Once AoS is approved, can my wife go to Mexico or will she need a US Passport?

[Nathan2424 4]

Brief Background: My work surprised me with a Mexico work trip in September. My wife really wants to go, but we are still waiting for her AoS, which may or may not be issued in time, but assuming it is issued in time, is that enough or are there additional steps that we need to take? She's already been granted her work authorization and we didn't file for the AP at the time, since we didn't expect any need for out-of-country travel (obviously a mistake).

 

Few concerns/ideas I have are:

1. Pursue a Mexico tourist visa as a Filipino passport holder
   • Concern is that her AoS was filed under her new last name, so once the green card is issued, it'll differ from her Filipino passport.
2. Once AoS is approved, we try to get a US passport ASAP
   • Concern is that I'm not sure if AoS approval is the sufficient for getting a US passport

 

PS: We are doing a refundable airline ticket, since no matter what she can't leave without the AoS being approved beforehand.

Edited April 30 by Nathan2424

[Boiler 47,047]

You have to be a Citizen to get a Passport of well any Country.

 

She can travel on AP did you apply for AP?

[Nathan2424 4]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

She can travel on AP did you apply for AP?

No because our understanding was that it was only needed if she wanted to travel before the AoS was granted. Is that understanding incorrect and AP is still useful even after the AoS being granted?

[Boiler 47,047]

Never said that

[Edward and Jaycel 1,630]

Philippine citizens who are lawful permanent residents of the US do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourism, business, or transit purposes. They can enter Mexico using their foreign passport and Green Card. 

Explanation:

Mexican visa requirements are based on nationality and residency status, not citizenship. 

Philippine citizens are exempt from needing a Mexican visa if they hold a valid Green Card, a US permanent residence card. 

This applies to all purposes of visit, including tourism, business, and transit. 

However, if the green card is expired, but the traveler has official documentation proving their legal status in the US, they may still need a visa. 

 

Since the name on the passport and the name on her Green Card will be different I would bring a Certified Copy of your Marriage Certificate as well
 

1. Once AoS is approved, we try to get a US passport ASAP
   • Concern is that I'm not sure if AoS approval is the sufficient for getting a US passport

She cannot get a US passport when her Adjustment of Status is approved - That only happens if she applies for and is approved for citizenship

Edited April 30 by Edward and Jaycel

[wildbug100420 260]

1 hour ago, Nathan2424 said:

Brief Background: My work surprised me with a Mexico work trip in September. My wife really wants to go, but we are still waiting for her AoS, which may or may not be issued in time, but assuming it is issued in time, is that enough or are there additional steps that we need to take? She's already been granted her work authorization and we didn't file for the AP at the time, since we didn't expect any need for out-of-country travel (obviously a mistake).

 

Few concerns/ideas I have are:

1. Pursue a Mexico tourist visa as a Filipino passport holder
   • Concern is that her AoS was filed under her new last name, so once the green card is issued, it'll differ from her Filipino passport.
2. Once AoS is approved, we try to get a US passport ASAP
   • Concern is that I'm not sure if AoS approval is the sufficient for getting a US passport

 

PS: We are doing a refundable airline ticket, since no matter what she can't leave without the AoS being approved beforehand.

Please update your timelines. You can't apply for citizenship until 3 years of marriage and your still living together. 

[wildbug100420 260]

2 minutes ago, wildbug100420 said:

Please update your timelines. You can't apply for citizenship until 3 years of marriage and your still living together. 

Edit to read can't apply for citizenship until green card holder approved date. 3 years under marriage, 5 years if you separated 

[Ontarkie 14,891]

~~Moved to Working and Traveling, from AOS Family K1/K3 P&P. - The OPis asking about traveling after AOS~~

[MMRF 38]

She can only travel abroad with AP or a green card. If she leaves without either, she cannot return, abandons AOS, and has to start over w/ consular processing. 

[Scandi 4,267]

Many people travel abroad with their greencards AND foreign passports, even if they're not in the same last name. Have her bring her marriage certificate as proof of her name change. 

So yes, IF her AOS is approved AND she receives her greencard before your trip, she can travel with you. She needs her foreign passport and greencard (and marriage certificate just in case). 

She still has a few years until she can get a US passport, as a passport requires citizenship, not just legal permanent residency. 

Edited May 1 by Scandi

[top_secret 2,666]

On 4/30/2025 at 7:53 AM, Nathan2424 said:

Pursue a Mexico tourist visa as a Filipino passport holder

• Concern is that her AoS was filed under her new last name, so once the green card is issued, it'll differ from her Filipino passport.

 

 

If you get started now you could almost certainly get her Philippine Passport changed before September.  She just needs to file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine Consulate or Embassy that has consular jurisdiction over wherever the marriage took place and file for a new passport in her married name.  You could usually file for both concurrently and new Philippine Passports are taking 2 to 4 weeks to be processed from the US.

 

Filing for AP now would offer the greatest chance of success but risks wasting the not insignificant application fee.

[Edward and Jaycel 1,630]

3 minutes ago, top_secret said:

If you get started now you could almost certainly get her Philippine Passport changed before September.  She just needs to file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine Consulate or Embassy that has consular jurisdiction over wherever the marriage took place and file for a new passport in her married name.  You could usually file for both concurrently and new Philippine Passports are taking 2 to 4 weeks to be processed from the US.

 

We filed our ROM in December and got back the signed, sealed form in about 10 days.... But we still can't get the transmittal details from the DFA 5 months later 😐 

[top_secret 2,666]

34 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

We filed our ROM in December and got back the signed, sealed form in about 10 days.... But we still can't get the transmittal details from the DFA 5 months later 😐 

 

 

With the caveat that Philippine consulates are famously inconsistent making up and applying rules...  Generally, Philippine consulates would accept a Report of Marriage and application changing passport name if filed together at the same time.  ALL Philippine Passport applications require a personal appearance at the consulate so doing it concurrently eliminates the mail option for filing the ROM.

 

If the ROM was done by mail, Philippine consulates would also generally accept the original Report of Marriage with their seal and signature for up to one year before they require only a PSA copy for changing names on passports.

[Edward and Jaycel 1,630]

21 minutes ago, top_secret said:

If the ROM was done by mail, Philippine consulates would also generally accept the original Report of Marriage with their seal and signature for up to one year before they require only a PSA copy for changing names on passports.

 

Yes this is the route we are going to go but our concern is going to the consulate in San Francisco and doing the name change, do they give back the old passport with a hole punched in it or something? If they don't, we don't want to do this until after Jaycel has her green card interview and/or gets approved without the interview because I think they like to see the passport with the K-1 visa that you entered the US with at the interview? 

[top_secret 2,666]

41 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Yes this is the route we are going to go but our concern is going to the consulate in San Francisco and doing the name change, do they give back the old passport with a hole punched in it or something? If they don't, we don't want to do this until after Jaycel has her green card interview and/or gets approved without the interview because I think they like to see the passport with the K-1 visa that you entered the US with at the interview? 

 

They return the old passport stamped "CANCELLED" on the page opposite the bio page. They should let her retain the old one still valid and cancel when she picks up her new passport in person.  If it's a long trip and you want to do it by mail to avoid a second trip to pick up the new one, they 'might' allow her to mail the old one in once the new one arrives at the consulate and then they cancel the old one and mail them both back together so she is only without a passport a few days.  Obviously, a bit more risk by mail then picking up in person.  They won’t deliver the new passport before the old one is canceled.

 

Edited May 1 by top_secret