NOA2 approved...best way to handle flight preperations early?

[cleverest 1]

We were approved on 05/10! Woohoo!

I know it's next to impossible to plan buying a airplane ticket so early, because it's not wise to order the tickets without knowing the flight date...yet I could order ahead of time to try to anticipate it, but I certainly don't want to jump the gun too fast...or end up ordering it way ahead when I could have gotten an earlier flight, etc...

Anyone have any plan of attack for getting airfare ordered for a decent/price (and still having a solid chance of it being avail) when the rest of the process happens? At what point in the remaining process should I look ahead at the calender and pick a specific date/week *(I'm confident she will ace the interview and the medical) - Am I being too optimistic? :-P

The only wild card in our process as far as I can see is that my lady used to live and work in Signapore for a number of years (as a Nurse) and she has to get a police clearance...I have NO IDEA how long that will take, and hope it's fast, but could take forever for all I know...any tips for that appreciated too!!

- Brett

Edited May 20, 2013 by cleverest

[MedRoni 161]

We were approved on 05/10! Woohoo!

I know it's next to impossible to plan buying a airplane ticket so early, because it's not wise to order the tickets without knowing the flight date...yet I could order ahead of time to try to anticipate it, but I certainly don't want to jump the gun too fast...or end up ordering it way ahead when I could have gotten an earlier flight, etc...

Anyone have any plan of attack for getting airfare ordered for a decent/price (and still having a solid chance of it being avail) when the rest of the process happens? At what point in the remaining process should I look ahead at the calender and pick a specific date/week *(I'm confident she will ace the interview and the medical) - Am I being too optimistic? :-P

The only wild card in our process as far as I can see is that my lady used to live and work in Signapore for a number of years (as a Nurse) and she has to get a police clearance...I have NO IDEA how long that will take, and hope it's fast, but could take forever for all I know...any tips for that appreciated too!!

- Brett

Honestly Brett, when the visa is in her hand, that is the time to pick your date.

There are far too many factors that vary. Every situation is unique and even though you are very confident she will do fine in an interview, there are always unknown circumstances that can cause delays in printing a visa and getting it in hand. If you must, you can always look at tickets that you can change the dates on, but be prepared to pay a fee for the change.

[biaobiao 40]

once you have the visa at hand.. try to have her check for first time immigrants fare discount with travel agency. i have read a lot about this discount. you might want to check that out

[dobbietoo 8]

Oh my, wish I had a dollar for everytime I sat down and looked up airfares for my fiances trip over! I'm just as excited as you are and I want to get a good airfare price myself BUT as was just noted there are just way too many factors and things that could delay things. As confident as you might be, you just have no idea what 'could' happen you know? You have to be prepared for that, its just part of the process! Also, why buy a ticket and get it super cheap and then 'one' thing happens and you end up paying more than if you got it the day before you leave?! Just saying....

I can certainly feel your excitement! Its all so close and about to happen for many of us! I'm just going to wait until the interview in Manila is approved 'then' purchase the ticket. I don't have money to waste on change fees and stuff. Good luck to you!!

[Louis and Aya 17]

I would wait bare minimum until she has been approved at the USEM and they take her passport to stamp it. If she picks up at Mall of Asia it could be there within a week or less.

Please wait until the medical and the interview are done and she's approved.

All it takes at the medical is one Dr. to think there's a white spot on her lungs and she'll be doing the 2 month wait while they see if her Sputum spawns TB. Then if she happens to have it, another 6 month wait.

You guys may forget something very very simple for the interview and then you'll get a 221G (I think) asking for that information, then you'll be out while you wait for the Administrative Processing that happens after you turn in the required forms you forgot.

Take everyone's advice and wait until she is told she's approved and then plan to buy a ticket at least 1 week out if not 2-3.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Louis and Aya

[Tintin and Mike 127]

First-time immigrant travel discount only applies for someone with Spousal Visa.

Buy tickets when visa packet is in her hands and all information are accurate. There could be a chance of incorrect names and etc

Good luck!

[cleverest 1]

Thank you so much for the helpful information everyone! I will update this thread as the process moves along. I really appreciate the tips!

- Brett

[yorubaqueen13 28]

We were approved on 05/10! Woohoo!

I know it's next to impossible to plan buying a airplane ticket so early, because it's not wise to order the tickets without knowing the flight date...yet I could order ahead of time to try to anticipate it, but I certainly don't want to jump the gun too fast...or end up ordering it way ahead when I could have gotten an earlier flight, etc...

Anyone have any plan of attack for getting airfare ordered for a decent/price (and still having a solid chance of it being avail) when the rest of the process happens? At what point in the remaining process should I look ahead at the calender and pick a specific date/week *(I'm confident she will ace the interview and the medical) - Am I being too optimistic? :-P

The only wild card in our process as far as I can see is that my lady used to live and work in Signapore for a number of years (as a Nurse) and she has to get a police clearance...I have NO IDEA how long that will take, and hope it's fast, but could take forever for all I know...any tips for that appreciated too!!

- Brett

It is actually much cheaper to buy a ticket 2 weeks in advance as opposed to 2 months or further out... The plane going international is intended to be full before taking flight, so when it gets closer to the date of departure for an international flight and there are still open seats those seats are alot cheaper then had u booked along time away. so wen u have the visa in hand start looking from the nxt day on into the next couple weeks, comparing prices i hope this sets ur mind at ease.

[Mike & Weng 0]

I would wait bare minimum until she has been approved at the USEM and they take her passport to stamp it. If she picks up at Mall of Asia it could be there within a week or less.

Please wait until the medical and the interview are done and she's approved.

All it takes at the medical is one Dr. to think there's a white spot on her lungs and she'll be doing the 2 month wait while they see if her Sputum spawns TB. Then if she happens to have it, another 6 month wait.

You guys may forget something very very simple for the interview and then you'll get a 221G (I think) asking for that information, then you'll be out while you wait for the Administrative Processing that happens after you turn in the required forms you forgot.

Take everyone's advice and wait until she is told she's approved and then plan to buy a ticket at least 1 week out if not 2-3.

What do you mean pick up at Mall of Asia? My fiancee works right across that mall. Can you choose to have it delivered there instead? Thanks for any info.

[Artisan 138]

We bought my wife's ticket less than a week before our flight and paid ~$900 for a one-way from Manila to Detroit. We used St. Raphael Travel and Tours in Manila http://www.santraphael.com/home.php.

Just tell them you need a first time immigrant fare and they will ask for a copy of her visa when she picks up the tickets. We could have probably acquired a cheaper price but we specified the flight had to be with Delta.

[cleverest 1]

Thank you Yorubaqueen13 and Artisa, that is some great advice!

[Louis and Aya 17]

You can choose how you want your Visa delivered. You can have it delivered to your address or you can have it delivered to a 2Go location so that you can pick it up.

You can choose the Mall of Asia in Manila as the fastest delivery choice when you set up your interview. They even give you a piece of paper with how to change it to that, if you didn't choose that when you originally set up your interview, while you are at your interview.

Choose that way for the fastest delivery and pick it up from there.

What do you mean pick up at Mall of Asia? My fiancee works right across that mall. Can you choose to have it delivered there instead? Thanks for any info.