How to Make Plane Reservation with Visa Delivery Time Uncertain?

[♥DanAnalyn♥ 0]

My fiancee has her Visa Interview on October 3rd. Assuming that she passes, I have heard/read that delivery in the Philippines can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. How can I make a plane reservation not knowing when?

How has others done it?

Thanks,

♥DanAnalyn♥

[Devkpaik 1]

My fiancee has her Visa Interview on October 3rd. Assuming that she passes, I have heard/read that delivery in the Philippines can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. How can I make a plane reservation not knowing when?

How has others done it?

Thanks,

♥DanAnalyn♥

Basically you'll be taking a gamble. You can get an estimate of how long it SHOULD take to have the visa issued, but every case is different. There would be no way to successfully predict how long EXACTLY it'd take.

Good luck

[rin and john 71]

It's a gamble to buy before the visa is in hand. In our case, I booked Rin's ticket prior to her interview. However, I did it at the ticket office for Thai Airways in Bangkok and confirmed directly with the airline that the departure date could be changed (it could be for free anytime up to a year).

So if you buy it now, know the rules and fees that apply in case the departure is delayed. Then it is a risk/reward evaluation that only you can make.

John

[tallcoolone 102]

In PI. Your fiance will not be able to buy a International Flight ticket without a Visa in Hand.

You can buy her one here and send it to her.

Another thing to consider:

It can take up to month or more after Interview for the US Embassy to do a Documement Verification.

Then if your fiance lives outside the Manila area it will take a few more days for Visa Delivery from Delbros.

[mehere! 0]

It is not advisable for you to purchase ticket when you do not have the visa yet.even the US embassy is advising this to the applicants....

[pushbrk 12,877]

How can I make a plane reservation not knowing when?

How has others done it?

Thanks,

♥DanAnalyn♥

The best practice is not to make a reservation or buy a ticket until the visa is in hand. If you're willing to pay for an open ended ticket or pay the change fees, go for it.

[maliciant 7]

I had originally figured I'd fly over so I'd be with my fiance on her flight to the US, to make it easier, thinking wait until the visa is in hand to book a flight... but then I started to get a little paranoid about waiting for as much as a year, and then getting a more proof required of ongoing relationship and decided it's best if I'm at the interview itself (proof of ongoing relationship... well we have all these chat logs and oh yeah... howdy, I'm right here, do I have to kiss her as proof? Can I anyway?)... Anyway, I had figured to buy an open ended enough ticket that I could change the date if necessary, if for some reason the visa won't be issued in the two weeks I expect to be there. I wasn't aware that a ticket couldn't be purchased without a visa in hand though. One more thing to worry about in the end.

[pushbrk 12,877]

I had originally figured I'd fly over so I'd be with my fiance on her flight to the US, to make it easier, thinking wait until the visa is in hand to book a flight... but then I started to get a little paranoid about waiting for as much as a year, and then getting a more proof required of ongoing relationship and decided it's best if I'm at the interview itself (proof of ongoing relationship... well we have all these chat logs and oh yeah... howdy, I'm right here, do I have to kiss her as proof? Can I anyway?)... Anyway, I had figured to buy an open ended enough ticket that I could change the date if necessary, if for some reason the visa won't be issued in the two weeks I expect to be there. I wasn't aware that a ticket couldn't be purchased without a visa in hand though. One more thing to worry about in the end.

Of course a ticket can be purchased without a visa in hand. It just can't be used without the visa in hand. Changing the dates on tickets usually costs some money either for the change or by paying extra up front for an open ended travel date.

Deciding about the financial risk is up to you.

[R de la R 2]

Don't take that risk, wait until she gets the visa.

[payxibka 10,045]

Don't take that risk, wait until she gets the visa.

As long as the OP understands the risks and then if they so choose, then why not... I bought shortly after getting her NOA2 and before we even knew when her interview date was.... I would not suggest that anyone do what I did, but I understood the risks and was willing to take the chance....

[maliciant 7]

I bought shortly after getting her NOA2 and before we even knew when her interview date was....

Yeah, I would definitely know when the interview date is before purchasing a ticket, and it is a risk either way, there is no gaurentee of passing the interview though it seems rare for people to fail it, and definitely no gaurentees on when someone will get the actual visa... though it seems fairly typical for people to get the visa within 2 weeks, especially if they are living in manila (maybe only because they can do the pickup option). I think the administrative review is the big one in terms of messing up travel plans. Either way, to me it's worth the risk, I don't particularly enjoy those 28 hour travelling ordeals to or from the philippines, and for my fiance there is potentially all kinds of stressful little additions to the trip that I didn't have to face so much. I can work (at least my primary duties) from anywhere in the world, so if I need to stay a little longer I can probably do that, the real question is if I'll have any hope of knowing how much longer to expect to wait etc, for me that decision is still probably 6 months away if I'm lucky.

[Ling Ling 22]

I hadn't given much thought to this...but now I'm thinking like this.

If I purchase a ticket now and guess on a good date...worse case would be a $100 change fee (assuming the same class of service is available).

If I wait to purchase less than 2 weeks before intended travel, I could face a pretty stiff premium...maybe $1K more.

If the price of oil suddenly increases, so too may airline travel. I highly doubt we'll see airline prices decrease regardless of oil.

So assuming I can purchase a ticket that doesn't restrict us from changing the travel date (most discounted fares have this option, but check to be sure),

I personally feel that it's worth the risk of $100 change fee.

I know how to make more money....I don't know how to make more time.

YMMV (your madness may vary)

[1HappyGuy 45]

Why not send an email to the consulate in P.I. asking them what the usual processing time is. If you have a case number, her name and date of the appointment, it helps them a lot to respond to you. They don't usually like to be just an answering service. Then plan for her to depart a little longer after the time estimate. Afterall, she will be leaving for a long time, she needs to say all her goodbyes, pack everything she can, and possibily make some arrangements for home, assets or property.

We all know about the long wait and the frustrations this process takes. Remember, the visa is good for six months, so your don't really need to rush. If money is an issue, then planning a slower arrival could save some money. Instead of flying to P.I. to be with her, just make sure you are at her point of entry in to the U.S.A. The airplane flight is just a glorified bus trip and if she knows you will be there at the end, that should relax her.

[♥DanAnalyn♥ 0]

We paid the DV on Sep 1st, which is over a month BEFORE her interview on Oct 3rd; so, that shouldn't be a problem.

We live in the PI, so, I am not flying over to be with her.

The reason for asking was that it is usually cheaper to purchase in advance than at the last minute, and it still may be cheaper to buy in advance and pay a fee to change rather than to wait to buy.

Someone suggested that there is no hurry, but they are VERY wrong. My fiancee and I can't wait to go to the States and get married and live HAPPILY ever after.

♥DanAnalyn♥

[tallcoolone 102]

Of course a ticket can be purchased without a visa in hand. It just can't be used without the visa in hand. Changing the dates on tickets usually costs some money either for the change or by paying extra up front for an open ended travel date.

In correct.

In the Philippines the airlines will not issue your fiance a ticket without a Visa and Passport in hand. And they usually ask to see both at time of ticket purchase.