POE's from India

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

He is being very stubborn. Money is an issue right now and even though they don't seem to care, I feel guilty having him get the money from his parents like he wants to. Maybe my real issue is more about pride than it is about being there....man....didn't want to face that one.

I priced everything, it's going to cost me $710 to fly, $400 for train, $225 for the bus. That includes me going to NY and then coming back with him. It doesn't include food, lodging or anything else.

To be honest, I'm a little stubborn too. I don't want to drive that far, I can't stop a bus or a train when I want to get out and stretch. I'm trying to get some other ideas. He is absolutely inflexible on this. I know I'm going to wind up in NY. And I think I'm going to be stuck on a plane. I just know it lol. I'm just fighting it. Eh....Thanks for all of your help.

[karenros 0]

ms_jinga_lala

Which part of North carolina do you live in?

I live in the charlotte area.. When i came to the US I came thru DEtroit andmy husband met me andmy brother met me there but since we had family we could stay in Michigan..

We visited india in Apr and I live close to bangalore so we took a direct flight from bangalore to Newark and then we flew to charlotte...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Also to add on let him know this as well...

1. Pass through Immigration (ALONE) whether its JFK or anywhere else.

2. Pass through Customs (ALONE)

only thing that you could help him with would be

1. Either pick him up at JFK and drive back home. (expensive and painful driving)

2. Fly to JFK, Pick him up at JFK, help check-in domestic and fly back home. (more expensive a little bit less painful)

or the best...

3. Pick him up at domestic airport. (not expensive, not painful)

Choice is yours actually his lol.

Actually, Charlotte/Douglas airport is designated as international, as is Raleigh-Durham--in which case, 3 can be "book him to clear customs/immigration at CLT or RDU--and pick him up there (maybe some extra expense for airfare getting foreign fiance to POE--but much less than return-domestic airfare to JFK--with no pain)

[Saddle Bronc 124]

He is being very stubborn. Money is an issue right now and even though they don't seem to care, I feel guilty having him get the money from his parents like he wants to. Maybe my real issue is more about pride than it is about being there....man....didn't want to face that one.

I priced everything, it's going to cost me $710 to fly, $400 for train, $225 for the bus. That includes me going to NY and then coming back with him. It doesn't include food, lodging or anything else.

To be honest, I'm a little stubborn too. I don't want to drive that far, I can't stop a bus or a train when I want to get out and stretch. I'm trying to get some other ideas. He is absolutely inflexible on this. I know I'm going to wind up in NY. And I think I'm going to be stuck on a plane. I just know it lol. I'm just fighting it. Eh....Thanks for all of your help.

An idea: how about bin the 90-day EAD entirely and book him into Charlotte/Douglas or Raleigh-Durham DIRECTLY as POE? Advantages:

• when the 90 days runs out, his working will be hosed anyway (barring ultra-ultra-miraculous coincidence of you marrying one day after his landing, sending out I-485/I-131/I-765 packet rightaway AND USCIS processing I-765 within 89 days)
• added expense of airfare to CLT or RDU (not touching JFK at all) much less than a domestic return to JFK for you
• pickup journey much easier/less-painful

Drawback: he will not be able to work upon landing (but see above for neutralising factor)

Edit: go with CLT--receives Lufthansa flights from Munichand US Airways (i'll go with official name here) from CDG, Frankfurt and Gatwick.

Edited November 20, 2009 by Saddle Bronc

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

Also to add on let him know this as well...

1. Pass through Immigration (ALONE) whether its JFK or anywhere else.

2. Pass through Customs (ALONE)

only thing that you could help him with would be

1. Either pick him up at JFK and drive back home. (expensive and painful driving)

2. Fly to JFK, Pick him up at JFK, help check-in domestic and fly back home. (more expensive a little bit less painful)

or the best...

3. Pick him up at domestic airport. (not expensive, not painful)

Choice is yours actually his lol.

Actually, Charlotte/Douglas airport is designated as international, as is Raleigh-Durham--in which case, 3 can be "book him to clear customs/immigration at CLT or RDU--and pick him up there (maybe some extra expense for airfare getting foreign fiance to POE--but much less than return-domestic airfare to JFK--with no pain)

I'm trying to do that. I'm checking 3 different websites that find multiple plane tickets at once, I know it's early, but I'm trying to get ahead on some things. I'm hoping something will pop up. Thank you so much for the ideas, I'm still checking. The EAD is not even a huge concern for me to be honest. I actually don't think he's going to be working right away anyway. He has his masters degree and will be looking for a high end job, those don't come around every day. Plus we need time to teach him to drive, get him a vehicle and such. I'm keeping all my options open.

ms_jinga_lala

Which part of North carolina do you live in?

I live in the charlotte area.. When i came to the US I came thru DEtroit andmy husband met me andmy brother met me there but since we had family we could stay in Michigan..

We visited india in Apr and I live close to bangalore so we took a direct flight from bangalore to Newark and then we flew to charlotte...

I hadn't thought of trying that option yet, thank you. I live closer to Greensboro. I was hoping the new direct Air India flights to Dulles would be an option but even they stop in NY.

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

An idea: how about bin the 90-day EAD entirely and book him into Charlotte/Douglas or Raleigh-Durham DIRECTLY as POE? Advantages:

• when the 90 days runs out, his working will be hosed anyway (barring ultra-ultra-miraculous coincidence of you marrying one day after his landing, sending out I-485/I-131/I-765 packet rightaway AND USCIS processing I-765 within 89 days)
• added expense of airfare to CLT or RDU (not touching JFK at all) much less than a domestic return to JFK for you
• pickup journey much easier/less-painful

Drawback: he will not be able to work upon landing (but see above for neutralising factor)

Edit: go with CLT--receives Lufthansa flights from Munichand US Airways (i'll go with official name here) from CDG, Frankfurt and Gatwick.

You make a good point about the EAD expiring. About the only viable job around here that he could get quickly requires almost 2 months of training. They wouldn't even consider hiring him knowing he would only work a month and then have to quit. So if he gets any kind of job, it's not going to pay enough to make it worthwhile for us because I work crappy hours and I would have to drive him everywhere or pay for bus service. That wouldn't be so bad but could easily eat up his paycheck quickly anyway. So it's kind of pointless to try to get him a quicky type job. I think instead it would be more beneficial to let him spend his days applying and adjusting to life here. He's going to be in for a serious culture shock. He's from a very busy and crowded city and I live in the jungle as he says...which translates to a town where your next door neighbor is about 2 blocks away. The closest store is 2 miles away...yeah I need to move lol....he's going to go stir crazy.

I have no intention of getting married the day after he gets here lol. That would be crazy. I love him to death, I don't feel that rushed. 90 days is more than enough to throw together a small wedding (especially since I'm already working on the finer details and purchasing) with all my friends and family and I am not doing a courthouse wedding. I have plans for this event. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.

And as he always tells me, money doesn't matter, his parents are going to pay for that thing because it's their duty. (Meaning they are paying all his expenses related to this visa because that is how they do lol.) I think he would feel so much better flying somewhere close to me and then we can go home than having to fly for 2 days then sit in a vehicle for 2 days. That would completely suck. And I'm not giving up until I find something that lands him closer to me.

[karenros 0]

How bout flying in to Atlanta...they are some flights that do it...

http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewFlightSearch...ge=interstitial

[Saddle Bronc 124]

How bout flying in to Atlanta...they are somelots of flights that do it...

True, but that is somewhat more painful (around 250 miles Charlotte to Atlanta, 400 Raleigh to Atlanta) albeit much less than to JFK/EWR.

[karenros 0]

he lives off greensboro and Atlanta is around 4-5 hrs ish... and Greensboro is off I-85 and the same interstate goes thru Atlanta too... but the traffic sucks in Atlanta..

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

I don't mind Atlanta, I'm open to any options. JFK is a 2 day drive, Atlanta is only one. I have been through Atlanta many times and the traffic doesn't bother me there. Now Greensboro...has some crazy road patterns that are complicated to follow. After that Atlanta is a breeze lol. Thank you for the suggestion, I'm going to check that as well. I just need something more direct to convince him with. See what happens when you fall in love with a spoiled Punjabi lol. You have to start 2 months ahead of time to find an acceptable flight path. He's just lucky he's worth all this trouble.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I don't mind Atlanta, I'm open to any options. JFK is a 2 day drive, Atlanta is only one. I have been through Atlanta many times and the traffic doesn't bother me there. Now Greensboro...has some crazy road patterns that are complicated to follow. After that Atlanta is a breeze lol. Thank you for the suggestion, I'm going to check that as well. I just need something more direct to convince him with. See what happens when you fall in love with a spoiled Punjabi lol. You have to start 2 months ahead of time to find an acceptable flight path. He's just lucky he's worth all this trouble.

If you live in Greensboro, then another airport actually now jumps into picture--Dulles. You can go up I-85 to I-95, exit at Newington (several miles south of DC's crazier-than-285 Beltway--bypass-route suggested) and take 7100 (Fairfax County Parkway) from there to Herndon/Reston and take 267 (Dulles tollway--but to go to airport OR the Mariott just-prior is toll-free).

And lots of flights (after 2009/12/01, this includes Air India from IGI) go to Dulles.

(the route I've given you is "only" as bad as going to Hartsfield)

Edited November 24, 2009 by Saddle Bronc

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

(the route I've given you is "only" as bad as going to Hartsfield)

lol "only" as bad. I have been to Dulles as well. It's nowhere near as crazy as getting to JFK. I really hope I can work all this out and find somewhere closer.