Visa approved, flying and POE...etc --How is going alone?

[heo luoi 206]

Curious for those K1/K3 visa and whomever, my finance hopefully will schedule and interview soon. HOPEFULLY everything goes well but I'm always trying to be prepared for the step(s) ahead. My issue is shes from a poor family and a poor country. Most of my family there havent even seen a commercial plane up close. Just knowing from my travels international flying is a bit daunting always. Sure you can follow the crowds and see whats going on but if anyones flown into Hong Kong knows that airport is hellish to hold over in. They make you go on a herculean journey up stairs, escalators, walkways, busses, trams, trains...and then back without alerting you til its too late. Theres little English signage that hard to read and very little signage at all.

I recently switched employers and lost a lot of vacation and used all mine up in my visit earlier this year. Hopefully visa approval will be done this year pending interview and I dont have any vacation left. Honestly I dont really have a big desire to go back too soon anyways, its kinda exhausting and traveling I dont want to just go and turn right around either. Just curious just how daunting for a FIRST TIME flyer ever would be traveling internationally, and then the visa process...etc at POE would be to go alone. I hear plenty of people have done it. but even I get confused everytime things are different, they make you fill customs forms but then it seems like u dont have to cause they have terminals at the airport instead...etc. I think a couple very long flights and 2 layovers would be stimilus overload for a person first time ever. Would be interested in the communities insights to how burdensome this is and what to expect inbound @ POE in the US. She would probably have to connect one more time in the states too, otherwise I'd ask if I could checkin at the visa point.

TL:DR. for foreign beneficiaries w/ little and NO travel experience, how daunting is immigrating flight inbound ALONE. Whats the intake process at the US POE?

Edited September 9, 2015 by coldhands

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Off Topic; topic is about air travel.

[TBoneTX 46,117]

In your instance, I'd seek to move heaven and earth in order to escort her here personally.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Talk to the airline and she if they can assist her. A lot of time there's no issue for them to escort people flying alone who are not familiar with it but it could depend on the airline I guess. But check with them and ask.

[heo luoi 206]

I dunno I might have to use United (have miles) and United was one of the worst experiences ever. Certainly dont wish anyones first flight (international) experience ever to be w/ United thats for sure. I have to admit I'm a bit puzzled how so many people could go visit for 2yr requirement, some attend the interviews and if you pick up and go too, thats a lot of travel/flights/vacation/money. I'm not cheap but I just really can't afford the time aspect right now as the new guy on the totem pole. It wasn't super easy to land this new job.

Shes certainly a more than capable young woman but yeah flying across half the planet is intimidating for anyone I'm sure. Im more specifically curious as to what to expect inbound at the POE-Point of Entry in the States and how much is expected there in the process.

Edited September 10, 2015 by coldhands

[TBoneTX 46,117]

I agree with avoiding United like the plague.

The "what to expect at POE" is in many threads. If she's to take a connecting flight after going through POE, leave ample time to catch it.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Yes, there are plenty of topics on this subject. Mainly found in the forum that is typically used for travel topics, the Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum. Check it out. Found here > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/115-working-traveling-during-us-immigration/

[heo luoi 206]

Thanks Tbone and KayDeeCee, thats a good point if the processing takes a while will need to have a longer layover....maybe if she tells them I have to connect in 30mins it will expedite
Thanks KayDeeCee, I try to search first wasnt aware of that subforum....will check out. Crossing fingers things continue to progress well...

Tbone could you move my thread to that forum ?

Edited September 11, 2015 by coldhands

[TBoneTX 46,117]

Thread moved from Off Topic forum to Working & Traveling.