One way or Connection Flights from Rus to US

[St&Sv 33]

Привет друзья! Hot off the heels of an amazing trip to St Petersburg, I have returned jet lagged and ready to get the rest of this K1 process over with. I hope all of you that were travelling during the May holidays had a safe and wonderful trip as I did (though over 8 hrs in the air sure takes its toll). The vacation is over and now it's time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work on this governmental trench known as the K1.

Since my fiancee and I are getting closer and closer to the day of our NOA2 I've been working on getting everything in order for what comes after. What thought I had was about her flight and should I look for direct or transfer. A direct flight would be preferred I know, and If we go this route I plan on picking her up in NYC and driving the 7 hours back home. Buffalo or Pittsburgh would be nice since they are closer, but would involve a few changeovers. When I've looked into flights for these airports I see that the planes have a tendency to make stops in places like Germany, France, Denmark, and Poland. I know that to get into these countries require more then just the K1 Visa, as that is only good for the USA in my understanding, but if she would have her Schengen Visa would that allow her to transfer between these countries?

It's something I thought about, and maybe one of you have had experience with it. Best to arm myself with all the answers I can, because I know my fiancee will be asking me them later...so I'll hit her with the facts instead of the, "Well I'll have to find out hun"

Пака

Side Note:
For anyone that has learned Russian, how did you do it and what worked best for you? I really want to learn the language but finding it hard to do it on my own, extra funds, and my fiancee has little patiences to teach, as she is more of a learner herself.

Edited May 15, 2013 by St&Sv

[Dave&Roza 748]

Привет друзья! Hot off the heels of an amazing trip to St Petersburg, I have returned jet lagged and ready to get the rest of this K1 process over with. I hope all of you that were travelling during the May holidays had a safe and wonderful trip as I did (though over 8 hrs in the air sure takes its toll). The vacation is over and now it's time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work on this governmental trench known as the K1.

Since my fiancee and I are getting closer and closer to the day of our NOA2 I've been working on getting everything in order for what comes after. What thought I had was about her flight and should I look for direct or transfer. A direct flight would be preferred I know, and If we go this route I plan on picking her up in NYC and driving the 7 hours back home. Buffalo or Pittsburgh would be nice since they are closer, but would involve a few changeovers. When I've looked into flights for these airports I see that the planes have a tendency to make stops in places like Germany, France, Denmark, and Poland. I know that to get into these countries require more then just the K1 Visa, as that is only good for the USA in my understanding, but if she would have her Schengen Visa would that allow her to transfer between these countries?

It's something I thought about, and maybe one of you have had experience with it. Best to arm myself with all the answers I can, because I know my fiancee will be asking me them later...so I'll hit her with the facts instead of the, "Well I'll have to find out hun"

Пака

Side Note:

For anyone that has learned Russian, how did you do it and what worked best for you? I really want to learn the language but finding it hard to do it on my own, extra funds, and my fiancee has little patiences to teach, as she is more of a learner herself.

My wife has travelled several times between the US and Kazakhstan and so has my MIL. She did not require a transit visa for a plane change in Frankfurt. A direct flight with no plane change in the US is the best becaused you are not waiting on immigration to get done while trying to make a connecting flight. We were fortunate that there is a direct flight from Frankfurt to Denver. I think your idea of driving is a good one. I have been using Rosetta Stone to learn Russia along with my wife.

Good luck,

Dave

[Baile 0]

Hey!

Honestly, I would recommend doing a connecting flight, easier and better. Try having the connecting flight in Europe, Such as Germany or England. I just got my NOA2 and my Fiance is also from Saint Petersburg. I started looking at Flights for August since I plan on flying there and flying back with her (really expensive!!!) Right now United has deals for stop over in Germany for about 5 hours and then connecting to Polkovo 2 for around 1500 Bucks, not cheap no. But Compared to some who want 2-3K *cough* British Airways *cough* It isnt too bad.

I also looked at flights for her, trying to get a flight back from Russia to DC, A one way trip is 3K while a round trip is only 1300...Why the difference I dont know. However the round trip ticket, has a lay over in Munich for 5 hours and then straight to Dulles International. My Recommendation do a lay over and get her directly to your Airport hub. Personally I feel, though in reality I have none, that having her Arrive in your hub Airport grants you more power. You know that which ever city she arrives in, In the U.S will be her point of entry, so I feel more secure having her point of entry be the place we will actually Live.

Just my two cents, I wish you the best of luck with everything, I know the feeling all to well, most if not all of the people on this wonderful website do. Get your paperwork done ahead of time, go to the Embassy in Moscow's website and fill out the 3 documents on their site, get it done now and you will not have to scramble once you get your NOA2, I would also start working on your I-134A support documents, it is more than just that 2 page document.

~Baile

[eekee 182]

Easiest is aeroflot through Moscow to JFK.

[Tnic 5]

Easiest is aeroflot through Moscow to JFK.

Yep, that's how I roll too.

Also, as long as she doesn't have to change airPORTS a visa shouldn't be required. Avoiding her having to change to a domestic flt at JFK is also preferable. Its more zoo like every time I go through there.

I had a heck of a time finding an Aeroflot flt through Moskva from Dneperpetrovsk that didn't go to DME then depart for JFK from SVO. We have to take the train to Kiev then go to SVO-JFK. I refuse to fly out of KBP-JFK for fear of riding in substandard equipment that once belonged to the defunct Aerosh*t.

[Ron-Tanya 23]

Hi, I have done a lot of checking and this is how it is. If she has a US VISA and she lands in a Schengen Zone and is flying on the same airline she will not need a Schengen as long as she does not change airports, claim her bags or changes airlines. She also will be required to stay in the International part of the airport that she arrives in. Example Lufthansa from Moscow to Frankfurt to JFK she will stay in Terminal ONE which is the Airport for Lufthansa and Condor so she will stay in the International part of the airport until she leaves on the next leg of her trip. Remember bags must be checked thru to the US Port of Entry. Hope this helps.

[paws057 9]

She will not need a visa to stop at another airport in Europe. She will never be allowed to leave the 'secured' area of the airport, thus she is not entering that country.

I also will be bringing my fiancee home sometime this summer. I do not want her to go through immigration at JFK. It takes me forever to get through passport control at JFK and can only imagine how long it would take her. So since we are coming through Moscow I hope to get a ticket that has a stop in Paris or Amsterdam. Then take a Paris or Amsterdam flight to Detroit and she can enter the country in Detroit. I know not the greatest place to enter the country but it's close to home! Yes, one way tickets are expensive for some reason? You would think they would be half the price of a round trip ticket but they are not. What I plan on doing is using the miles I have built up to get an almost free ticket for me and then buy her ticket. Right now I have over 120,000 miles on Delta so I should be able to get quite a discount on a ticket for me. That's good since I have to make two more trips over there. One for her interview and then to bring her home.

Learning Russian is a challenge but I'm using the Pimslur program and it seems to be pretty good. She is teaching me right now which is even better but when at home I use the other program for now.

Good luck!

[vbtwo 54]

Also, keep in mind that Aeroflot allows 2 free bags. Pretty much all European/American airlines will allow you only 1 free bag, so if price is an issue, keep this in mind too.

They also have nice new planes. Just flew back on their new 777, pretty nice with multi-color led cabin lighting and touch-screen entertainment system with a pretty good selection of movies to watch and a user-controlled in-flight map so you can scroll, zoom, etc and see where you're flying and what's around.

[Turboguy 6]

Your mention of Buffalo or Pittsburgh makes it sound like you are not too far away from me. I think you will find the best prices and service with Aeroflot. It is probably cheaper and easier to pick her up at JFK. We have my MIL visiting right now for a few more weeks and there are good connections from JFK to Pittsburgh but you do have to change terminals. My MIL doesn't speak English and was not comfortable with changing planes at JFK so we picked her up there but to fly her to Pittsburgh would only be another $ 250. You may find it is cheaper to book MOS-JFK & JFK-PIT separately. When we have tried to book them as a package it adds a ton of money compared to doing them separately. There is a bit more risk if a flight would get delayed however. It used to be there were very few flights from JFK to PIT but that has changed a lot. I don't have any experience with JFK-BUF. Good luck with it whatever you do.

[james&olya 1,121]

Regarding needing or not needing the schengen visa for connections in Europe, it may generally be true that it is not needed in most airports but there is at least one exception, Copenhagen! My BIL and SIL found out this the hard way when they were refused boarding in Chicago for their return trip on SAS going through Denmark. Their flight coming here had used a different connecting city. They had to rebook the flight and pay for hotel room in Chicago while they waited. They were told that because they were Russian they had to have a schengen visa to transit through Copenhagen, even though they were not planning on leaving the airport.

[Neonred 3,562]

We have friends visiting us right now from Russia, but of course they came on a tourist visa. They flew Delta from SVO to JFK, went through immigration and customs, and changed planes for the flight to (ugh) Miami as they could not get a flight to Fort Myers (they booked at the last minute). They had two hours in JFK and it was just enough. If arriving on a K-1 or CR-1 a person would need much more time.

They know virtually NO English, but learned a few key phrases such as "where is my gate" and "where is the toilet". They had no problem at JFK as there were enough people to help them in Russian. With Delta's terminal reconstruction at JFK they even had to change terminals. Delta was the best deal for them. Other options were Aeroflot and Transaero but actually were going to cost more. Aeroflot arrives at JFK later then Delta, and makes it difficult to get a connecting flight to SW Florida so I have never used them.

Here is a FREE perk we learned about a while back. When you make your reservation ask for kosher food. No, you don't have to be Jewish. You will get served first, and you will be given more and better food. We have told all our friends that have flown to visit us and they all were impressed with what they got.

[Hollyday 122]

There's a direct Transaero flight to Miami though, so it depends on what you're looking for - direct or cheaper.

[Abell 11]

Regarding needing or not needing the schengen visa for connections in Europe, it may generally be true that it is not needed in most airports but there is at least one exception, Copenhagen! My BIL and SIL found out this the hard way when they were refused boarding in Chicago for their return trip on SAS going through Denmark. Their flight coming here had used a different connecting city. They had to rebook the flight and pay for hotel room in Chicago while they waited. They were told that because they were Russian they had to have a schengen visa to transit through Copenhagen, even though they were not planning on leaving the airport.

I remember reading some articles about all those transit flights long time ago and stories like this one, but the thing is, since you are not leaving airport and you already have US visa, whether you are coming to or from US, you are not required to have a visa for that country, the problem is that some people at the front desk just doesn't know that so they can refuse checking you in without one

[vbtwo 54]

I remember reading some articles about all those transit flights long time ago and stories like this one, but the thing is, since you are not leaving airport and you already have US visa, whether you are coming to or from US, you are not required to have a visa for that country, the problem is that some people at the front desk just doesn't know that so they can refuse checking you in without one

That's only true if the airport you're traveling through has an airside connection so you don't have to go through passport control. If you need to transfer terminals and there is no airside connection between them of some kind (either a walkway, or a bus on the air side, or something), then you'll need to go through passport control to get out and transfer terminals, and you would need a visa (as there is nothing preventing you from just leaving the airport and going to the city).

[jft 12]

Some countries allow visaless transits from terminal to terminal if you have a valid US visa (France for example) but I would triple-check that before traveling.