K1 visa denied boarding at airport, NIE?

[callmeshelle 15]

Hi everyone. My fiance is living in China but has a Sierra Leone passport. He received his K1 visa last week and was scheduled to travel today to me in Washington, DC(transit through Turkey for 4 hours). When he arrived to the airport, they denied him boarding the plane because he needs to quarantine in Turkey for 14 days prior to entering the United States. My fiance showed the publications on Department of State website but they still insisted that he has to get a visa for Turkey to quarantine and he cannot come straight here.

I rebooked him on another flight which will leave tomorrow with a different airline altogether. What further information can I provide at the airport to prevent this issue from re-occuring?

Thanks in advance

[HRQX 4,145]

6 minutes ago, callmeshelle said:

What further information can I provide at the airport to prevent this issue from re-occuring?

Is the NIE wording on the visa?

If so, the airport/airline should read the info on Timatic which clearly says "passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Department of State indicating that the passenger is exempt from the restriction;" https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

[callmeshelle 15]

5 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Is the NIE wording on the visa?

If so, the airport/airline should read the info on Timatic which clearly says "passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Department of State indicating that the passenger is exempt from the restriction;" https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

They havent been printing the NIE statement on the K1 visa because the proclamation for blanket NIE for K1 was issued in April 8. K1 is exempt from quarantine rules

[top_secret 2,489]

If you go to https://www.united.com/en/us/timatic?i=TIMATIC&POS=US&POS=US and enter the info into the form you will get exactly verbatim the text that is available in the check-in agents computer.  That website is United but they are just supplying the same IATA TIMATIC that ALL check in agents from all airlines are supposed to refer to to resolve any disputes over travel requirements.  They can look it up in their own check-in system and it will say exactly this.  The basis of your argument is that it IS in their own check-in system.  ALL airlines use TIMATIC and this is what it says verbatim.

 

 

Below listed passengers are allowed to enter the USA, even if they transited or have been in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China (People's Rep.), Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), in the past 14 days:
- nationals of the USA;
- permanent residents of the USA;
- the spouse of a national of the USA. They must have a marriage certificate;
- the spouse of a permanent resident of the US. They must have a marriage certificate;
- the parent/legal guardian of an unmarried and younger than 21 years national or permanent resident of the USA;
- the unmarried and younger than 21 years brother or sister of a national or permanent resident of the USA, who is unmarried and younger than 21 years;
- the child/foster child/ward of a national or permanent resident of the USA;
- passengers with an IR-4 or IH-4 visa;
- passengers with a C-1 or D visa;
- passengers with an IR-1, CR-1, CR-2 visa;
- passengers with an IV, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4 visa;
- passengers with an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, E-1 as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
- passengers with a C-1/D visa traveling to join a ship or aircraft in the USA;
- passengers with an H or L crew visa;
- passengers with a DV visa issued between 1 October 2019 and 30 September 2020;
- members of the U.S. Armed Forces, spouses, and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces;
- passengers with evidence of traveling at the invitation of the USA government for a purpose related to the containment/mitigation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19);
- passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Department of State indicating that the passenger is exempt from the restriction.

Edited June 17, 2021 by top_secret

[HRQX 4,145]

8 minutes ago, callmeshelle said:

K1 is exempt from quarantine rules

Correct; keep insisting them to check Timatic: "passengers with the following visas: A-1, A-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, CR-1, CR-2, D, E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, IR-1, IR-4, IH-4, IV, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;" https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

[callmeshelle 15]

Thank you all. This is very frustrating and the original airline only wants to give me $54 from the original $1100 ticket because “he didnt have a valid visa”😩

[top_secret 2,489]

1 hour ago, callmeshelle said:

Thank you all. This is very frustrating and the original airline only wants to give me $54 from the original $1100 ticket because “he didnt have a valid visa”😩

Argue that one.  He was wrongfully denied boarding due to the airlines negligence.  The airline failed to uphold their contract of service.  They owe him compensation for the trouble they caused him by their mistake.  I can imagine arguing that in China may be more difficult but an airline ticket is a contract even in China, and they failed to uphold their end of the deal.  Demand compensation from them.  What airline is it?

[callmeshelle 15]

They were crazy! It was Turkish Airlines. Their customer service was useless. I already disputed with my bank because they were insistent that its his fault he missed his flight. I dont know why they are being so stubborn.

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Argue that one.  He was wrongfully denied boarding due to the airlines negligence.  The airline failed to uphold their contract of service.  They owe him compensation for the trouble they caused him by their mistake.  I can imagine arguing that in China may be more difficult but an airline ticket is a contract even in China, and they failed to uphold their end of the deal.  Demand compensation from them.  What airline is it?

 

[top_secret 2,489]

I've had some dealings with Turkish Airlines problems before.  As you said their customer service line is completely unless.  They have no authority to do anything even if they want to.  You can 'sometimes' get a meaningful response and get directed to someone who can actually do something with thier online feedback form. https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/any-questions/customer-relations/feedback/

 

The ones who can really do stuff are the local ticket offices.  I've had luck solving Turkish Airlines problems with them just exchanging emails before.

 

Of course you already did the best thing by disputing the charge on your credit card.

[Maki&Kiki 123]

My fiancé had so much stress with Turkish airline. Due to bad weather, his first flight from USA got delayed and he just missed the leg flight in Turkey (Turkish airline gate closed less than 10 min before he arrived, and they said they couldn’t reopen, although the plane was still parked). Lady that works there said it’s not their fault and that he needs a new ticket, so he purchased new from Turkish airline. She  made a mistake and booked him a flight that was already full. After almost a full day, when he tried to checkin they apologized and said plane is full and that he needs a new ticket. He lost it then, started yelling and finally got to talk to a manager. Manager apologized for inconvenience, arranged to book him a new flight for free and refund previously purchased ticket. He got refund after 1 year and 100 dollar discount if he flies with them again, within 1 year.. 😓. Do not give up, you just need to get hold of right person, they did you wrong and because of that you lost precious time with loved one, so demand your refund, compensation and apology. 

[callmeshelle 15]

38 minutes ago, Kittinpaw said:

My fiancé had so much stress with Turkish airline. Due to bad weather, his first flight from USA got delayed and he just missed the leg flight in Turkey (Turkish airline gate closed less than 10 min before he arrived, and they said they couldn’t reopen, although the plane was still parked). Lady that works there said it’s not their fault and that he needs a new ticket, so he purchased new from Turkish airline. She  made a mistake and booked him a flight that was already full. After almost a full day, when he tried to checkin they apologized and said plane is full and that he needs a new ticket. He lost it then, started yelling and finally got to talk to a manager. Manager apologized for inconvenience, arranged to book him a new flight for free and refund previously purchased ticket. He got refund after 1 year and 100 dollar discount if he flies with them again, within 1 year.. 😓. Do not give up, you just need to get hold of right person, they did you wrong and because of that you lost precious time with loved one, so demand your refund, compensation and apology. 

😳 I cant believe they did that to him. Did he call to talk to a manager? Im def the more aggressive one in the relationship. I was screaming when he called me to get the manager and they brought one but he kept saying no. He needs to change his flight to quarantine for 2 weeks. And pay for a transit visa in turkey despite only spending 3 hours there🤦🏾‍♀️. 
 I couldnt even get in contact with Turkish Airlines customer service in America, the line was busy. I had to make an international call using a different country customer service. Just useless. I was able to rebook him with China Southern and he is on the plane now! His friends have now changed their flights away from Turkish. Thank you for your advice. I want to email them back and tell them you said he couldnt fly to US but hes on his way to LAX now! Where is my money!?

[molehills 67]

14 hours ago, callmeshelle said:

They havent been printing the NIE statement on the K1 visa because the proclamation for blanket NIE for K1 was issued in April 8. K1 is exempt from quarantine rules

Ignore what I just said. I read your post wrong. Sorry! 

Edited June 17, 2021 by JCB86
read wrong info

[Ontarkie 14,413]

~~Inappropriate posts removed.~~

[SalishSea 18,080]

On 6/16/2021 at 6:08 PM, callmeshelle said:

Thank you all. This is very frustrating and the original airline only wants to give me $54 from the original $1100 ticket because “he didnt have a valid visa”😩

That is BS.  You must fight them on that since it is clearly their error, and you have all the documentation to show that.