Last minute checklist before departure tomorrow!

[Andrew83 0]

Ok, sorry to post 2 similar posts back to back but, my fiancee comes TOMORROW (woohoo!), so if there ever was a time to make sure we have everything straight, it's now right?

So we are planning on a pretty normal departure from her city (Madrid)...

-she'll show her passport and visa at time of check-in, and make sure they are aware that she is entering the U.S. using the K-1 visa.

-she will inform security as well as she passes through security

-she'll arrive at her POE (JFK airport) and go to the immigration line at which time she'll show her passport and sealed envelope (medical envelope too??)

-they'll escort her to a interview room where she'll fill out the I-94...or give it to her? Or some blue piece of paper I've read about? I'm obviously not entirely sure about this part of the process.

-then she'll go collect her baggage and go through security and customs

-then drop off her baggage with Delta to put on her connecting flight (it's that way in Atlanta at least, but do all airports make you collect baggage and then re-submit it even when you have a connecting flight?)

-hurries to the next terminal to make her connection and all is good!

Is this more or less correct? Can anyone clarify some of the areas that I wasn't sure about? Thanks so much for input!!

[skiptex 225]

how much time does she have from when flight arrives till the connecting flight?

[Andrew83 0]

2 hours 25 minutes

[Dave&Roza 748]

Ok, sorry to post 2 similar posts back to back but, my fiancee comes TOMORROW (woohoo!), so if there ever was a time to make sure we have everything straight, it's now right?

So we are planning on a pretty normal departure from her city (Madrid)...

-she'll show her passport and visa at time of check-in, and make sure they are aware that she is entering the U.S. using the K-1 visa. Good.

-she will inform security as well as she passes through security No really necessary. They check name against ticket and do not really care if you need a visa or not.

-she'll arrive at her POE (JFK airport) and go to the immigration line at which time she'll show her passport and sealed envelope (medical envelope too??)

-they'll escort her to a interview room where she'll fill out the I-94...or give it to her? Or some blue piece of paper I've read about? I'm obviously not entirely sure about this part of the process. The airlines will pass these out along with the Customs Declaration forms. It is a good idea to have a pen with you so you can fill the forms out while still on the airplane. She may or may not go to the interview room. She hands over the brown UNOPENED envelope along with her passport and I-94 form.

-then she'll go collect her baggage and go through security and customs She will collect her bags and go thru Customs. Hands teh Customs agent teh Customs Declaration form. Then she will place them back onto the belt to have them go to her destination.

-then drop off her baggage with Delta to put on her connecting flight (it's that way in Atlanta at least, but do all airports make you collect baggage and then re-submit it even when you have a connecting flight?) You collect your bags, go thru Customs and then give them back to the airline. I have not been thru JFK internationally in quite some time, but that is how it is done at ORD.

-hurries to the next terminal to make her connection and all is good! Just hope she has enough time.

Is this more or less correct? Can anyone clarify some of the areas that I wasn't sure about? Thanks so much for input!!

See above.

Good luck,

Dave

[Possiblymaybe 371]

They have recently automated the I94 forms so she will not be getting a paper I94.

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/

[Andrew83 0]

Ok so the automated I-94, or should I say, how we get her I-94 number I can help her with once she's here? I don't need to give her advice on how to fill this thing out whatsoever?

[skiptex 225]

i hope it is enough time.. My fiance got stuck in the immigration line.. and missed her connecting flight.. she spent night miami but flew out the next morning..

[Andrew83 0]

Im afraid of that. I hope that doesn't happen but Miami is one of the worst airports I've ever been to so hopefully that played a part for you guys haha. How long was her connection?

How does the automated I-94 work?

[claire and joe 2]

Just a question .... How long did it take for her to get her police report ? ive applied for my Spanish police report and for it to be sent to a friends house in Spain and so far its been 3 weeks ! and all they say is it should take 10 days and a few more for postage ... yeah right

[Darnell 8,478]

Ok so the automated I-94, or should I say, how we get her I-94 number I can help her with once she's here? I don't need to give her advice on how to fill this thing out whatsoever?

You could read the content in the link at post #5.

[skiptex 225]

she was in immigration line for 3 hours

hope yours if faster..

[Darnell 8,478]

i hope it is enough time.. My fiance got stuck in the immigration line.. and missed her connecting flight.. she spent night miami but flew out the next morning..

You bring up a really nasty issue.

Usually, if the ticket holder is delayed because of immigration, the airline will put the ticket holder on the next flight out, but ya gotta get to the ticket desk at the airport, first. If it's 'next day' for the next flight out, ask for a hotel voucher, as well.

[duraaraa 203]

I'm curious about this myself, actually... My fiancee doesn't speak/read English, so how much, exactly, filling out needs to be done for POE on a K-1? It's nice we can do the I-95 electronically (I can fill it out for her that way), but is there anything special at POE that requires English knowledge?

Her English is literally zero. I'm not entirely sure she knows "hello" or "thank you," even. Mongolians studied Russian when she was growing up.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm curious about this myself, actually... My fiancee doesn't speak/read English, so how much, exactly, filling out needs to be done for POE on a K-1? It's nice we can do the I-95 electronically (I can fill it out for her that way), but is there anything special at POE that requires English knowledge?

Her English is literally zero. I'm not entirely sure she knows "hello" or "thank you," even. Mongolians studied Russian when she was growing up.

Customs form.

Don't sweat this - she can get help on the plane from the air crew.

If really touch-y about this, she can ask for interpreter at secondary - they will hook up the on-call person via telephone .

[duraaraa 203]

Customs form.

Don't sweat this - she can get help on the plane from the air crew.

If really touch-y about this, she can ask for interpreter at secondary - they will hook up the on-call person via telephone .

She's flying Ulaanbaatar -> Beijing -> Los Angeles. While Ulaanbaatar -> Beijing will not be a problem, I seriously doubt they have anyone fluent in Mongolian for Beijing -> Los Angeles. Would they just look at her passport and fill stuff in for her, without communication, in that case?

For secondary, I'll be giving her a home-made phrasebook for her to point to stuff, and an explanation to call me if they need an interpreter, especially if they have trouble getting one for Mongolian (it's not a very common language, obviously). I am concerned, though, that they won't know what to do with her, and that she will be freaked out, having never left Mongolia before.

Edited May 28, 2013 by duraaraa