thomas in central America?

Thanks

When going thru security with a TSA agent, you can show them any form of ID as long as the name on the ID matches the name on the boarding pass. If your destination is a US state or territory with no stops at an international location, you will not need to go thru passport control and will not need the GC or AP to re-enter the US. For Hawaii you are flying over international water, but it is like flying over Canada to get to NYC. As long as you do not land at an international location that requires you to use a passport you are fine.

Enjoy your trip,

Dave

[sn530 27]

yeah like all of the above posts say. Travel within the states you will be fine. just dont go to Puetro rico.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

yeah like all of the above posts say. Travel within the states you will be fine. just dont go to Puetro rico.

Why not?

[JohnR! 5,495]

yeah like all of the above posts say. Travel within the states you will be fine. just dont go to Puetro rico.

PR is OK too. Non stop flights from/to the mainland are considered domestic.

[TBoneTX 43,059]

PR is OK too.

Legally, perhaps; functionally, no. There are far too many stories of abusive questioning by CBP agents in Puerto Rico when "K-1 entrants eligible for adjustment" or even LPRs try to board planes to go home.

A correction: OP, you're not traveling "with your K-1 visa." The visa was dead upon your first entry to the U.S. You'd be traveling on your (hopefully unexpired) I-94. Be damned sure that it's unexpired if you plan to travel within a 100-mile radius of either U.S. border, especially the southern. Whether it's expired or unexpired, keep with you at all times your marriage certificate and either a copy of your NOA1 for AOS or at least a photocopy of your cover-letter & payment for AOS.

A caution: Whereas the TSA tends to care that the photo ID and ticket/boarding pass match, sometimes CBP/ICE agents hang out at airports.

In general: The Federal government has unlimited time and resources to make our lives miserable. Avoid underestimating this.

[akihon 129]

A visa is only for entry to a country.

[Lagavulin 2]

Legally, perhaps; functionally, no. There are far too many stories of abusive questioning by CBP agents in Puerto Rico when "K-1 entrants eligible for adjustment" or even LPRs try to board planes to go home.

A correction: OP, you're not traveling "with your K-1 visa." The visa was dead upon your first entry to the U.S. You'd be traveling on your (hopefully unexpired) I-94. Be damned sure that it's unexpired if you plan to travel within a 100-mile radius of either U.S. border, especially the southern. Whether it's expired or unexpired, keep with you at all times your marriage certificate and either a copy of your NOA1 for AOS or at least a photocopy of your cover-letter & payment for AOS.

A caution: Whereas the TSA tends to care that the photo ID and ticket/boarding pass match, sometimes CBP/ICE agents hang out at airports.

In general: The Federal government has unlimited time and resources to make our lives miserable. Avoid underestimating this.

I agree 100% with staying away from the southern border. My wife came down to McAllen (Texas border with Mexico) from Houston to visit me while I was TDY there. Border patrol stopped her at airport on the away back bome with expired I-94 (thank you USCIS for being so damned slow!), detained her and questioned her for hours before they called me. The only thing that saved her from further hassle is that I am a Federal Agent. I was able to talk them into checking her I-485 status, and they let her go.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Lagavulin