Airline madness!

[Julie y Pat 67]

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This absolutely DOES NOT APPLY !!!! There is no AP requirement for a CR-1 visa just as there is no AOS.

AP could also mean Administrative Processing , for which there is no timeline. Just like AOS could be Adjustment of Status or Affidavit of Support. Not sure if naturalization is an adjustment of status, but the issue of not canceling the return portion of the tickets could cause problems with residency requirements being met if it seems the LPR left the US after original entry and hasn't returned yet.

[briancole 1]

I am not sure in what city you live but, if you buy a few weeks in advance, try Spirit Airlines. They have the cheapest flights I have seen from Lima to FFL ( Fort Lauderdale). Hope this helps you

Sadly, I live in Utah at the moment. Oh but my goodness, those are some amazing rates! I wish I'd known about them earlier! The closest flights are going into Vegas.... I could go there....

Well, we'll see. I agree buying a round trip ticket could be risky so I may decide against that risk. Thank you all for your advice, it's given me some perspective. I'm glad the process is finally almost complete, but strangely enough this small conundrum has caused me more stress than any other part of the process.... Her and I will discuss it over the weekend and we'll try and come to a conclusion. We'll take all of your recommendations into consideration, thanks again!

[Uliana+abdo 1]

use this website sometimes they have good deal good luck

http://www.onetravel.com/

[Al and Patricia 23]

Sadly, I live in Utah at the moment. Oh but my goodness, those are some amazing rates! I wish I'd known about them earlier! The closest flights are going into Vegas.... I could go there....

Well, we'll see. I agree buying a round trip ticket could be risky so I may decide against that risk. Thank you all for your advice, it's given me some perspective. I'm glad the process is finally almost complete, but strangely enough this small conundrum has caused me more stress than any other part of the process.... Her and I will discuss it over the weekend and we'll try and come to a conclusion. We'll take all of your recommendations into consideration, thanks again!

Brian, my fiancee is also from Peru. I have a line on some great apartments in Miraflores that are reasonable, if you need a place to stay. I work for a differnt airline co. and usually fly on them but, I always keep the Spirit number with me. From what I have seen, they are always the cheapest if you are a little flexible.

[Dahnlor 2]

Sadly, I live in Utah at the moment. Oh but my goodness, those are some amazing rates! I wish I'd known about them earlier!

With some flexibility in the dates and destinations, you can save a lot of money. Hint: If the flight into the US doesn't go to Salt Lake City, you can get another ticket to get to Salt Lake City.

Those Spirit prices aren't bad, but looking at Orbitz you can take AeroMexico from Lima to SLC for $584, with one stop in Mexico City, including taxes and fees. If that doesn't work you can get a ticket to LAX for $524 and a $99 ticket from LAX to SLC. Those prices aren't available every day of the week, so make sure to check different dates.

[briancole 1]

One more comment on Spirit, I'll keep looking around for the best/reliable fare. Spirit looks great, but looking at some reviews and it looks a little unreliable. Has anyone had some good experiences? I still want to use them, but I worry about encountering problems...

[Al and Patricia 23]

I haven't persoanlly flown on Spirit but, I have not heard anything bad about them. Only negative is they charge for all extras. If you can find that fare on Orbitz thru Aeromexico, that sounds like a good price also. I looked a few months ago from Cleveland to Lima and the cheapest by far was Spirit. The next closest was $400-$500 more. It pays to shop around and go on a day or 2 before or after a single date.

[TBoneTX 46,356]

This gives the impression that booking a flight before the interview has any bearing on the interview result itself, it has no bearing.

I can't possibly see how it does, either, or how anyone could reach that conclusion. The point is that far too many VJ members take the interview, and the potential results of it, for granted. Nothing is certain until the visa is in hand. Do not base your life plans on the presumption that "he/she will get the visa." It may turn out that the interview is perfunctory, or you could be blindsided.

Second issue: Thanks to the two posters who corrected the London poster in regard to the potential need for the petitioner to be on the consular premises during the interview. The usual happenings and procedures in London have nothing to do with the realities at many other embassies/consulates.

Edited October 8, 2011 by TBoneTX

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

One more comment on Spirit, I'll keep looking around for the best/reliable fare. Spirit looks great, but looking at some reviews and it looks a little unreliable. Has anyone had some good experiences? I still want to use them, but I worry about encountering problems...

I've used them about a dozen times.. The only problem I have had with them was once going from Vegas to Florida they had a 2 hour delay because of a computer problems - they eventually had to completely shut the plane down and re-boot all 23 computers (that's when I learned that the airbus had 23 computers - thanks Captain Jackson!).. When they finally boarded us all again some lady started screaming that she knew the plane was going to crash and she ran up and they finally let her off..

Anyways other than that it has been smooth sailing.. they do charge for your bags - including a second carry on (the first is considered a personal item). If you get stuck in FLL (the main Spirit hub) on a layover they have about the worst terminal area there is - no place to charge a phone or computer and no WiFi (at least no free WiFi, not sure about paid WiFi). I was stuck there for seven hours once - if you are there for a long time leave the terminal area and go down to the spirit bag claim area and there are a few plugs against the back wall - you can pull away from any crowds and watch a movie or take a nap - This really contrasts to the Southwest terminal at the other end of the airport where they have charging stations and its clean and bright with large posters everywhere telling you how happy they are to have you flying with them.

Also spirit does not have first class but they do have the larger up-front seats that do not run much more money - very nice if you are coming into the country for the first time and you want to be first through customs (from your plane anyway).

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I can't possibly see how it does, either, or how anyone could reach that conclusion. The point is that far too many VJ members take the interview, and the potential results of it, for granted. Nothing is certain until the visa is in hand. Do not base your life plans on the presumption that "he/she will get the visa." It may turn out that the interview is perfunctory, or you could be blindsided.

They could reach that conclusion because you said that it was the second biggest mistake that people make next to lying to to CO.. You are linking the two or at the very least comparing an action that is a lifetime ban to another that is gambling on getting home a week sooner and saving a little bit of money. They are not comparable. If I had to make a list it would not be #2 - maybe #102

Again in this response you talk about not making life plans based on assuming the visa will get through.. This thread was about buying a plane ticket - How is buying a plane ticket putting any life plans at risk? Yeah its a risk.. for a not incredibly large amount of money.. I don't get why so many feel compelled to make it into a bigger deal than it is. I buy a plane ticket early I *might* lose some money. I don't buy the plane ticket early there is a 100% chance I pay a boatload more money unless the visa is not approved - so put the money where the best chance is.

Now if someone is quitting their job, giving away their stuff, etc.. then yeah not overly bright.. Not the case here.

[Aschenbecher 16]

2. I'm going to fly down to Peru before the interview to be with them at the interview and help them pack and such.

Why ? thats illogical, first of all embassy is very likley not letting you inside. Also i am pretty sure they can pack.

My first thought was to buy round-trip tickets going down there and coming from for the three of us, just obviously they wouldn't use the tickets going down, just the tickets coming home. After some research, however, it looks like if I do that, the flight will be cancelled in it's entirety if they are not on board for the first flight. Is this true? Does anyone know if this is a possible idea?

Thats true but the flight is not canclled your tickets are and you dont get a refund.

3. Seriously, one way flights are financial suicide.

really how much ? i checked and the ceapest flight from lima to miami i could find was about $944 only on airmexico flight. But it has a layover of 5 hours in Mexico city.

Ok what you need to know is the fact flights with layovers in richer parts of world but have originated from poor parts of the world is gonna be cheaper for people from poorer parts of the world.

So if you book a flight from Lima to Miami with a layover in Mexico its gonna cost you less then what people of mexico will pay to fly onwards to Miami. Even if Miami is closes to mexico. Airlines try to recover cost of operating cheapflights in poor parts by having layovers in rich parts of the world, where they charge more for tickets.

So get a flight with a few hours layover and it should be cheap.

Direct flight will always be expensive , specially american airlines.

Good luck !

[pushbrk 13,222]

Sadly, I live in Utah at the moment. Oh but my goodness, those are some amazing rates! I wish I'd known about them earlier! The closest flights are going into Vegas.... I could go there....

Well, we'll see. I agree buying a round trip ticket could be risky so I may decide against that risk. Thank you all for your advice, it's given me some perspective. I'm glad the process is finally almost complete, but strangely enough this small conundrum has caused me more stress than any other part of the process.... Her and I will discuss it over the weekend and we'll try and come to a conclusion. We'll take all of your recommendations into consideration, thanks again!

I strongly advise against purchasing ANY ticket for an immigrant until their visa is in hand. There is absolutely NO RISK associated with using round trip tickets to enter the USA as an immigrant. CBP officers are unlikely to ask to see the ticket and if they do, they'll understand why it was purchased that way. They work at airports.

It varies by country but often when the tickets are purchased outside the USA at the last minute, they are less expensive, even when purchasing a one-way ticket. I would check with a travel agent in LIMA to see what THEY recommend.

[yachachiq12 43]

Why ? thats illogical, first of all embassy is very likley not letting you inside. Also i am pretty sure they can pack.

That is not the case in Lima. Some countries work that way, but many do not. If you don't know for a fact that all consulates behave that way, you should qualify your statement with "In my experience at x embassy."

OP, Lima lets the immediate relative in for the interview (into the building and into the interview room itself -- you'll be asked questions if you're there). It's up to you and your family if it's necessary or not. I'm not going to make a suggestion one way or the other since I don't know the specifics of your case or your finances and how so many plane tickets might affect your quality of life.

Someone mentioned some good prices above. If you can get one-way or roundtrip around the $500 mark now or later, from an agent or site in the US or Peru, that would be the cheapest I've ever seen and you should take it.

[Aschenbecher 16]

That is not the case in Lima. Some countries work that way, but many do not. If you don't know for a fact that all consulates behave that way, you should qualify your statement with "In my experience at x embassy."

OP, Lima lets the immediate relative in for the interview (into the building and into the interview room itself -- you'll be asked questions if you're there). It's up to you and your family if it's necessary or not. I'm not going to make a suggestion one way or the other since I don't know the specifics of your case or your finances and how so many plane tickets might affect your quality of life.

You're right, thanks for correcting me.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

With some flexibility in the dates and destinations, you can save a lot of money. Hint: If the flight into the US doesn't go to Salt Lake City, you can get another ticket to get to Salt Lake City.

Those Spirit prices aren't bad, but looking at Orbitz you can take AeroMexico from Lima to SLC for $584, with one stop in Mexico City, including taxes and fees. If that doesn't work you can get a ticket to LAX for $524 and a $99 ticket from LAX to SLC. Those prices aren't available every day of the week, so make sure to check different dates.

As strange as it might be, fares over Thanksgiving do not have a price hike. If you opt via Mexico City, Peruvians need visa for Mexico and most Central American countries. Recently I had some relatives over flying Lima-LA on LAN with an under 500 RT fare, all included.

If you do Spirit, their baggage rules are not the friendliest and you might end up paying much more (than in a regular airline/fare) because of pieces of luggage.

Spirit has some agreements with local small airlines that might get you to Utah, check their web site Fort Lauderdale is just their entry point to the US