When your SO finally arrived at U.S. airport.

[Jerry & Fiona 1]

Now that we are virtually through with the visa process, we are anticipating being together. I know every one of us on here that are still waiting think about what that moment will be like.

For those who have already done it, share with us what it was like for you.

From the Petitioner's point of view:

1) When you knew your SO was boarding the plane in VN and you were here, what were you doing? Feeling?

2) How did you feel waiting at the airport knowing you SO had landed and was on the other side going through customs?

3) What was it like when your SO FINALLY walked through the passage way to at last be with you? Did your family come along? What was the most exciting part about this for you? Did your SO bring any pets?

or

From the Beneficiary's point of view:

1) Boarding the plane in VN, how did you feel knowing you were on your way to America?

2) What was it like for you to FINALLY walk through the passage way to at last be with your SO? Did your SO have family and friends waiting to meet you? What was the most exciting part about this for you?

Edited May 30, 2011 by Jerry & Fiona

[Anh map 2,098]

We made the trip together. This was Linh's first trip on a plane. It didn't occur to me to not do it together so there would be much less stress transferring flights and going through customs.

Pets from VN may require some quarantine before or after the trip. I'd suggest thinking the pet thing over a lot before adding that to the mix. http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/BringingAnimalToUs.html

[Jerry & Fiona 1]

I should have included in the topic and post, if SO came alone. Don't know what I was thinking. I'm sure most traveled together. So, yeah, if you were unable to travel together.

[quann 26]

i have to head back in a few days and can't sit around waiting for them to get the visas/etc, so i'm kinda nervous right now. hopefully they'll find some fellow viets who can lead them through the confusing flight transfer in taipei/hong kong/korea.

[dtc 1]

3 more weeks and my wife will be here in the state. i will take a day off work and wait 4 her at the airport,then i will take her home and fix her a bubble bath. the whole process of getting the visa actually burn us out , we just so tired and sick from it , so we gonna take it easy for a while. her poe will be ohare,chicago, our case is cr1,and we been married for over 2 years. if anyones have any experience with going through immigration in that airport let me know .

for the last few weeks i been clean up my aparment , living like a cave man for the last few years and the whole place is a mess. i got her some shoes too , lol.

[Jerry & Fiona 1]

Pets from VN may require some quarantine before or after the trip. I'd suggest thinking the pet thing over a lot before adding that to the mix. http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/BringingAnimalToUs.html

Yeah we took care of all of this already. Is ok.

[ScottThuy 140]

There are always VK on the flights from VN... if her english is good she will have no issues as she can ask for help at the info desks along the way... if there is a problem with english, you can send her an email with a document to print explaining the flight details to the info desk asking for assistance for her... She needs to remember the word TRANSIT

Thuy had no problems... we talked about everything that would happen before she left.. filling out the I94 is important for her to understand before she goes so she can get the name in there the right way.. there is a copy that you can download online so you can talk about it with her..

We had a slight problem at POE.. her flight was 45 minutes late, and they took well over an hour at CBP... then she got selected for the full body scan... we only had a short period of time to get accross the airport but we made our connection as they were actually standing there waiting for us... the feeling that you will have will be something along the lines of a huge weight has been lifted along with a feeling of comfort...

I flew from here to meet her at her last connection so we could fly the last leg together... it wasnt as great as I extected as a result of the security BS... I actually took a photo or two of her coming through security.. not a wise move given how touchy they were at the security checkpoint... I sat an hour on the same bench waiting for her to arrive only to be rudely told by a TSA officer when she came on duty that I could not be sittin there I needed to move somewhere else because they were not workin over where I was sitting.

Keep in mind that she will be really excited when she gets here, but she will also be very tired and it will take a few days for the jet lag to wear off... don't push too much on her too soon... she will need alot of rest to adjust and maintain her strength... make sure you have some jasmine rice and a rice cooker ready before she gets there so you wont have to run out straight away... dont forget the nuoc mam (yummy) and sirrachi and see if they have some sliced pork belly in the meat dept or pork chops.. she can school you on shopping for the rest after a day or two... but that will hold her over along with a delivery pizza... she wont be used to all of our US foods so dont make the transition too harsh...

Ladies and gentlemen Mr Conway Twitty

[Anh map 2,098]

If a pet is coming plan on going to collect the animal after she comes out of the customs hall. More time spent at the airport.

She will be jetlagged. Keep the arrival low key, have the right groceries at home, and plan the welcome gathering for a few days after arrival.

Don't get freaked out of she wants to go home after a few days. Seems to happen a decent amount of the time. Just ride it out.

[Sayha or bust. 71]

She arrived the day the Midwest had its worst blizzard of the year,all the flights out of Chicago were cancelled. I went to work that morning until I happened to track her flight on my cell and found out it was cancelled, i panicked knowing I had very little time to get to Chicago before she would arrive 11am, I raced home and jumped in my 4 wheel drive. the weather was nasty and I got there in 4 hours instead of 2 1/2. i found her luckily in the international baggage claim before they went through to the POE officer. her two children ran out the doors immediately , my heart melted but I kept my composure. my fiancée did not exit till she received all her luggage. She is very shy so there was no big hugs or kisses but that didn't matter,the hardest part of our Visa Journey was over. My life is great now and our families mixed well without any complications. Congrats to you once again!

[Jerry & Fiona 1]

Keep in mind that she will be really excited when she gets here, but she will also be very tired and it will take a few days for the jet lag to wear off... don't push too much on her too soon... she will need alot of rest to adjust and maintain her strength... make sure you have some jasmine rice and a rice cooker ready before she gets there so you wont have to run out straight away... dont forget the nuoc mam (yummy) and sirrachi and see if they have some sliced pork belly in the meat dept or pork chops.. she can school you on shopping for the rest after a day or two... but that will hold her over along with a delivery pizza... she wont be used to all of our US foods so dont make the transition too harsh...

She is arriving on a Tuesday morning. Therefore most people have to work. However my parents will be there with me. I have already prepped them that she will be very tired. I'm going to take her home and let her sleep. I've taken the following day off also so we can go purchase bits and bobs. Lucky for me, she already knows my neighbors. They are Vietnamese and met up with Fiona and I in Saigon this last trip.

If a pet is coming plan on going to collect the animal after she comes out of the customs hall. More time spent at the airport.

She will be jetlagged. Keep the arrival low key, have the right groceries at home, and plan the welcome gathering for a few days after arrival.

Don't get freaked out of she wants to go home after a few days. Seems to happen a decent amount of the time. Just ride it out.

She has lived out of country for many years before. That may not make it easy but easier if she hadn't before. She is an English major also which will be very useful.

[astrlsrfr 1]

3 more weeks and my wife will be here in the state. i will take a day off work and wait 4 her at the airport,then i will take her home and fix her a bubble bath. the whole process of getting the visa actually burn us out , we just so tired and sick from it , so we gonna take it easy for a while. her poe will be ohare,chicago, our case is cr1,and we been married for over 2 years. if anyones have any experience with going through immigration in that airport let me know .

for the last few weeks i been clean up my aparment , living like a cave man for the last few years and the whole place is a mess. i got her some shoes too , lol.

A few weeks to clean? And I thot a few days was a lot! Nice touch with the bubble bath idea...

I am curious about how the POE works if you arrive with your SO. DO you go thru the same CO's line together, or different ones? Last time I cam thru LAX, I inquired about this process with the CO & the guy suggested we should go thru the same line together, but there was a special line & he didn't know what it was called(of the like 50 lines there). What is that line called?

Edited May 30, 2011 by astrlsrfr

[ScottThuy 140]

Go through together then they will take her aside to finish things up...

Edited May 30, 2011 by ScottThuy

[Ning 619]

i have to head back in a few days and can't sit around waiting for them to get the visas/etc, so i'm kinda nervous right now. hopefully they'll find some fellow viets who can lead them through the confusing flight transfer in taipei/hong kong/korea.

In all of those airports there are people trained to assist people in the transfer stages. In Taipei for example there are people all along the way to show others where to go. Many of these people speak the language required to be of help.

I know its easy to be intimidated but there is no reason to fear the process.

[Tuanv 2]

I am about to go pick my wife up in 3 hours. My

mother is with her, so I feel less nervous. I am going bring some roses and spent two hours yesterday cleaning my house. It has not hit me yet that she will be in my arm in 3 hours ( I worked the overnight shift, so I am very sleepy).

[Jerry & Fiona 1]

I am about to go pick my wife up in 3 hours. My

mother is with her, so I feel less nervous. I am going bring some roses and spent two hours yesterday cleaning my house. It has not hit me yet that she will be in my arm in 3 hours ( I worked the overnight shift, so I am very sleepy).

You are probably at the airport now. I want to hear all about it when you come off cloud 9. No rush. What an exciting day for you both. Get some rest both of you.