u/Hot_Tea1008

I have a question regarding a friend's ability to take a closed-loop Caribbean cruise from the US.

He is an Indian national, came on F-1, completed studies, worked on OPT, never left the US. H-1B obtained via Change of Status domestically. Has an expired F-1 stamp — never obtained H-1B stamp, not feasible at this time. Current I-94 is paper one attached to I-797A, valid through 2028, H-1B status with no gaps.

Trip: Closed-loop Caribbean cruise departing and returning to Galveston, TX. Ports — Cozumel (Mexico), Grand Cayman, Montego Bay (Jamaica). No Canada or Mexico land border crossing.

Context: I personally took a similar Royal Caribbean closed-loop cruise from Galveston in 2025 with expired H-1B stamp and valid I-797A. Re-entered via face scan, no issues. Post trip my I-94 was never updated — system treated as if I never left the US. However my H-4 dependents who traveled with me had valid H-4 stamps — their I-94s were updated showing exit and re-entry at Galveston.

The specific legal question: Can my friend legally re-enter the US after this cruise given his COS history and no H-1B stamp? His only evidence of current H-1B status is his I-797A with paper I-94 valid through 2028. Based on our reading of 8 CFR §214.1(b), re-entry on a valid petition and I-94 for closed-loop travel should be supported. Looking for community experiences and guidance on whether this trip is advisable and what documents he should carry.

Cross-posted from r/h1b for wider visibility.

Note: Immigration situation is specific — H-1B via
Change of Status, valid I-797A + paper I-94 attached
to I-797A, but passport only has an expired F-1 stamp
and no online I-94 record exists. No H-1B stamp has
ever been obtained. This is NOT the standard expired
H-1B stamp scenario — please read before responding.

MY FRIEND'S SITUATION:
- Indian national, valid H-1B status via COS
- Has valid H-1B I-797A approval notice
- I-94 exists on the I-797A paper notice itself —
NOT visible online at i94.cbp.dhs.gov because
he has never left and re-entered the US since
COS approval. No electronic I-94 record exists.
His valid I-94 is the paper one on the I-797A.
- Never obtained H-1B visa stamp at any consulate
- Only stamp in passport: expired F-1 student stamp

CRUISE: Carnival Dream, Galveston TX
Dec 19–27 2026 — closed-loop, same port in and out
Ports: Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY:

Q1. Will Carnival's check-in agents at Galveston
accept valid I-797A + paper I-94 attached to
I-797A without seeing an actual H-1B visa stamp
or an online I-94 record?

Q2. Has anyone been in a similar documentation
situation at Galveston terminal — what happened?
Did agents escalate, ask for supervisor, deny
boarding, or wave through?

Q3. For COS H-1B holders with no online I-94 —
does Carnival have a specific procedure to
verify immigration status at Galveston?

Q4. Is there an immigration supervisor or CBP
liaison at the Galveston Carnival terminal
we can specifically request if front-line
agent hesitates?

Q5. Calling Carnival 1-800-227-6482 tomorrow —
which department handles this documentation
question accurately? Guest services or a
specific immigration compliance team?

Context: A friend in the same group completed
Royal Caribbean from Galveston Aug 2025 with
expired H-1B stamp + valid I-797A + online I-94
— zero issues at embarkation and re-entry. But
that case had an actual expired H-1B stamp and
online I-94 record — both different from this
COS + valid I-797A + paper I-94 only + no H-1B
stamp situation.

Already spent time researching this but could not
find any real firsthand experience or direct legal
precedent that clearly answers these specific
questions for the COS + valid I-797A + paper I-94
only + no H-1B stamp + Expired F-1 Stamp +
closed-loop Caribbean cruise scenario. Every source
either covers the standard expired H-1B stamp case
or gives general AVR theory — nothing that matches
this exact situation. Your real experience is what
the research is missing. 🙏

Asking on behalf of a friend who is in this exact
situation and planning this cruise. Want to gather
real experiences before he commits to booking.
If you or anyone you know has been through this
specific scenario — H-1B via COS, valid I-797A,
paper I-94 only, no H-1B stamp ever, only expired
F-1 stamp, Galveston terminal — even a short reply
would genuinely help. Thank you 🙏

F-1 to H-1B COS, expired F-1 stamp, valid I-797A — can he take a closed-loop Caribbean cruise?

Will Carnival Dream Galveston agents allow boarding — H-1B COS, valid I-797A, paper I-94 only, expired F-1 stamp, no H-1B stamp ever — Dec 2026