[garfield529]

I have read several users mention that there are travel agents who will help you get cheap flights back home? I am referring to the agents at the consulate. Are these flights for your fiancee, or both? Are guys (I assume most of us are guys for China) just buying one way flights for the interview and then waiting on the return flight...or do users hedge their visa-bet and buy their fiancee's ticket in advance. I am far from this point, but I am really curious. Thanks!

This post has been edited by garfield529: 31 August 2009 - 11:07 PM

[endoftheroad]

I have read several users mention that there are travel agents who will help you get cheap flights back home? I am referring to the agents at the consulate. Are these flights for your fiancee, or both? Are guys (I assume most of us are guys for China) just buying one way flights for the interview and then waiting on the return flight...or do users hedge their visa-bet and buy their fiancee's ticket in advance. I am far from this point, but I am really curious. Thanks!

I am buying a RT from the USA. Once we get the visa then we'll buy one ways for them and hookup at the USA airport (I'll make sure I arrive first). All flying from Hong Kong, a easy train ride from GUZ and much cheaper tickets. If there is a better way then let me know!

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This post has been edited by endoftheroad: 01 September 2009 - 12:47 AM

[Darnell]

IMO, it's the old adage- You can have it good, fast or cheap - PICK TWO.

So if you're shopping around for tickets - coupla things to consider:

1. just because she got a pink slip - it doesn't guarantee she'll get the visa.
2. The VISA packet has to be mailed out somewhere in Guangzhou - and it's not always the 2 to 3 day processing window that GUZ mentions.
3. US Holidays and China Holidays delay visa issuance.

Some folk will buy at R/T ticket for themselves, with a one way ticket, with a 'jump date' out of China within 5 days of interview day. IMO, this is the worst bet you can make. Great on Money, sure, but is highest risk.

Another option is a R/T ticket for you, with an open-ended return date. Is more money, of course, but helps to match up putting you and HER on the plane going out. A cheaper option would be to get a ticket that allows for ONE 'change of return date' - that's usually 100 to 300 bucks extra at time of change, and make that match up with her one-way ticket.

You might want to look at http://english.ctrip.com, and have your lass look at www.ctrip.com - and get some idea of the ROUTINGS that are available.

Sure, there are ticket agents in the Tianye Building - some of them use the cheapest prices they can, some try for 'all the market will bear' - but - does she have a travel agent friend in her home town? It makes more sense to me, to inquire through that friend, instead.

GOOD LUCK !

[Azzudiin]

Your SO does not have to fly immediately after interview, most likely a more sensible plan would be, you plan regular RT to Guz for the interview. Once SO gets pink they return home and prepares to leave for US in 4-6 weeks roughly.
If SO lives a long way away from GUZ and they are packing for going to America, thats a ton of luggage to be hauling around when you really do not have the big fat VISA in hand.

Me and my SO plan is pretty much, I go to GUZ with her, I fly home, she flys back home (Chongqing). I return in 2 months empty handed (no luggage) except for a few changes of clothes. We fly back to America together so I can go through POE with her and also she gets to bring along 2 extra bags of stuff on my ticket.
I know we all want to be together as fast as possible, but take some time and think it through, what happens as another poster above stated if they get pink, but you get the black hole 2 week wait on VISA? what about blue slip for additional documentation? Or worse yet the dreaded white.
You have waited a long time, another month or 2 to make preparations without flying by the seat of the pants (no pun intended) will make a lot less stress on your SO, and they are going to have a ton of that anyway with interview, saying goodbye to family and friends, entering a vastly different culture etc etc.

Summation of this longer then intended post: Don't rush

This post has been edited by Azzudiin: 02 September 2009 - 09:54 AM

[Dan & Juan]

Your SO does not have to fly immediately after interview, most likely a more sensible plan would be, you plan regular RT to Guz for the interview. Once SO gets pink they return home and prepares to leave for US in 4-6 weeks roughly.
If SO lives a long way away from GUZ and they are packing for going to America, thats a ton of luggage to be hauling around when you really do not have the big fat VISA in hand.

Me and my SO plan is pretty much, I go to GUZ with her, I fly home, she flys back home (Chongqing). I return in 2 months empty handed (no luggage) except for a few changes of clothes. We fly back to America together so I can go through POE with her and also she gets to bring along 2 extra bags of stuff on my ticket.
I know we all want to be together as fast as possible, but take some time and think it through, what happens as another poster above stated if they get pink, but you get the black hole 2 week wait on VISA? what about blue slip for additional documentation? Or worse yet the dreaded white.
You have waited a long time, another month or 2 to make preparations without flying by the seat of the pants (no pun intended) will make a lot less stress on your SO, and they are going to have a ton of that anyway with interview, saying goodbye to family and friends, entering a vastly different culture etc etc.

Summation of this longer then intended post: Don't rush

This is exactly what we did, we got pink and visa in hand in 2 days but she lives in another city and hadn't resigned job or visited with family and its only fair to let her say goodby to her whole life she's lived for over 30 years and deal with anything that comes up. I wish I could go and fly back with her but I can't believe rushing there and coming right back is good money to spend, I would rather visit with her in future

[endoftheroad]

Your SO does not have to fly immediately after interview, most likely a more sensible plan would be, you plan regular RT to Guz for the interview. Once SO gets pink they return home and prepares to leave for US in 4-6 weeks roughly.
If SO lives a long way away from GUZ and they are packing for going to America, thats a ton of luggage to be hauling around when you really do not have the big fat VISA in hand.

Me and my SO plan is pretty much, I go to GUZ with her, I fly home, she flys back home (Chongqing). I return in 2 months empty handed (no luggage) except for a few changes of clothes. We fly back to America together so I can go through POE with her and also she gets to bring along 2 extra bags of stuff on my ticket.
I know we all want to be together as fast as possible, but take some time and think it through, what happens as another poster above stated if they get pink, but you get the black hole 2 week wait on VISA? what about blue slip for additional documentation? Or worse yet the dreaded white.
You have waited a long time, another month or 2 to make preparations without flying by the seat of the pants (no pun intended) will make a lot less stress on your SO, and they are going to have a ton of that anyway with interview, saying goodbye to family and friends, entering a vastly different culture etc etc.

Summation of this longer then intended post: Don't rush

It all depends on how your benificiary has prepared. In our case, she has been preparing for months and not treating the interview as a "OH MY GOODNESS, THE INTERVIEW, I MAY HAVE TO GO TO THE USA". She resigned from her work when she got the P3. She has been consolidating her "stuff" for many months. Her friends and family has met several times to say goodbye for a while. She is not bringing a ton of luggage (why do that?). Facts are that this is a K-1, and why leave seperately? I am going to her house and together we will go to GUZ. I will have my bag and she will have hers. If we fail in GUZ we will go back to her home together, if not we will go to the USA together. Spending thousands of extra dollars is unacceptable to her.

Anyway, if your SO has prepared well then there is no additional stress. It's not like this is a surprise or rushed.

[garfield529]

Your SO does not have to fly immediately after interview, most likely a more sensible plan would be, you plan regular RT to Guz for the interview. Once SO gets pink they return home and prepares to leave for US in 4-6 weeks roughly.
If SO lives a long way away from GUZ and they are packing for going to America, thats a ton of luggage to be hauling around when you really do not have the big fat VISA in hand.

Me and my SO plan is pretty much, I go to GUZ with her, I fly home, she flys back home (Chongqing). I return in 2 months empty handed (no luggage) except for a few changes of clothes. We fly back to America together so I can go through POE with her and also she gets to bring along 2 extra bags of stuff on my ticket.
I know we all want to be together as fast as possible, but take some time and think it through, what happens as another poster above stated if they get pink, but you get the black hole 2 week wait on VISA? what about blue slip for additional documentation? Or worse yet the dreaded white.
You have waited a long time, another month or 2 to make preparations without flying by the seat of the pants (no pun intended) will make a lot less stress on your SO, and they are going to have a ton of that anyway with interview, saying goodbye to family and friends, entering a vastly different culture etc etc.

Summation of this longer then intended post: Don't rush

Thanks for the perspective. I agree that it may be best to not expect her to return to the US with me. At the same time, I don't have the flexibility to make trips as often. Maybe I will have to choose between being at the interview and being with her on the "long haul" flight to the US. We have time....patience.... By the way, my girl is also from Chongqing, so if you want to message me offline her information it maybe helpful for the girls to have contacts. I was hoping to find one or two girls she could have contact with in case help is needed.

[OKIE2]

Thanks for the perspective. I agree that it may be best to not expect her to return to the US with me. At the same time, I don't have the flexibility to make trips as often. Maybe I will have to choose between being at the interview and being with her on the "long haul" flight to the US. We have time....patience.... By the way, my girl is also from Chongqing, so if you want to message me offline her information it maybe helpful for the girls to have contacts. I was hoping to find one or two girls she could have contact with in case help is needed.
[/quote]

the cheapest flight out of china is from Hong Kong to San Fransisco or LA then another ticket to St. Louis
One is with Air china HK to SF $461.29 with 4 hour layover in Beijing the other is with Sinapore Airlines direct flight to SF for $529.03 then SF to St. Louis on American Airlines For $139.60. I have already checked with AA airline there is no baggage fee for this flight.

[endoftheroad]

OKIE2,
You have not updated your timeline so what is with INTERVIEW DATE JULY 30TH 7:30 AM. What happened?