I-129f's HARDSHIP of meeting in person request?

[john_and_marlene 162]

As pointed out Christeen, Laos is basically the most difficult country to LEAVE. So my fiancee will have absolutely no chance to obtain a travel visa to come here. My fiancee having no real tie to country would for sure deny her travel visa.

The only way to be sure in the eyes of an adjudicator is to apply and be refused. I have read several denied appeals where they specificallty cited the lack of evidence that travel by the beneficiary had been refused. She will need to make application for a visa to virtually any and all countries that you can travel to and be refused.

...That's assuming they accept your inability to travel

[nickm 1]

@ Lia792 -The option of traveling through Europe. Hmmm. Well considering the shortest duration flight from Miami to London is over 8 hours. I would be still stuck in my seat helpless. Unless anyone know of a shorter Trans-Atantaic flight?

Philadelphia to London is around and a half hours. I dont know if this helps your situation but i have flown that many times without using the bathroom, but then i have flown it several time where i have had to.

good luck and i hope you work something out.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Philadelphia to London is around and a half hours. I dont know if this helps your situation but i have flown that many times without using the bathroom, but then i have flown it several time where i have had to.

good luck and i hope you work something out.

New York to Dublin - about 7.

[sachinky 465]

These hardship waivers are notoriously difficult to obtain as the one K-1 pre requirement is having met face-to-face at least once in the last two years. I do wish you luck in your endeavors. Do realize it is an uphill battle. You will need to exhaust each and every avenue.

[rin and john 71]

Assuming you start in Miami (based on earlier post), a total of eight flights ranging from 1:10 hours to 5:00 hours in length. Total trip time of about 81 hours with a night spent in Copenhagen and potentially a short night at a hotel in Dubai.

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Miami, FL, USA

To: Boston, MA, USA

American Airlines (AA) Flight 1926

Depart: 3:55p - Miami International Apt

Arrive: 7:05p - Boston Logan International Apt

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Boston, MA, USA

To: Reykjavik, Iceland

Icelandair (FI) Flight 630

Depart: 9:30p - Boston Logan International Apt

Arrive: 6:30a - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Airtime = 5:00

Depart Date: Apr 02, 2010

From: Reykjavik, Iceland

To: Copenhagen, Denmark

Icelandair (FI) Flight 212

Depart: 1:15p - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Arrive: 6:15p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Airtime = 3:00

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

To: Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Airlines (TK) Flight 1784

Depart: 12:10p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Arrive: 4:20p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Istanbul, Turkey

To: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates (EK) Flight 122

Depart: 7:25p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Arrive: 12:40a - Dubai International

Airtime = 4:15

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

To: Mumbai, India

Emirates (EK) Flight 502

Depart: 1:15p - Dubai International

Arrive: 5:35p - Mumbai, India

Airtime = 2:50

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Mumbai, India

To: Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 318

Depart: 11:35p - Mumbai, India

Arrive: 5:35a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Airtime = 4:30

Depart Date: Apr 05, 2010

From: Bangkok, Thailand

To: Vientiane, Lao P D R

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 570

Depart: 11:45a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Arrive: 12:55p - Vientiane, Lao P D R

Airtime = 1:10

[USA Joe 0]

These hardship waivers are notoriously difficult to obtain as the one K-1 pre requirement is having met face-to-face at least once in the last two years. I do wish you luck in your endeavors. Do realize it is an uphill battle. You will need to exhaust each and every avenue.

Thank you Sachinky. But after reading the responses about Laos CO... that's where I am most scared at. Call me silly but I believe Americans have more of a sympathetic heart to my cause. The suggestions posted here were valid. I have considered most of them, and found some doesn't pertain to me. Some did. For example: the shorter flying routes. So even if the Hardship waiver does get approved.... I would still have to deal with Laos CO.

Ugh. I came from Laos. There's good reason why I left that communist country. Something about Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Basically Laos has none of that and I have no faith in the Laos government being remotely fair in approving her interview.

@ Rin and John. THANK YOU very much for that break down. Wow.... that looks like a 2 day trip (48 hrs+) when you factor I live in California. So flying back east to depart out from Miami is another 6-8 hours. Add in waiting 2 hours during each stop (domestically and inter-nationally) so I can meet my connecting flights. From my traveling experience this is a must being the last to be leave each airplane does suck big time lol

[sachinky 465]

Well, thankfully, the Laos government has nothing to do with the interview. The U.S. government, on the other hand, does. Rather the COs do. However, the interview is in the distant future. You will first need to get past the petition stage. Have your fiancee apply for a tourist visa, it will most likely be denied. She will need to show several attempts/denials not only for the U.S. but for Canada/Mexico as well.

Again, all the best to you and your fiancee.

Edited March 4, 2010 by sachinky

[rin and john 71]

@ Rin and John. THANK YOU very much for that break down. Wow.... that looks like a 2 day trip (48 hrs+) when you factor I live in California. So flying back east to depart out from Miami is another 6-8 hours. Add in waiting 2 hours during each stop (domestically and inter-nationally) so I can meet my connecting flights. From my traveling experience this is a must being the last to be leave each airplane does suck big time lol

Actually it is 81 hours from Miami to Vientiane. Would most likely be 2 to 4 hours more to go California to Boston instead of departing from Miami (wouldn't necessarily have to go via Miami; LAX to BOS direct is about 5:30 hours, but there are lots of other connections possible from LAX or SFO to BOS via Dallas, Denver, Memphis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, etc that would shorten the per flight time but add layover time).

[Audy_Rob 26]

I don't have any knowledge of this subject but this post reminded me of a recent post (which in addition to a disability faced financial difficulty in order to meet in person).

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&start=0

Good luck on meeting in person or pursuing the waiver...either way, good luck to you.

Yes, I also remember this recent thread and it is very similar, ultimately requested to be locked.

[pushbrk 12,894]

The option of traveling through Europe. Hmmm. Well considering the shortest duration flight from Miami to London is over 8 hours. I would be still stuck in my seat helpless. Unless anyone know of a shorter Trans-Atantaic flight?

As I mentioned in my initial suggestion of travel through Europe, I said it would not be convenient and would likely be expensive. Of course there are shorter transatlantic flights. For example, Boston to Paris. You might need an itinerary with multiple legs and even an overnight stop. Have a travel agent check out a Miami, Boston, Ponta Delgada, Portugal (PDL), Dubai, New Delhi, Bangkok and onward. You'll find no flights over 4 hours except the BOS to PDL of 4:45. (Possibly need one more stop between Portugal and Dubai and you'll probably want to stop overnight enroute.

Edited March 4, 2010 by pushbrk

[USA Joe 0]

Yes, I also remember this recent thread and it is very similar, ultimately requested to be locked.

I read that thread from start to finish. I was going to make a comment on it in my previous post but didnt know if doing so would violate this forum policy. But since you brought it up... i'll add my 2 cents.

That post clearly shows the need to be sensitive to people's disability level. Keep in mind the OP never disclosed his disability. My wager would be it is more than just a physical disability from reading his posts. If I am wrong, sorry, but the point again is to just be more aware and be kind in replying.

While we may have had a similar question, our backgrounds are differently apart. This brings up a good point an official from the Immigration told me, each case is judge upon based on its credibility. SO while that 99.9% Hardship-waiver denial rate is applicable, it also means I could very well be the 0.1% that could be answered to favorably.

@ sachinky, VERY GOOD TO KNOW. I was under the impression that the Lao government was doing the interview for my fiancee. Hmmmm. Now may be the time to write my Congressman

[pushbrk 12,894]

Assuming you start in Miami (based on earlier post), a total of eight flights ranging from 1:10 hours to 5:00 hours in length. Total trip time of about 81 hours with a night spent in Copenhagen and potentially a short night at a hotel in Dubai.

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Miami, FL, USA

To: Boston, MA, USA

American Airlines (AA) Flight 1926

Depart: 3:55p - Miami International Apt

Arrive: 7:05p - Boston Logan International Apt

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Boston, MA, USA

To: Reykjavik, Iceland

Icelandair (FI) Flight 630

Depart: 9:30p - Boston Logan International Apt

Arrive: 6:30a - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Airtime = 5:00

Depart Date: Apr 02, 2010

From: Reykjavik, Iceland

To: Copenhagen, Denmark

Icelandair (FI) Flight 212

Depart: 1:15p - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Arrive: 6:15p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Airtime = 3:00

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

To: Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Airlines (TK) Flight 1784

Depart: 12:10p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Arrive: 4:20p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Istanbul, Turkey

To: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates (EK) Flight 122

Depart: 7:25p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Arrive: 12:40a - Dubai International

Airtime = 4:15

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

To: Mumbai, India

Emirates (EK) Flight 502

Depart: 1:15p - Dubai International

Arrive: 5:35p - Mumbai, India

Airtime = 2:50

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Mumbai, India

To: Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 318

Depart: 11:35p - Mumbai, India

Arrive: 5:35a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Airtime = 4:30

Depart Date: Apr 05, 2010

From: Bangkok, Thailand

To: Vientiane, Lao P D R

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 570

Depart: 11:45a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Arrive: 12:55p - Vientiane, Lao P D R

Airtime = 1:10

Even better than my suggestion but you must have spent 7 or 8 minutes while I only spent 5.

[HannahP 119]

Assuming you start in Miami (based on earlier post), a total of eight flights ranging from 1:10 hours to 5:00 hours in length. Total trip time of about 81 hours with a night spent in Copenhagen and potentially a short night at a hotel in Dubai.

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Miami, FL, USA

To: Boston, MA, USA

American Airlines (AA) Flight 1926

Depart: 3:55p - Miami International Apt

Arrive: 7:05p - Boston Logan International Apt

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 01, 2010

From: Boston, MA, USA

To: Reykjavik, Iceland

Icelandair (FI) Flight 630

Depart: 9:30p - Boston Logan International Apt

Arrive: 6:30a - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Airtime = 5:00

Depart Date: Apr 02, 2010

From: Reykjavik, Iceland

To: Copenhagen, Denmark

Icelandair (FI) Flight 212

Depart: 1:15p - Keflavik International Apt - Reykjavik

Arrive: 6:15p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Airtime = 3:00

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

To: Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Airlines (TK) Flight 1784

Depart: 12:10p - Copenhagen Kastrup Apt

Arrive: 4:20p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Airtime = 3:10

Depart Date: Apr 03, 2010

From: Istanbul, Turkey

To: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates (EK) Flight 122

Depart: 7:25p - Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Arrive: 12:40a - Dubai International

Airtime = 4:15

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

To: Mumbai, India

Emirates (EK) Flight 502

Depart: 1:15p - Dubai International

Arrive: 5:35p - Mumbai, India

Airtime = 2:50

Depart Date: Apr 04, 2010

From: Mumbai, India

To: Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 318

Depart: 11:35p - Mumbai, India

Arrive: 5:35a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Airtime = 4:30

Depart Date: Apr 05, 2010

From: Bangkok, Thailand

To: Vientiane, Lao P D R

Thai Airways International (TG) Flight 570

Depart: 11:45a - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Apt

Arrive: 12:55p - Vientiane, Lao P D R

Airtime = 1:10

Ouch! I think I'd rather put up with the pain of self-cathing for a straight flight (no pun intended) than have to deal with all of those change overs. It's kind of mind boggling to think about.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Have you thought about stopping in Hawaii? It's 5 hours from LAX. Might be a flight from Hawaii to a location close to Laos.

[rin and john 71]

USA Joe - Delta offers assistance. Actually on most of their trans-pacific flights I have been on, the walls of at least one of the lavatories are partially removable allowing a wheelchair to be wheeled into the lavatory. The wall between two lavatories can also be folded/removed to create one larger lavatory allowing for wheelchair access. The airlines have airplane wheelchairs on board that fit within the aisles. See the link below, section on aircraft accessibility. The flight crew cannot assist in the lavatory, but can assist in getting you there.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...tance/index.jsp

Flying to Tokyo from the west coast is 10 to 12 hours plus another 7 to Bangkok. If you can get assistance, it would be much shorter to go this route.

Edited March 4, 2010 by rin and john