About to start the paperwork for the K-1 Visa

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

I just had another thought that I am unsure about. After the K-1 is approved and we have our wedding in the US. I want to take her on a nice Honeymoon, Caribbean cruise, I know to disembark from the ship on the cruise I need a US passport, but no visa because of it is US and UK territories, but how will this work for her, since she will still have a China Passport until well I'm not exactly sure when during the process she receives a US passport. But that is a question for another time.

Does anyone here have experience with a Honeymoon that visits international destinations following the approval of a K-1 Visa and subsequent wedding?

Thanks,

[Boiler 43,359]

So you are going to delay the Honeymoon until you get AP.

You would need to find out the visa requirements for Chinese nationals in the countries you intend visiting.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

So you are going to delay the Honeymoon until you get AP.

You would need to find out the visa requirements for Chinese nationals in the countries you intend visiting.

Thank you for the information, I checked the islands, and she would need to apply for 3 different Visa's for each of the destinations that were originally planned. So to save her alot of time and effort for that, I will look for a eastern carribbean cruise that ports only at the US islands, of which she can enter with her US Visa.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Her K1 is a one time entry and can't be used as a second entry visa. Tickets should match her maiden name as it is in her passport and bring the marriage

certificate. Careful where you end up docking as she has not adjusted status yet.

[Boiler 43,359]

She will not have a Visa, would be using AP to go out of the US.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

OP, to get AP takes 90-120 days while waiting for adjustment.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

She will not have a Visa, would be using AP to go out of the US.

She will still have a B-2 visa, or does that visa become invalid upon receipt of a K-1 Visa?

[Boiler 43,359]

B2 are for visitors, she wants to re enter presumably as an immigrant.

Sometimes they are cancelled. Sometimes they are not.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Boiler

[TBoneTX 42,988]

OP, the "can we take a honeymoon cruise" comes up frequently here. The prevailing conventional advice is to delay the honeymoon until at least AP is in hand; or, take a honeymoon within the lower 48 states/Hawaii. Too many things can go wrong that might endanger the beneficiary's status.

I would NOT want my loved one to be on a plane or ship that lands or docks outside the U.S. in an emergency, and be faced with "disobeying a crew member's instructions" to disembark (= a crime) or endangering immigration status.

As a more general observation, I'm continually amazed and puzzled that so many people work so long and hard to get their beneficiary to the U.S. and then are so eager to immediately leave the U.S.

There are thousands of outstanding places to take a honeymoon trip within the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Save the cruise for after receipt of AP or green card.

[Pennycat 880]

OP, the "can we take a honeymoon cruise" comes up frequently here. The prevailing conventional advice is to delay the honeymoon until at least AP is in hand; or, take a honeymoon within the lower 48 states/Hawaii. Too many things can go wrong that might endanger the beneficiary's status.

I would NOT want my loved one to be on a plane or ship that lands or docks outside the U.S. in an emergency, and be faced with "disobeying a crew member's instructions" to disembark (= a crime) or endangering immigration status.

As a more general observation, I'm continually amazed and puzzled that so many people work so long and hard to get their beneficiary to the U.S. and then are so eager to immediately leave the U.S.

There are thousands of outstanding places to take a honeymoon trip within the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Save the cruise for after receipt of AP or green card.

A little off topic, but I think the fact that this comes up frequently here that this is mostly a symptom of the greater issue of Americans being very, very used to being to travel around the world freely and without (or with comparatively extremely few) restrictions and suddenly being (essentially, if they intend to honeymoon together lol) subjected to the same restrictions as people from their spouse's country. It's a wake up call.

As for why all the proposed foreign honeymoons....search me. I'm a bit under the impression that most people who go on a honeymoon do so abroad (including the Caribbean), or on a cruise. But I also don't know all too many people who took honeymoons. Folks are usually pretty broke after the wedding. And now have TWO sets of student loans to wrangle. Heh.

As for us, my fiance has lived his entire life in what is now considered some kind of "exotic" honeymoon hotspot. I've been there 8 times in 2 years, 9th one coming up soon. I don't even LIKE the beach (the rainforest, and tropical mountains, though, I will say is really pretty awesome). Either way, I think we're going to do an urban "adventure". A week in Manhattan. Or maybe San Francisco if we can swing the airfare (because I grew up and have lived MY entire life, except for college and a few extended trips abroad, in the NY-DC Northeast Corridor, never more than 10 miles away from high speed rail connecting all the major eastern cities. Personally, I'd like to make it a West coast adventure. But only time will tell).

[Boiler 43,359]

I remember going to Turkey, visa on arrival, and USC's were charged a lot more, which amused me. I guess they reckoned they could afford it.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

As for why all the proposed foreign honeymoons....search me. I'm a bit under the impression that most people who go on a honeymoon do so abroad (including the Caribbean), or on a cruise. But I also don't know all too many people who took honeymoons. Folks are usually pretty broke after the wedding. And now have TWO sets of student loans to wrangle. Heh.

That is exactly it for me, between Visa Fee's, and half a dozen round trip flights to her country, plus for us the cost of 2 wedding ceremonies (one here, one there). I wanted to do something very nice and special for the honeymoon, while not spending a fortune, so my first thought went to a cruise, we can lock away a nice relaxing happy 7 day trip for $400 per person, but a 7 day in country vacation will run us several thousand dollars between lodging, airfare, car rentals, and food. That is all.

Knowing the limitations with the Visa and all I will spend a little more on a nice honeymoon (I'm looking at maybe Hawaii, or the Keys). That leads into the next question, once she enters the country prior to receiving AP, will we be able to fly domestically, or are we relegated to travel by car/bus?

Thanks,

[TBoneTX 42,988]

I remember going to Turkey, visa on arrival, and USC's were charged a lot more, which amused me. I guess they reckoned they could afford it.

Known in regard to Mexico & Latin America as "gringo prices."

once she enters the country prior to receiving AP, will we be able to fly domestically, or are we relegated to travel by car/bus?

You can fly domestically with little fear. Keep a copy of your marriage certificate with you in case any bored CBP agents are hanging out at the TSA checkpoints. She should keep this with her at all times until the green card is in hand.

Edited August 17, 2015 by TBoneTX

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Known in regard to Mexico & Latin America as "gringo prices."

You can fly domestically with little fear. Keep a copy of your marriage certificate with you in case any bored CBP agents are hanging out at the TSA checkpoints. She should keep this with her at all times until the green card is in hand.

Thank you, much much appreciated, I still cannot believe how much support has come from these forums, any and all unease I had going into this process has been set aside with all of the assistance you all have provided me. Only 45 long days left until I return back to China and we sit side by side and fill out the necessary forms for the K-1 Visa. I only say 45 long days because each day apart feels like a week.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

She should have a DL or state ID when traveling by air domestically, some are able to get a State ID before the EAD/AP card comes

in the mail but others weren't able to.

I don't know if her passport with marriage certificate is enough. TBone please clarify.