Caribbean Cruise

[redforgreen]

Guys, I've few questions to thoes who have been (or planning in near future) on the caribbean cruise and are citizen of India or other non European countires.

The questions I have is on the process of immigration checks done (if any) for different island countires during the cruise. Please note: I've already called cruise lines, consulates for these island countries and USCSIS, and no where I got definite information if we are OK or not. I've realized past travellers can provide there expereince which may answer our questions.

We've or 485 approved and passport stamped and do not expect physical green card by the sailing time.

1. Where is (if any) immigration check done for island countries in US itself before boarding or at individual island country?.

2. Do individual country stamp PP for entry/exit?.

3. If mere permanent residency stamp in PP is OK (in lieu of physical card) for island countries (which happen to respect green card for entry requirements)?. (No consulate was able to answer this question satisfactorily)

4. If the check done by US authorities at the embarkation and landing time is limited only to make sure entry/exit requirements for US?.

Thanks in advance,

PS: dsfgh100 please do not reply to this query as the real question is sidelined by your remarks!.

 

[dsfgh100]

Why do you keep asking the same question repeatedly? You have asked this question twice in the past 1 week. What do you think? If you ask the question again and again, your cruise will turn into a Burt Reynolds mega-journey? Go read the answers posted to your earlier question.... and stop repeating same thing.


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Spirit of USA Personal Responsibility, Opportunity, Equality.

 

[dsfgh100]

redforgreen. One valuable piece of information... Caribbeans have several spots where you could buy duty free rum. Jamaican Rum.. mmmmmmm. Make sure you buy some, and drink 'em. That should make you a little easy going.


------------------------
Spirit of USA Personal Responsibility, Opportunity, Equality.

 

[sampson]

redforgreen,

Did you get to go on the caribbean cruise?
I am curious to know what happened in your situation as I am in a similar situation.

My parents got their green card approved and have entered the US and have the IR5 category visa (in lieu of the physical card) and A-number stamped on their passport. They should be getting the physical card in a few months. We are sailing on Friday (4 days from now).

Do they need a visa for the Bahamas? I asked the Bahamas consulate and on two separate occasions got two different answers: Yes and No.
Will they be able to come back into the US after the cruise. The temporary visa stuck on theie passport expires a year from their entry date; however I did not see a multiple entry classification.

 

[schandrag]

The bahamas recognizes the permanent resident stamp. Check on their GOVT'Swebsite. Permanent residents of the US, REGARDless OF THE COUNTRY OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA TO ENTER THE BAHAMAS

 

[redforgreen]

no not yet

We are sailing on 12th Dec. I don't think your parents need the visa for Bahamas. I am positive about that.

On airports you can enter mutiple times US (w/o any mention of mutiple entries on the stamp), hence I assume no issues w/ cruise as well. Just to be double sure, I called INS few months ago in this regard, they also said its not a problem.

Sampson, thanks for your mail. Is it OK if I contact you and share immigration related experiences with you upon your return from Cruise. My email address is jayantc@hotmail.com, if you don't mind please send me a test mail.

Thanks,

 

[sampson]

We are back from the cruise

Hi,
Here is an update from our cruise experience.
- We went on a cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Carribean (ship name: Soverign of the Seas) on 12th Nov 2004 returning on 15 Nov 2004.
- Our situation is that me, my wife and kids are all US citizens, my parents (Indian citizens) came in to the country after getting their green card's approved a couple of week's ago. They have not gotten the physical card, they have the IR5 category visa (in lieu of the physical card) and A-number stamped on their passport.
- In the initial checkin at the ship, where we receive our boarding passes, the cruise officials saw the Visa my parents had but were asking for the physical green card. I mentioned that the card should be coming in the mail in the next few months, however, the US-visa that is in their passports should suffice. They aksed for a "letter of advanced parole". I mentioned that my parents were not given this letter, only the Visa and the stamp with the A-number on their passports. On the US-Visa it clearly says "serves as temporary evidence of lawful permanent residence ..."
- They were not too sure and mentioned they needed to fax a copy of this visa to immigration to confirm. However the immigration people were not there at that time (as they are probably only present when a ship returns to the US).
-We were told to wait. We waited for about an hour. It was about 3:00 PM, the ship was to set sail at 5:00 PM. I was thinking of making alternate arangements for them to stay at a hotel since they may not be able to sail.
- The cruise people finally got in touch with the immigration people and confirmed that it was OK for them to travel. The cruise officials said this was a new Visa they had never seen before.
- once we boarded, you receive a boarding pass (they call it a sea pass card; a plastic card similar to a credit card). Entering the ship they take your photo and link it to the sea pass card. Once we arrived in the Bahamas, when leaving the ship you show the sea pass card and you are recorded as having left the ship. Coming back to the ship, you just show the card in Bahamas and you can proceed to enter the ship. Once you get back in the ship, you are recorded as having entered the ship. We did not need the passports at all in the Bahamas.
- Coming back to the US, you have your standard US customs, and Immigration; the immigration official swiped their passports and asked for their green cards, they mentioned this is all they had. He looked at the computer and then said it was OK. He did look like he was not familiar with the Visa they had.

Other than the scare we had at the initial checkin, it went smoothly.