Leaving and Re-Entering US on a cruise while K-1 visa is still pending?

[Elyzara 0]

My family has a cruise planned for May of 2019 and we want my fiance to join. We booked this months and months ago before we got engaged. This is a Disney cruise from Port Canaveral that visits St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Castaway Cay (Disney's private island in the Bahamas). What I'm not sure about is if my alien fiance will be able to essentially "leave the country" while at port and still be allowed back in the country at the end of the cruise. I'm not sure if cruises make a difference.

I know that there's a chance he might not be let in before the cruise, but we have solid evidence that he'll go back to his country (The Netherlands) afterward, so I'm not that worried about that. I also know that once the visa is granted, the beneficiary can only enter the country once and have to get married within 90 days. However, we don't expect the visa to be accepted before our vacation based on the average times between US-Netherlands couples, so this isn't the case with us (we can always extend our case before scheduling the interview anyways). I just want to know if anyone has any idea whether he'll be let back in while it's still pending?

[debbiedoo 2,339]

it is ALWAYS at the discretion of the border guard. as long as the K1 has not been approved, and the visa is not in his passport, then theres no reason for him not to travel on it. My fiance travels back and forth from canada every 3 weeks to the US while our K1 is pending and rarely gets more than a 'where you going and for how long'.

 

my sister and I took a cruise to mexico this year and a passport 9at least for USCC) wasn't even required. I took mine, cause I dont go ANYWHERE internationally without it, but she did not have hers (expired) and only took her ID and birth certificate. We had a great time in the different ports we went to. Customs and Border control was very different at the cruise line than from any airport ive been to. much more relaxed. zero questions. at least for us. It may be different for non citizens, i dont know.

 

 

[TM92 527]

14 minutes ago, debbiedoo said:

Customs and Border control was very different at the cruise line than from any airport ive been to. much more relaxed. zero questions. at least for us. It may be different for non citizens, i dont know.

It can be the same for non citizens; but "relaxed" customs can be less than ideal in certain cases:

 

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.