Chances of being able to fly back together?

[AKteacher 104]

8 hours ago, John & Rose said:

Just make sure you have VOH before booking flights.  There have been MANY people who have lost money because they booked flights and even weddings before they had VOH.  AP is a variable.  It can take a few days to a few months.  There is no way that I know of to try to figure that out.

Can't second this enough. Don't even think about planning to leave about a week after the interview. It took us 3-4 weeks after the interview to actually get the visa, finish CFO, etc. Last minute, 1-way plane tickets are very expensive, having to cancel/rebook is wasting even more money. My advice would be to try to reassure your finacee that flying is very safe (i.e. try to talk some sense into her). Yes it's a big plunge to take to leave your country but if she really loves you she should be willing to take that risk, even if it's a bit scary.

[AKteacher 104]

19 minutes ago, AKteacher said:

Can't second this enough. Don't even think about planning to leave about a week after the interview. It took us 3-4 weeks after the interview to actually get the visa, finish CFO, etc. Last minute, 1-way plane tickets are very expensive, having to cancel/rebook is wasting even more money. My advice would be to try to reassure your finacee that flying is very safe (i.e. try to talk some sense into her). Yes it's a big plunge to take to leave your country but if she really loves you she should be willing to take that risk, even if it's a bit scary.

One more thought - if you don't have a lot of time/money to burn, why not have her do the interview first, then come later to fly back with her? That way you can book the flight ahead of time and save a lot of money, not to mention the stress of trying to finish everything so quickly at the last minute...

[bowens44 214]

It would be nice for you to be there at the interview but IMO probably better to be with her for the long flight and entry into the US especially if she is afraid of flying. I went for the interview and my wife ended up needing sputum testing so no interview and I had to fly back for work. After that was all over she went to the interview alone, it was easy. I flew back after she has her VISA in hand, we had a big going away party for family and then we flew back to the US  together. The process at POW was scary for her even with me there. 

[Tokenfreak 223]

6 hours ago, AKteacher said:

Can't second this enough. Don't even think about planning to leave about a week after the interview. It took us 3-4 weeks after the interview to actually get the visa, finish CFO, etc. Last minute, 1-way plane tickets are very expensive, having to cancel/rebook is wasting even more money. My advice would be to try to reassure your finacee that flying is very safe (i.e. try to talk some sense into her). Yes it's a big plunge to take to leave your country but if she really loves you she should be willing to take that risk, even if it's a bit scary.

Of course we wouldn't book anything until we had the visa in hand.  She is going to do the CFO before the interview anyways.  I think she is just nervous about getting lost in the airport and knowing where to go and what to do and which plane to get on.  She has only flew to Manila before and that's it.

5 hours ago, AKteacher said:

One more thought - if you don't have a lot of time/money to burn, why not have her do the interview first, then come later to fly back with her? That way you can book the flight ahead of time and save a lot of money, not to mention the stress of trying to finish everything so quickly at the last minute...

46 minutes ago, bowens44 said:

It would be nice for you to be there at the interview but IMO probably better to be with her for the long flight and entry into the US especially if she is afraid of flying. I went for the interview and my wife ended up needing sputum testing so no interview and I had to fly back for work. After that was all over she went to the interview alone, it was easy. I flew back after she has her VISA in hand, we had a big going away party for family and then we flew back to the US  together. The process at POW was scary for her even with me there. 

I have thought about that, but she is also nervous for the interview and wants me to be there with her for it.  We feel it is better if I show as we have a better chance of being approved.  And if I don't show and we are not approved nothing else really matters at that point and we would have to start over.  So we feeling securing the approval is the most important thing right now.  We are just going to pray and hope everything works out for us and we get the VOH quick while I am there.  If the flight is a little expensive its okay at least we would be together.

[2018JNJ 141]

22 minutes ago, Tokenfreak said:

Of course we wouldn't book anything until we had the visa in hand.  She is going to do the CFO before the interview anyways.  I think she is just nervous about getting lost in the airport and knowing where to go and what to do and which plane to get on.  She has only flew to Manila before and that's it.

I have thought about that, but she is also nervous for the interview and wants me to be there with her for it.  We feel it is better if I show as we have a better chance of being approved.  And if I don't show and we are not approved nothing else really matters at that point and we would have to start over.  So we feeling securing the approval is the most important thing right now.  We are just going to pray and hope everything works out for us and we get the VOH quick while I am there.  If the flight is a little expensive its okay at least we would be together.

Your presence at the interview will have little to no bearing.  Approval or not is pretty much a given before interview.  Unless something goes horribly wrong or somethings have not been disclosed beforehand, she has nothing to worry about.  Being you are low on funds, I think right now trying to do the cheapest option is best.  AOS fees are $1200+.  10 hours of driving is not a big deal.  And you don't have to drive straight back.  Meet her ATL, drive up through the mountains and stay at a hotel or cabin overnight..make it romantic.  POE is scary, but with a direct flight into ATL she won't have to be rushed to meet a connecting flight or try to recheck her bags.  All she has to do is ask for which line to stand in.  She'll make it through fine.  

 

ATL would be much easier POE than JFK imo.

Manila to Seoul/Hong Kong..~3 hour layover..11~12 hours to ATL. ~45 minutes POE..3 hour drive to cabin in the mountains..bliss. 😉

 

jj

 

jj

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 hours ago, Tokenfreak said:

Of course we wouldn't book anything until we had the visa in hand.  She is going to do the CFO before the interview anyways.  I think she is just nervous about getting lost in the airport and knowing where to go and what to do and which plane to get on.  She has only flew to Manila before and that's it.

I have thought about that, but she is also nervous for the interview and wants me to be there with her for it.  We feel it is better if I show as we have a better chance of being approved.  And if I don't show and we are not approved nothing else really matters at that point and we would have to start over.  So we feeling securing the approval is the most important thing right now.  We are just going to pray and hope everything works out for us and we get the VOH quick while I am there.  If the flight is a little expensive its okay at least we would be together.

USEM is not a difficult embassy.   Your being there will have minimal impact.   And yes I was there, and yes it was a great experience, but no it did not have an effect on the visa approval.

[Tokenfreak 223]

4 hours ago, 2018JNJ said:

Your presence at the interview will have little to no bearing.  Approval or not is pretty much a given before interview.  Unless something goes horribly wrong or somethings have not been disclosed beforehand, she has nothing to worry about.  Being you are low on funds, I think right now trying to do the cheapest option is best.  AOS fees are $1200+.  10 hours of driving is not a big deal.  And you don't have to drive straight back.  Meet her ATL, drive up through the mountains and stay at a hotel or cabin overnight..make it romantic.  POE is scary, but with a direct flight into ATL she won't have to be rushed to meet a connecting flight or try to recheck her bags.  All she has to do is ask for which line to stand in.  She'll make it through fine.  

 

ATL would be much easier POE than JFK imo.

Manila to Seoul/Hong Kong..~3 hour layover..11~12 hours to ATL. ~45 minutes POE..3 hour drive to cabin in the mountains..bliss. 😉

 

jj

 

jj

 

Yeah I understand that, but that is still putting her flying back by herself, but we may not have a choice really.  So if it comes down to that it may indeed be better to fly her to ATL then JFK and do what you suggested.  Thanks.

58 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

USEM is not a difficult embassy.   Your being there will have minimal impact.   And yes I was there, and yes it was a great experience, but no it did not have an effect on the visa approval.

Hopefully it will be very easy for her.  I really want to be there for her interview too as I know she is really nervous and I feel like that will calm her down a bit and makes things a little easier for her.  Were you able to fly back with your fiancee or she flew here by herself?

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

USEM is not a difficult embassy.   Your being there will have minimal impact.   And yes I was there, and yes it was a great experience, but no it did not have an effect on the visa approval.

I agree.  It was a great experience and I was there to support Rose and the kids.  My presence made no difference to the Embassy but Rose appreciated the support.  The interview is very straight forward and easy.  The COs are professional.  It was a good experience all around.

[Tokenfreak 223]

Just now, John & Rose said:

I agree.  It was a great experience and I was there to support Rose and the kids.  My presence made no difference to the Embassy but Rose appreciated the support.  The interview is very straight forward and easy.  The COs are professional.  It was a good experience all around.

That's great to hear!  I want to be there for my fiancee as well to help calm her down and to show support.  So I think I will be there and we will just play the next part by ear I guess.

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 minutes ago, Tokenfreak said:

Yeah I understand that, but that is still putting her flying back by herself, but we may not have a choice really.  So if it comes down to that it may indeed be better to fly her to ATL then JFK and do what you suggested.  Thanks.

Hopefully it will be very easy for her.  I really want to be there for her interview too as I know she is really nervous and I feel like that will calm her down a bit and makes things a little easier for her.  Were you able to fly back with your fiancee or she flew here by herself?

Yes,  we flew back together.  Also our situation was not the norm - I broke the BIG rule .. I booked our return flight BEFORE I even flew over, but our return flight was not until almost 2 months after the interview.   

 

The interview was in March, we flew back in May.

 

Also it was roughly 2 weeks after the interview before the visa package was delivered.

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, Tokenfreak said:

That's great to hear!  I want to be there for my fiancee as well to help calm her down and to show support.  So I think I will be there and we will just play the next part by ear I guess.

That may be a great plan.  I do suggest being there for the interview but not for the Embassy, more for your fiancee.  Rose and the kids were nervous and me being there helped them a lot.  Even if you go back in a month to pick them up you may get a good deal and not be so rushed.  She will have to schedule GCP if she didn't do it before the interview.  Sometimes appointments there can be a few weeks out.  Just relax and enjoy this part of the journey.  Don't add extra stress by trying to push things too fast.  In the end you will be together.

[Tokenfreak 223]

Just now, Hank_ said:

Yes,  we flew back together.  Also our situation was not the norm - I broke the BIG rule .. I booked our return flight BEFORE I even flew over, but our return flight was not until almost 2 months after the interview.   

 

The interview was in March, we flew back in May.

 

Also it was roughly 2 weeks after the interview before the visa package was delivered.

Oh ok I see.  I wish I could stay 2 months over there, but unfortunately I don't have that many days to do so.  Well glad you were able to fly back together.  I should be there about 2 solid weeks so maybe we will get lucky, if not maybe I can just fly back and meet her for a couple days a month later or so and fly together then.  Else she has no choice but to fly alone here and in that case I will probably fly her to ATL instead now.

[Tokenfreak 223]

3 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

That may be a great plan.  I do suggest being there for the interview but not for the Embassy, more for your fiancee.  Rose and the kids were nervous and me being there helped them a lot.  Even if you go back in a month to pick them up you may get a good deal and not be so rushed.  She will have to schedule GCP if she didn't do it before the interview.  Sometimes appointments there can be a few weeks out.  Just relax and enjoy this part of the journey.  Don't add extra stress by trying to push things too fast.  In the end you will be together.

Yeah I do want to be there for her to show support as I think it would be great to do so.  I just hope my work will allow me to go back in a month if that is what I have to do to pick her up.  We are just ready to be together.  We haven't even seen each other in person in 9 months now and probably will be near 10 months before the interview happens.  Maybe she will cave and just fly solo here if she doesn't' want to wait on me to come back.

[Tokenfreak 223]

Does my fiancee' need a long layover in Hong Kong or Taipei or just the POE in america? 

[Hank_ 9,174]

12 minutes ago, Tokenfreak said:

Does my fiancee' need a long layover in Hong Kong or Taipei or just the POE in america? 

 

Just POE.    With a layover in route the only time needed is to travel to the next gate for the continuing flight.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Hank_