Buying flights before Visa approval??

[izzyflan 0]

Hi, i am an Irish citizen married to USC. We are coming up to the interview stage of out CR1, just waiting on one last thing -co sponor affidavit to be sent and then send for my interview dat, Being the dublin embassy I doubt it will take longer than 1mnth for interview. My ubby has been here almost 2 years and we will be 2 years married in May. Don't see anything coming up to delay or stop our visa as we have nothing to hide no complications and nothing unusal. Thing is we seen really good deal online for one way flights and we plan to move in May but if wait to book till visa approved hopefully in March / April the prices will go up.... SO what do we do? Book flights now for end of May and hope all is ok?

[Calypso 464]

It's up to you.

My then fiance (now husband) had my 8 a.m. flight schedule to LAX ready even before my interview. I was able to fly on the same day as he has set, October 27 last year, but not at the exact time. My visa was issued on October 27 at 9:30 a.m. I left the country at 5:30 p.m.

[SMOKE 1,426]

i'd wait until you have the visa in your hand. no need to cause undue stress.

Edited February 2, 2010 by SMOKE

[Nizzy 1]

I wouldn't do it. I just think there are so many things that can happen. But than again, my guy was coming from Pakistan so we knew what we were getting into. I agree, it's up to you.

[izzyflan 0]

Hi, i am an Irish citizen married to USC. We are coming up to the interview stage of out CR1, just waiting on one last thing -co sponor affidavit to be sent and then send for my interview dat, Being the dublin embassy I doubt it will take longer than 1mnth for interview. My ubby has been here almost 2 years and we will be 2 years married in May. Don't see anything coming up to delay or stop our visa as we have nothing to hide no complications and nothing unusal. Thing is we seen really good deal online for one way flights and we plan to move in May but if wait to book till visa approved hopefully in March / April the prices will go up.... SO what do we do? Book flights now for end of May and hope all is ok?

[Otto 83]

You should use caution when planning your move (since you do not really know when things will get approved).

[SunDrop 59]

Find out what the amendment costs are, if it's even allowed. Sometimes the cost of changing in the event of an unexpected delay is more expensive than a replacement ticket.

Also, return flights are often cheaper than one way, have you looked at those? You don't have to use a return leg, just call and cancel the flight once you're in the US.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Duplicate threads moved to correct forum and merged. Triplicate thread of same without a response removed. It is not necessary to start more than one thread on the same subject.

[txladykat 1]

it is always a risk. My husband did the same coming from Denmark, based on what he was told by the embassy. He had his interview and then was told he could pick his visa up 3 days later. When he called to confirm they pickup he was told they were closed to the public that day and he could not pick it up until the following week. Problem - he already has his flight booked. He explained the situation and thankfully they were very accomodating and even met him outside the embassy to give him his visa on that day (as he wasnt allowed inside due to it being closed to the public). I am sure this is a rare exception though, so always be careful. Find out what is the typical turnaround time from interview to visa in Ireland, then maybe book a few weeks after that date? If we had booked a week after the "pickup" date they originally gave hm, we wouldn't have experienced the problem.

I agree on the round trip ticket. That is what we did, its always cheaper and you just cancel the return leg of your flight after arriving in the US