Caribbean Travel & the LPR (Green Card Holder)

[Zhen's Tiger]

I'm looking into booking a Caribbean Cruise for next month, Zhen thinks we are only flying to Miami & staying there. I wanted it to be a surprise when we pulled up to the Cruise Ship...

Does anyone know if she will need a Visa for any of these Countries:

Puerto Rico

Jamaica

Bahamas

Mexico

St. Thomas

St. Croix

Aruba

Barbados

St. Lucia

Antigua

Dominica

St. Maarten

Cayman Islands

It won't be all of these Countries, but depending on whether it's Western, Eastern or Southern Caribbean trip, it will be a few of them. So I am wondering if anyone knows about any of them. Any help would be appreciated as I wanted to book the trip by tomorrow. Yea, Mr. Last Minute! Thanks!

 

Steve

[NewDay2006]

I have been to Aruba,Mexico, PR and Bahamas and you only needed your birth certificate then, but now I understand you need your passport and in your wife's case her Green card along with the passport.

 

Have a great time, it should be great. One tip, unless you just want to try the local cuisine, eat on the boat, food can be very expensive on the outside.

[Zhen's Tiger]

I have been to Aruba,Mexico, PR and Bahamas and you only needed your birth certificate then, but now I understand you need your passport and in your wife's case her Green card along with the passport.

 

Have a great time, it should be great. One tip, unless you just want to try the local cuisine, eat on the boat, food can be very expensive on the outside.

Thanks! So it's your understanding that she shouldn't have any problems as long as she has her China Passport & Green Card? Also her Drivers License & SS Card just for backup...

[Sebastian]

I would check with a travel agent, if you are booking the cruise through a travel agent - they know (or can get) all this info.

 

There's also a CFL member here who is travel agent, specializing in booking cruises (oddly enough) - but I can't for the life o me remember his user id.

 

My gut response would be 'she's gonna need a visa' - but that's based on EU travel, not the Carribbean.

 

Specifically for Jamaica - when I read 'this' -> http://www.myvisapassport.com/Visa-Jamaica.htm and same for Dominica -> http://www.myvisapassport.com/Visa-Dominican-Republic.htm

 

Then I'm thinking she'll need a visa. But I really don't know, for certain.

 

If you want to keep it a surprise, you'll have to somehow send out her passport to a visa agency, and then not let her see it when it is returned. I can see it now, 'Honey- what's this? A Visa to Jamaica?' huh ? '

 

THe cruise line company can tell you for certain which ports o call will require visas for a Chinese National. I suggest picking up the phone, and calling the cruise line company. For certain, having a green card is useful for re-entry once the boat docks in Miami, but everything else ? You should pick up a telephone, and call.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

No visa needed for a green-card holder to visit Canada, Mexico, and the neighboring islands in the Caribbean.

 

Note: Puerto Rico is a US Territory, it is just like traveling to another State.

 

National China (People's Rep.) (CN)

Residence U.S.A. (US) /Destination Jamaica (JM)

 

 

Passport Exemptions:

 

- Holders of a Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) issued to alien residents of the U.S.A.. (AKA Green-Card)

 

Visa required, except for Those coming for touristic purposes

 

only:

- for a max. stay of 6 months for alien residents of U.S.A. provided holding proof of residence; Visa required, except for Those coming for business purposes only, for a max. stay of 30 days:

- for alien residents of U.S.A. provided holding proof of residence.

Minors:

- Minors (under 18 years of age), irrespective of nationality;

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_webs...ubuser=DELTAB2C

 

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...rt_information/

[dnoblett]

I would check with a travel agent, if you are booking the cruise through a travel agent - they know (or can get) all this info.

 

There's also a CFL member here who is travel agent, specializing in booking cruises (oddly enough) - but I can't for the life o me remember his user id.

 

NYTIMES http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showuser=4598 (Give him a PM) OR PM Me and I will give you his number. Edited February 23, 2009 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[NewDay2006]

I have been to Aruba,Mexico, PR and Bahamas and you only needed your birth certificate then, but now I understand you need your passport and in your wife's case her Green card along with the passport.

 

Have a great time, it should be great. One tip, unless you just want to try the local cuisine, eat on the boat, food can be very expensive on the outside.

Thanks! So it's your understanding that she shouldn't have any problems as long as she has her China Passport & Green Card? Also her Drivers License & SS Card just for backup...

 

I don't think she will have a problem with the places I mentioned in the least, I went to those places and I didn't even have Passport, as I only had a birth certificate, but this was pre 9/11. My feeling is her and your only issues is getting back into the US not the places you are visiting... and the Passport(yours and hers) and her Green card handles that. But to be sure, it wouldn't hurt to double check.

Edited February 23, 2009 by NewDay2006 (see edit history)

[Zhen's Tiger]

I would check with a travel agent, if you are booking the cruise through a travel agent - they know (or can get) all this info.

 

There's also a CFL member here who is travel agent, specializing in booking cruises (oddly enough) - but I can't for the life o me remember his user id.

 

My gut response would be 'she's gonna need a visa' - but that's based on EU travel, not the Carribbean.

 

Specifically for Jamaica - when I read 'this' -> http://www.myvisapassport.com/Visa-Jamaica.htm and same for Dominica -> http://www.myvisapassport.com/Visa-Dominican-Republic.htm

 

Then I'm thinking she'll need a visa. But I really don't know, for certain.

 

If you want to keep it a surprise, you'll have to somehow send out her passport to a visa agency, and then not let her see it when it is returned. I can see it now, 'Honey- what's this? A Visa to Jamaica?' huh ? '

 

THe cruise line company can tell you for certain which ports o call will require visas for a Chinese National. I suggest picking up the phone, and calling the cruise line company. For certain, having a green card is useful for re-entry once the boat docks in Miami, but everything else ? You should pick up a telephone, and call.

Thanks for the links! I will be calling once I get home, but was hoping to get lucky with someone who had done this already. It would be much easier if I wasn't trying to surprise her!

[Zhen's Tiger]

I would check with a travel agent, if you are booking the cruise through a travel agent - they know (or can get) all this info.

 

There's also a CFL member here who is travel agent, specializing in booking cruises (oddly enough) - but I can't for the life o me remember his user id.

 

NYTIMES http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showuser=4598 (Give him a PM) OR PM Me and I will give you his number.

Thank you for the links as well, Dan! I PMed NYTIMES & one is on the way to you also in case he doesn't login for a while... Thanks much for the info!