Traveling to Puerto Rico while in US legally, but without visa
I am in the US as a student. I came on a tourist visa and changed to F1 status. This means that I do not currently have a valid visa in my passport, although I do have a valid I20 and my SEVIS record is fine. According to this website I should be fine for traveling to Puerto Rico, but my school agent says this is risky. She told me that despite the fact that I should be able to go, immigration does spot checks in the Puerto Rico airport and that if an agent stops me, I shouldn't count on them knowing this. They might just look at my passport, see that I have no visa, and I would end up deported. I know that people in my situation sometimes go to Puerto Rico with no problems, but this would be a terrible thing if it happened and I don't want to risk it even in the chance is small. Is she right that there's a small chance this could happen?
Best Answer
You only need a visa (or visa waiver) to enter the United States. Once you are admitted, you can legally remain in the US for as long as you remain "in status".
Since Puerto Rico is part of the United States, it is treated purely as domestic travel. So you do not need a visa to travel between the mainland and Puerto Rico, provided you are still in status.
However, you have heard one thing correctly. CBP officers do sometimes check departing passengers at San Juan Airport, as there are some people who illegally enter PR from neighboring islands, and this is their best chance to catch them before they reach the US mainland. When these checks occur, they are generally at the departure gate or even on the jetway.
Provided your immigration status is OK, though, you will have no problem, as you had not departed the US and are not seeking entry again. But it's a good idea to have your valid I-20 and a printout of your I-94 with you anyway, as it may help speed things up if you are checked.
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Can I travel to Puerto Rico without a valid visa?
Puerto Rico is a US territory and you only need a valid stamped US visa if you are directly entering PR through any of its international airports like San Juan.Can a non US citizen travel to Puerto Rico without a passport?
Only non-U.S. citizens and U.S. citizens entering Puerto Rico from a foreign country will be required to present a passport.Can US citizens travel to Puerto Rico without visa?
Although Puerto Rico is a Free Commonwealth, the island is a territory of the United States and has the same entry requirements as any other state in the United States. Depending on where you're traveling from, you might not need any visas to visit.Can immigrants in the US go to Puerto Rico?
People who visit Puerto Rico have the same restrictions and immigration privileges as if they were visiting any other destination in the US. For immigration purposes, traveling from anywhere in the US to Puerto Rico does not constitute exiting the US, provided the flight goes directly from one state to Puerto Rico.Going To Puerto Rico? Don't Get A Passport Until You Watch This Video
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