Buy air ticket before the interview?

[Tango777 3]

My fiancee's appointment is Jan. 9, a Thursday. I want to buy a ticket for Jan. 17 or 18, Fri or Sat. So that would leave a full 7 days to receive the visa. Yes I'm optimistic. This is the Bangkok Consulate. basically if I can't get her that weekend at the LA airport, we'll have to wait until the next weekend because of my work. I knows it's a bit of a risk. I may buy an unrestricted ticket, at this point increasing the one way fare from about $ 960 to about $ 1260. Still looking for a lower price, I think I can get Korean for $ 860 but the $ 960 is Thai Air so it might be worth the extra $ 100. Just wondering what VJ'ers experience is on how long it takes to show up in the mail and any chance it can get picked up in person at the Consulate in Bangkok? Thanks very on the forum!

[Bin deeq 10]

I suggest to wait until you receive your visa and then make your plans as appropriate.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Unless the ticket is refundable, I would not purchase it until the visa approval happens and is in her hand.

[belinda63 3,038]

Never make plans until the visa is in your hands. Almost every month someone comes on here because they bought plane tickets, planned a wedding, quit a job, ended the lease, prior to the visa being in their hands and guess what? They didn't get the visa when they expected.

[ali.cha 18]

U never know what may happen there's a possibility consulate may arrange the administrative process, or if you're really in rush to spend money and "catch" ticket, you always can cancel in 24h before flight and it charges 100$ in some companies

[missypatrick14 0]

I agree with all the above,I have known many people on VJ who booked a plane ticket and didn't get the visa when they expected to,I didn't get my visa until 1 month and a half after my interview,they tell you it should be with you in 3/4 working days but very often it takes A LOT longer,if you book the ticket it is at your own risk,the chances are she may not get the visa by the date she is due to fly and then you lose out on the flight.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I strongly suggest you DO NOT make any plans until the visa is in hands. That means even if there is a approval (which we all hope) on the day of the interview, still do not make plans until she has the visa

good luck

[Tango777 3]

Thanks everyone. So I found out, at least on Thai Air, it's only 2000 baht ($ 65) to change the dates. The risk would be then an increased fare but I'd probably be paying that anyway. On the other hand, we must have had one of the longest delays ever, 388 days from I-129 to interview, so maybe our luck will get better. Regardless we're so happy it's actually going to happen. The long delays can cause some stress so for those of you going through the process, hang in there.

[khwaidee1 196]

FWIW, I took my chances. We got the interview very quickly and I wanted be there for the interview even though I could not go inside. The interview was originally scheduled for 8/27 and they called the week before saying they needed to move it to 8/28 because of a meeting. We had originally planned on flying home on 9/1 but changed it to 9/2 at a cost of $100.00 for EVA. The visa arrived on 8/31 via EMS as promised and we flew home together. Good luck.

[Ning 619]

Thanks everyone. So I found out, at least on Thai Air, it's only 2000 baht ($ 65) to change the dates. The risk would be then an increased fare but I'd probably be paying that anyway. On the other hand, we must have had one of the longest delays ever, 388 days from I-129 to interview, so maybe our luck will get better. Regardless we're so happy it's actually going to happen. The long delays can cause some stress so for those of you going through the process, hang in there.

We made reservations at a travel agent in BKK with a flexible departure date that I simply confirmed with the airline the day before I needed the flight which was Thai Air.

Luck? My case took 408 days. I picked up my passport with visa 3 days after the interview just as they said; left that night for LAX.

[bigdog 376]

Good Luck with the process and your flight.

[reginaglenn 25]

Not yet.. Worst thing is ,even if the visa is in hand, you'll see errors and misspelled entries in your passport that needs to be returned to embassy for corrections, this is rare though , but it happens. You can't be sure unless you have it in hand.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Even if the ticket is refundable, I advise do not purchase yet. You might should wait until your agenda is free and then proceed with the trip! Good luck.

[Al422 221]

You gambled and won. Good for you! The advice to never buy tickets in advance is really only for the non gambling types. If you are willing to gamble the cost of the ticket, bearing in mind that you may lose it if something goes wrong, then go for it. But remember that you are gambling.

[GG&RG 23]

We have been waiting 45 days, since our interview... So take this advise, make no arrangement's until you have the visa in hand. You never know what may happen. But dont lose hope, just careful in your steps.