K1 to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands

[Lukas97 1]

Nothing online I found was clear, but we decided to honeymoon in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in November 2019. Let's clear this up.

 

I am a birthright US citizen from Arizona. My wife is K1. We went to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for a five-week honeymoon in 2019, before she received AP, or Employment Authorization, or anything else. This was about 100 days after her entry to the US on K1.

 

There were no checks on the flight from Dallas to San Juan. There were no checks in San Juan.

 

We flew from San Juan to Charlotte Amalie. There were no checks.

 

Do not go to the British Virgin Islands, even for the day. This is considered leaving the US, and you will not be permitted to re-enter on a K1.

 

We flew from Charlotte Amalie back to San Juan. There is a formal immigration point in the Charlotte Amalie departure section. They checked her K1, we said we are married and waiting on a green card. They wished us a safe flight with no problems. We flew to San Juan. Arriving in San Juan, immigration agents again checked everyone's passport, including my wife's. They saw the K1, we said she is a green card applicant, they waived us through.

 

We flew from San Juan back to Houston. There were no checks.

 

Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are incredible honeymoon locations, and it is not worth staying at home after marriage because you read online that your flight could get diverted. The chance of this is miniscule.

 

If you are K1, make sure you started your 485 and received the Receival Notice, and head to PR and the USVI. It is perfectly legal and allowed.

 

Have Fun!

[Pitaya 2,576]

People are quite aware of that trip and it is beautiful and great fun. The.chance of flight diversion is real, and should not be discounted. The potential for a flight or ship diversion to a nearby non-US territory due to some force majeure is real. What would be your contingency plan if that were to occur? To have that happen would not only disrupt the honeymoon, but could also adversely affect  ongoing and future immigration plans. After spending all of that money and expending all of that effort on immigration issues, I can't say that I would want to make such an expedient decision. YMMV.  

If you can predict the weather so well, perhaps you need to get a job as a meteorologist for NOAA.  

 

Your comment about making sure that you have your documents, including your I-485 NOA1 receipt, is a good stop-gap measure for domestic travel, but would likely not be accepted in lieu of an AP card for US re-entry after some incidental international travel.

 

Good luck on your immigration journey, and Happy Holidays !! 🎄 

[Ontarkie 13,918]

~~MOved to working and travelling from AOS family K1/K3 - the topic is about traveling.~~