The Kyiv Beat......

[LvivLovers 39]

Also, what is everyone's experience at booking flights on short notice? Can I assume that it will be cheaper to book a flight at least one week in advance of departure, or would it be better still to book two weeks or more in advance.

Thanks in Advance

As for tickets pricing - check out Expedia site. You can compare prices for Nov and Oct there.

The link is:

expedia.com

my hubby always buys airplane tickets through expedia.com

Just FYI, I bought my tickets directly through NWA but they used their partner KLM. It seemed that I got about the same price as going through Orbitz...Orbitz didn't offer the ability to buy a ticket originating from Ukraine...that's why I went through NWA directly. My roundtrip ticket was about $800. For her ticket 1-way from Kyiv, they wanted $2,500. I asked if I could just get her a roundtrip ticket like mine but just not use the first half. They said no...they would cancel if she didn't show up on the way over. So finally I told them to make a roundtrip ticket starting in Ukraine and then returning later on in the year even though she probably won't use it. That dropped the price down to about $800. Ah...the silly games airlines play. My guess is you can probably get even cheaper tickets...I was too busy working on other things to shop around more. Hope this helps someone.

Oh one more thing. Anyone know a cheap way to ship things to the USA from Ukraine? My wife is an avid reader and doesn't want to leave her books behind! hahaha She's got 100-200 kilograms worth which could get expensive transporting as luggage. She thinks she may have a company that will do it for about $3/kg but am just curious to see if anyone knows a cheaper way. Thanks!

Edited October 9, 2007 by LvivLovers

[etripke 0]

Also, what is everyone's experience at booking flights on short notice? Can I assume that it will be cheaper to book a flight at least one week in advance of departure, or would it be better still to book two weeks or more in advance.

Thanks in Advance

As for tickets pricing - check out Expedia site. You can compare prices for Nov and Oct there.

The link is:

expedia.com

my hubby always buys airplane tickets through expedia.com

Just FYI, I bought my tickets directly through NWA but they used their partner KLM. It seemed that I got about the same price as going through Orbitz...Orbitz didn't offer the ability to buy a ticket originating from Ukraine...that's why I went through NWA directly. My roundtrip ticket was about $800. For her ticket 1-way from Kyiv, they wanted $2,500. I asked if I could just get her a roundtrip ticket like mine but just not use the first half. They said no...they would cancel if she didn't show up on the way over. So finally I told them to make a roundtrip ticket starting in Ukraine and then returning later on in the year even though she probably won't use it. That dropped the price down to about $800. Ah...the silly games airlines play. My guess is you can probably get even cheaper tickets...I was too busy working on other things to shop around more. Hope this helps someone.

Oh one more thing. Anyone know a cheap way to ship things to the USA from Ukraine? My wife is an avid reader and doesn't want to leave her books behind! hahaha She's got 100-200 kilograms worth which could get expensive transporting as luggage. She thinks she may have a company that will do it for about $3/kg but am just curious to see if anyone knows a cheaper way. Thanks!

We will book her flight on KLM as well. We want the Amsterdam connection to O'Hare because that is within decent (<2 1/2 hrs) driving distance for me to pick them up. I'm trying to avoid more than the one flight change once in the states so they don't have to mess with the POE and catching another flight. I wish I had the vacation time to fly over and accompany them, but that was burned up already in 2 previous trips over there.

[LvivLovers 39]

Also, what is everyone's experience at booking flights on short notice? Can I assume that it will be cheaper to book a flight at least one week in advance of departure, or would it be better still to book two weeks or more in advance.

Thanks in Advance

As for tickets pricing - check out Expedia site. You can compare prices for Nov and Oct there.

The link is:

expedia.com

my hubby always buys airplane tickets through expedia.com

Just FYI, I bought my tickets directly through NWA but they used their partner KLM. It seemed that I got about the same price as going through Orbitz...Orbitz didn't offer the ability to buy a ticket originating from Ukraine...that's why I went through NWA directly. My roundtrip ticket was about $800. For her ticket 1-way from Kyiv, they wanted $2,500. I asked if I could just get her a roundtrip ticket like mine but just not use the first half. They said no...they would cancel if she didn't show up on the way over. So finally I told them to make a roundtrip ticket starting in Ukraine and then returning later on in the year even though she probably won't use it. That dropped the price down to about $800. Ah...the silly games airlines play. My guess is you can probably get even cheaper tickets...I was too busy working on other things to shop around more. Hope this helps someone.

Oh one more thing. Anyone know a cheap way to ship things to the USA from Ukraine? My wife is an avid reader and doesn't want to leave her books behind! hahaha She's got 100-200 kilograms worth which could get expensive transporting as luggage. She thinks she may have a company that will do it for about $3/kg but am just curious to see if anyone knows a cheaper way. Thanks!

We will book her flight on KLM as well. We want the Amsterdam connection to O'Hare because that is within decent (<2 1/2 hrs) driving distance for me to pick them up. I'm trying to avoid more than the one flight change once in the states so they don't have to mess with the POE and catching another flight. I wish I had the vacation time to fly over and accompany them, but that was burned up already in 2 previous trips over there.

That's what we did too. We are going from Kyiv to Amsterdam, then to Atlanta which is our POE and final destination. I figured that was better than risking missing a connecting flight. We're also bringing a cat and dog! hahaha

[payxibka 10,047]

We will book her flight on KLM as well. We want the Amsterdam connection to O'Hare because that is within decent (<2 1/2 hrs) driving distance for me to pick them up. I'm trying to avoid more than the one flight change once in the states so they don't have to mess with the POE and catching another flight. I wish I had the vacation time to fly over and accompany them, but that was burned up already in 2 previous trips over there.

Have her come to MSP... we are a friendly place....

[Mariya 0]

I am the only immigrant (CR-1 visa) as our baby was issued an amrecina passport. What type of affidavit of support does my hubby need to fill out and send?

Is it I-864EZ or I-864?

[payxibka 10,047]

I am the only immigrant (CR-1 visa) as our baby was issued an amrecina passport. What type of affidavit of support does my hubby need to fill out and send?

Is it I-864EZ or I-864?

The I-864 EZ has limited criteria but if you qualify then why not...

Criteria are:

1. You are the person who filed or is filing the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for a relative being sponsored;

2. The relative you are sponsoring is the only person listed onthe Form I-130 petition;

3. The income you are using to qualify is based entirely on your salary or pension and is shown on one or more Forms W-2 provided by your employer(s) or former employer(s).

I sense from your post that item #1 (the sponsor is your petitioner husband) & 2 (only one alien is being sponsored...you) have been met..... If salaried income is the only thing being considered for the financial side then looks good to me.

[Mariya 0]

FWAGUY, THANK YOU !!!

And what if my husband needs a joint sponsor. Is I-864 EZ still ok for him to use? And what form should sponsor fill out?

[payxibka 10,047]

FWAGUY, THANK YOU !!!

And what if my husband needs a joint sponsor. Is I-864 EZ still ok for him to use? And what form should sponsor fill out?

I think you hubby can still use EZ but the joint sponsor has no choice but to use the standard I-864.

[Mariya 0]

Do we need a joint sponsor if my hubby was making over poverty but under 125% last year (as he spent 5 months with me in Ukraine not working)??

[etripke 0]

We will book her flight on KLM as well. We want the Amsterdam connection to O'Hare because that is within decent (<2 1/2 hrs) driving distance for me to pick them up. I'm trying to avoid more than the one flight change once in the states so they don't have to mess with the POE and catching another flight. I wish I had the vacation time to fly over and accompany them, but that was burned up already in 2 previous trips over there.

Have her come to MSP... we are a friendly place....

Too long of drive, besides the bridges aren't safe up there.

[John and Luda 0]

Received my NOA1 today via snail mail. Now the real fun begins.

[payxibka 10,047]

Do we need a joint sponsor if my hubby was making over poverty but under 125% last year (as he spent 5 months with me in Ukraine not working)??

Can he demonstrate current earnings capacity in excess of the threshold? Regardless of the answer, I would still have a joint sponsor in my back pocket just in case

[Deron 0]

From my travel experience to the Ukraine, there are two great sites out there for USA / Ukraine travel:

1. mobissimo.com - it searches nearly all other engines and many the other foreign airlines / engines / consolidators your expedias and orbits don't. Plus there are no issues buying tickets that don't originate in the US. You will usually get the best price here compared to anywhere on the net.

2. bt-store.com - it is consolidator and standard flight search engine, and occasionally the consolidator prices are quite low. I went roundtrip with one layover from SFO to KBP for just over $600 this year. They have a special thing with KLM/NWA where they buy in bulk and then resell them to the public, which is almost always below what you'd find in a regular search engine, even the airlines search engine. I've booked two trips here on KLM/NWA.

There may be others, but I've been about five times in the last year and these have consistenly worked out the best for me.

Good luck and happy flying.

[Mariya 0]

Fwaguy!

I am sure tha you heard it alot already but still - YOU ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL!

[aikorob 0]

Just FYI, I bought my tickets directly through NWA but they used their partner KLM. It seemed that I got about the same price as going through Orbitz...Orbitz didn't offer the ability to buy a ticket originating from Ukraine...that's why I went through NWA directly. My roundtrip ticket was about $800. For her ticket 1-way from Kyiv, they wanted $2,500. I asked if I could just get her a roundtrip ticket like mine but just not use the first half. They said no...they would cancel if she didn't show up on the way over. So finally I told them to make a roundtrip ticket starting in Ukraine and then returning later on in the year even though she probably won't use it. That dropped the price down to about $800. Ah...the silly games airlines play. My guess is you can probably get even cheaper tickets...I was too busy working on other things to shop around more. Hope this helps someone.

Oh one more thing. Anyone know a cheap way to ship things to the USA from Ukraine? My wife is an avid reader and doesn't want to leave her books behind! hahaha She's got 100-200 kilograms worth which could get expensive transporting as luggage. She thinks she may have a company that will do it for about $3/kg but am just curious to see if anyone knows a cheaper way. Thanks!

We have the same problem---my wife wants her stuff from Odessa also. There is a company called Meest---but if I remember correctly, the prices they quote on shipping by sea are from the docks in Odessa to their terminal in Jersey--you are responsible for getting it delivered down here. Have you really looked at paying the "extra baggage" fee from the airlines? Or you could possibly find someone else visiting Lviv to act as your mule. Right now our plan is: on her next visit back to Odessa (probably in April) I am going to accompany her also, and we will pack the maximum allowed in the luggage to bring back here.