Fiancee Flying Moscow to Washinton DC..help with ticket needed please

[markc444 1]

Hello all,

I have been using this wonderful site for the last year as my fiancee Natasha and I have been planning on getting married. Ya'll have been a great help and I thank you for it. So good of help in fact I did not need any help till now. We already have her K1 visa, she will be coming over after the holidays from Chita on January 22nd. So I was purchasing her tickets from the UNITED website and realised I did not know if the tickets should be entered in her Russian name as is on the first line of the name section of use her English spelling directly under it. I tried to look on here but could not find it the way I was searching. I called the airlines and two of there reps who were not sure at first said to use the top line, the Russian spelling on the UNITED ticket. I emailed a friend who I worked with who is on a student visa from Russia who said to always use the English spelling on the passport and spell it exactly as it is on the passport. To be sure I will get it right I email gotorussia.com to purchase the ticket through them thinking they are the pros and can hold my hand on this purchase and just buy it through them. They tell me to ask my fiancee weather to use English or Russian. So, here we are after all of the complicated journey of getting Natasha's K1 visa and now I cant figure out how to buy the tickets. You would think this would be the easiest part but I'm just not sure and could use some guidance from some of the pro's on here. I just hate to get her to Moscow and she gets refused boarding because we used the wrong spelling. Thanks for any help that you can offer. We are really excited thinking in just over a month we can start our own journey together. We are still waiting on the NOA2, that is a whole other story. Thanks again for all the help in the past and any I get here....

Mark

[Zava 1]

Hello all,

I have been using this wonderful site for the last year as my fiancee Natasha and I have been planning on getting married. Ya'll have been a great help and I thank you for it. So good of help in fact I did not need any help till now. We already have her K1 visa, she will be coming over after the holidays from Chita on January 22nd. So I was purchasing her tickets from the UNITED website and realised I did not know if the tickets should be entered in her Russian name as is on the first line of the name section of use her English spelling directly under it. I tried to look on here but could not find it the way I was searching. I called the airlines and two of there reps who were not sure at first said to use the top line, the Russian spelling on the UNITED ticket. I emailed a friend who I worked with who is on a student visa from Russia who said to always use the English spelling on the passport and spell it exactly as it is on the passport. To be sure I will get it right I email gotorussia.com to purchase the ticket through them thinking they are the pros and can hold my hand on this purchase and just buy it through them. They tell me to ask my fiancee weather to use English or Russian. So, here we are after all of the complicated journey of getting Natasha's K1 visa and now I cant figure out how to buy the tickets. You would think this would be the easiest part but I'm just not sure and could use some guidance from some of the pro's on here. I just hate to get her to Moscow and she gets refused boarding because we used the wrong spelling. Thanks for any help that you can offer. We are really excited thinking in just over a month we can start our own journey together. We are still waiting on the NOA2, that is a whole other story. Thanks again for all the help in the past and any I get here....

Mark

Hi Mark! You have to use the English spelling of her name from now on on every document or fly tickets and don't forget to indicate fer gender and date of birth when you'll be purchasing tickets. Good luck.

PS: Russian spelling of her name is a history now.

[Neonred 3,604]

Use the English spelling....it's a lot easier too!

[Mike&Luda 0]

DEFINITELY use the EXACT English spelling as shown on her Russian passport! All paperwork must match. I am surprised the Go To Russia people didn't know. Maybe you got a new person? They are usually very good. Good Luck to both of you. I flew United to Moscow through Washington once and thought it was a pretty good airport and not too big.

[Spoon 7]

My fiance came over on that flight (I think it is UA965). Put her name in English but it doesn't have to be exact. When I got her the ticket, I spelled her name my way (little bit shorter). However, if you want to avoid issues, spell it the same as the passport. She can even change it at the ticketing agent when she is at DME. I've had my name butchered before and the ticketing agent said it was fine (didn't have any issues).

[markc444 1]

Thanks guys from both of us, that makes this part of the trip a lot easier. I had a feeling it was English I needed but questioned it when the airline reps were telling me that it was Russian. I appreciate the quick responses as well. I agree with you about gotorussia Mike. I used them when I went over to meet her and when she flew to Moscow for the interview and they were great so I was a little suprised this time when they did not know how to handle it. I think I'll just get the tickets myself, I really wanted gotorussia to hold my hand through this first international flight booking for her but since they dont know I may as well just do it.

When I use my credit card they wont ask her to show it for verification will they. I doubt it but I just wanted to see what others had experienced since the card will be in my possession. And when she leaves, is it as easy as just leaving at customs if she has the K1 visa, international passport and her nice pretty unopened embassy package. This is so nerve racking making sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Zava...were you saying to make sure I indicate gender and place of birth for the airlines ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM (APIS). I thought the airline filed that but I am not really sure on that one yet. Natasha seems to think we do it 72 hours before the flight but I thought I was reading the airline does it based on information given at the time the ticket is purchased.

Thank you all again....can't wait to get down to the adjustment of status section....

Mark

[Sergi9 110]

My SO, has had the name transposed and changes to the last few letters with no issues. If you book the ticket and pay with your credit card, put the name in English as someone else said how its spelled on the Passport. They ask for the passport number and the gate agent can verify that.

[Spoon 7]

Airlines do not care who pays for the ticket as long as they get their money. I have gotten my fiance a couple of tickets and hotel rooms while we have been waiting for out NOA2. The only issue I had was when I tried to get her upgraded to business with my miles. United had my card on file but the gate agent was expecting to see my card. She ended up having to pay more and pay in cash for the copay. Name or credit card never mattered. If there are any issues, usually the gate agent can take care of them. Just make sure you have Skype handy to call her if there are any issues.

Also, when she comes in through IAD, expect a wait. Now, my fiance was on a tourist visa so they ran her through the ringer (not rude or anything, just very thorough). At least there is a place to get a sandwich and a drink near the international arrivals. Your K1 may be faster but don't count on it. Even if she has a US SIM card, it won't work in the bowels of Dulles so it may be a long and lonely wait. Hopefully, she will shoot right through though.

[markc444 1]

Thank you very much for the help, I am going to get the ticket tonight-in English... Ya'll certainly made that part of the worrying about doing the right thing or not a little easier.

Spoon thanks for the advice about the airport. I actually did send her a t-mobile sim card to help us connect in case we could not find each other. So much for that idea huh. Well at least no matter what, even if she must get in a taxi at least it will work somewhere. I am sure customs well be very thorough as you say. They do take their job seriously so that sandwich might come in handy.

Its time to go buy some tickets now I think, thanks again for all the guidance from the two of us....

Mark

[Spoon 7]

Spoon thanks for the advice about the airport. I actually did send her a t-mobile sim card to help us connect in case we could not find each other. So much for that idea huh. Well at least no matter what, even if she must get in a taxi at least it will work somewhere. I am sure customs well be very thorough as you say. They do take their job seriously so that sandwich might come in handy.

There is an info desk right near where she will come out. She'll have to climb through some people to get to it (it's crowded there) but it is right next where she will come into the terminal from customs. I'd recommend that you make that your rally point. She should have cell coverage when she gets out of those doors though but if you are watching, you shouldn't miss her. I have a few more tips for IAD if you want them. I go through international arrivals there about every month.

[markc444 1]

There is an info desk right near where she will come out. She'll have to climb through some people to get to it (it's crowded there) but it is right next where she will come into the terminal from customs. I'd recommend that you make that your rally point. She should have cell coverage when she gets out of those doors though but if you are watching, you shouldn't miss her. I have a few more tips for IAD if you want them. I go through international arrivals there about every month.

Hey, thanks again Spoon. Sorry it took me so long to get back I got stuck in a lot of ice and snow yesterday, winter is defiantly here now. I appreciate all the tips you offered, I will pass them on to her and we will use where you said to meet at. The last time I went through IAD I was recovering from a bout of food poisoning, I did not pay to much attention to the area. So if its not to late, yeah,I would love any tips you have to offer. Its just nice to have the tickets bought now, one less thing to worry about now as this whole process finally starts to wind down a bit now.

And thanks to all who helped out. I really do not know who I would have got this whole process done without his site....

[Spoon 7]

First off, the international arrivals (where she will come out of customs) is on the lowest level on the extreme right of the airport (as you walk in). If you park in the hourly lot (probably best for you) it should be close. Just walk in and make sure you are heading right (and maybe down). You'll see a big crowd hanging out there so you can't miss it.

Second, when she gets on the people mover, make sure she stays near the front. If she gets pushed to the back, there will be even more people in front of her. It's not a big deal but a local trick for IAD. The secret spot is the little alcove behind the driver or to wait outside until the driver is about to close the doors. Again, this is not a big deal but since I am doing this, I might as well include all the tricks.

Third, if they make her wait in immigration (I have not gone through what you are going through yet), there is a small waiting area in the back corner of the immigration area. The only reason I mention it is because she may have cell coverage back there. Hopefully, she will scoot on through. From what I have read on here, she can get into the US citizens line. One thing I always do there is go to the farthest booth you can get to. The ones on the end always go faster. It's kind of hard to describe but since I am bored, I will try to show you.

X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X

---------------------------------LINE HERE

The X's are the CBP officers and the line ends where I wrote "line here." When they tell you to go to the end, have her go always to the extreme left. They move faster. The presupposes that they have not directed her somewhere else. Again, I wish I were in your shoes but I have not done this yet.

Fourth, one of the most annoying things to happen is in baggage claim. They tend to pull bags off and put them on the floor. I waited on one side for 20 minutes waiting on my bag and someone had pulled it off on the other side *after* I had already looked on that side. Just make sure she walks around the carousel every few minutes to look and see if her bags are on the floor.

Fifth, make sure she knows how to fill out the customs form if she hasn't been here before. It would suck to make it through everything only to have them search her bag again.

Again, there is a place to get a coke and a sandwich right next to the exit to the terminal and the information booth is a good rally point.

I think that is it. All of this is probably way more info than you need and don't let her feel intimidated or overwhelmed. If it's too much, just let her through at her own pace. This may only save her 10-20 minutes.

[markc444 1]

First off, the international arrivals (where she will come out of customs) is on the lowest level on the extreme right of the airport (as you walk in). If you park in the hourly lot (probably best for you) it should be close. Just walk in and make sure you are heading right (and maybe down). You'll see a big crowd hanging out there so you can't miss it.

Second, when she gets on the people mover, make sure she stays near the front. If she gets pushed to the back, there will be even more people in front of her. It's not a big deal but a local trick for IAD. The secret spot is the little alcove behind the driver or to wait outside until the driver is about to close the doors. Again, this is not a big deal but since I am doing this, I might as well include all the tricks.

Third, if they make her wait in immigration (I have not gone through what you are going through yet), there is a small waiting area in the back corner of the immigration area. The only reason I mention it is because she may have cell coverage back there. Hopefully, she will scoot on through. From what I have read on here, she can get into the US citizens line. One thing I always do there is go to the farthest booth you can get to. The ones on the end always go faster. It's kind of hard to describe but since I am bored, I will try to show you.

X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X

---------------------------------LINE HERE

The X's are the CBP officers and the line ends where I wrote "line here." When they tell you to go to the end, have her go always to the extreme left. They move faster. The presupposes that they have not directed her somewhere else. Again, I wish I were in your shoes but I have not done this yet.

Fourth, one of the most annoying things to happen is in baggage claim. They tend to pull bags off and put them on the floor. I waited on one side for 20 minutes waiting on my bag and someone had pulled it off on the other side *after* I had already looked on that side. Just make sure she walks around the carousel every few minutes to look and see if her bags are on the floor.

Fifth, make sure she knows how to fill out the customs form if she hasn't been here before. It would suck to make it through everything only to have them search her bag again.

Again, there is a place to get a coke and a sandwich right next to the exit to the terminal and the information booth is a good rally point.

I think that is it. All of this is probably way more info than you need and don't let her feel intimidated or overwhelmed. If it's too much, just let her through at her own pace. This may only save her 10-20 minutes.

Hey Spoon.

Thank you for taking all the time to write that up for us. I have a little clue of whet you are referring to from when I came through Customs myself so I understand the line u drew. Thats awesome the info you supplied me with there. I will cut and paste it to her and hopefully this wont be the big airport adventure but just a little in and out. And thanks for the parking advice as well, I will be right where u said. Now at least I have a place I know where to go instead of wondering around aimlessly. Thank you so much Spoon. Have a good holiday.

Mark Cash

[visaveteran 1]

I have used Dulles a lot too and my wife came over through there. She got through very quickly. I was surprised. Concerning the passport line, they usually have staff directing you to which officer to see so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

The people mover really depends on how crowded or whether there are wheel chair disabled people in the way. The movers fill up fast so the "trick" might work or not. I'd just have her relax and take it easy. There will be enough pressure without trying to gain 5 minutes advantage.

I should mention there is a big information board near the doorway where international arrivals enter the main terminal so you can monitor the status of arrivals. When the arriving people pass through the door they have to walk maybe 20 meters through a cordoned off area so you can see when she comes out if you stay alert. When you start to notice Russia people coming out, start looking for her.

Good luck.

Edited December 24, 2010 by visaveteran

[baron555 934]

With all the snow predicted for the Eastern seaboard, call ahead and make sure McCain in onsite. You'll have no trouble getting in.