I'm going to buy plane ticket

[mollyreyna 0]

Hi all,

I know that it is strongly recommended to NOT buy a plane ticket until the visa is in hand, but I found a good deal. Plus, I'm buying a refundable ticket so I can change the date if need be.

The interview is on July 24 and the plane takes off on July 28.

What is this I hear of a "brown envelope"? Is it given at the medical exam, or is it sent to the benificiaries home in the mail? I'm wondering if we'll have to wait for this in the mail before he leaves.

I just want to make sure before I buy the ticket.

Thanks everyone!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

The Brown envelope come in the mail.... you will be cutting it very close with your travel dates.... and you will have to pray that nothing holds you up.... could you not just hang on for a few more weeks???

Kez

[TracyTN 237]

Each consulate does it diffferently, but yes, he'll need the 'brown envelope' when he travels. London has it couriered over after the visa interview - ours took 2 business days, but others have taken 4 or more.

You're cutting it VERY close. I hope the airline will allow changes for not too much $$!

[Rings 10]

You can ask to see if the consulate will let you pickup the visa like we did (see below) and if they allow it, then they should give you the brown envelope right then, if they mail it you will be cutting it close.

[Sapphire 0]

If it's refundable, you should be fine. Some countries give the brown envelope in hand when they give the passports, some others send it. Why don't you check this on the Italian forum? I hope there is one in the regional forum.

On the other hand, you make sure you check what are the conditions for the refund. Even though I already have my visa, I also bought tickets with insurance of cancellation, which cost only 40 euro or smtg like that, so, compared to the discount you may get from a good deal, it might worth. BUT, check that there might be some conditions in which the tickets are refundable (like ilness, death of a close relative and I do believe visa problems was among the situations for which you can get a refund).

Good luck with your interview... but I'm sure you'll have some stresful days until you see yourself in the plane

[mollyreyna 0]

You can ask to see if the consulate will let you pickup the visa like we did (see below) and if they allow it, then they should give you the brown envelope right then, if they mail it you will be cutting it close.

I know at Naples you usually get the visa the day of or the day after the interview. However, since the Medical is the day before, would the brown envelope be ready? I guess I'm not sure exactly what goes inside of it...is it results from the medical tests done?

[Kez/JWolf 6]

The contents of the brown envelope are all the immigtation papers you have filed plus the medical and police reports... so yes the test results will be in there too..

Kez

[daphne2109 0]

Hi all,

I know that it is strongly recommended to NOT buy a plane ticket until the visa is in hand, but I found a good deal. Plus, I'm buying a refundable ticket so I can change the date if need be.

The interview is on July 24 and the plane takes off on July 28.

What is this I hear of a "brown envelope"? Is it given at the medical exam, or is it sent to the benificiaries home in the mail? I'm wondering if we'll have to wait for this in the mail before he leaves.

I just want to make sure before I buy the ticket.

Thanks everyone!

I'm from Italy and actually last year I had my interview in Naples on the 24th of July, and I got my visa the following day. So I guess if everything is fine, you should be done in 2 days, plus in Italy the US consulate gives you the same day they give you the visa the "brown envelope", which you need to bring it with you as a carry on luggage when you come to the USA on the plane. The "brown envelope" will be kept by the custom officer when you show the passposrt with the fiace(e) visa. The brown envelope contains all the documents related to your petition including the results of the exams done at the US consulate in Naples. So I really believe that you are gonna be ok to leave on the 28th of JUly. At the most you'll be staying in Naples for 2 days.

Good luck!!! and if you need any advice PM me!!!! Be prepare to wait outside and inside the US Consulate long time becuase of the huge controls, but the employees at the Consulate are very nice & helpful.

I didn't like Naples as a city though................very very dirty!!!!!!!

Good luck again!!!!!

[cshell 0]

I'm writing representing Guyana - which certainly is not Italy but at the time my then fiance had his interview at the embassy he had to wait 2 1/2 months after his interview before he got his visa - in that time there were 2 home visits and full fingerprinting. So I'd be sure that the plane ticket could be exchanged up to six months to be safe. Read below to get the full scoop

Edited July 9, 2007 by cshell

[*JG* 2]

Yowza.........I think you are cutting it way too close on those travel dates. In Jamaica, it takes at least 4-5 BUSINESS days for them to deliver the visa. You are counting on receiving yours in basically 3, since the 28th is a Saturday (and my birthday!!!)

Good luck to you on that.

[mollyreyna 0]

Yowza.........I think you are cutting it way too close on those travel dates. In Jamaica, it takes at least 4-5 BUSINESS days for them to deliver the visa. You are counting on receiving yours in basically 3, since the 28th is a Saturday (and my birthday!!!)

Good luck to you on that.

Happy birthday in advance!

[akwalta 0]

My husband processed thru Naples about 3 years ago (has it been that long ). His ticket was already purchased and he was given the envelope the same day of the interview. Hopefully that's still the way they do it...

[featherB 1]

It's the bit about the medical being the day before the interview that worries me. Even if the Naples consulate 'usually' gives people their visas on the day (assuming there are no hold-ups or hitches to delay things), if the medical is only one day before the interview, will the results have made it to the consulate in time? There are blood tests taken at the medical, for a start, and unless they do a very fast job on those...

Cutting it very, VERY fine, if you ask me.

[*JG* 2]

Yowza.........I think you are cutting it way too close on those travel dates. In Jamaica, it takes at least 4-5 BUSINESS days for them to deliver the visa. You are counting on receiving yours in basically 3, since the 28th is a Saturday (and my birthday!!!)

Good luck to you on that.

Happy birthday in advance!

Awww....thank you.

I think I would inquire if the medical would be available for your interview the next day. That seems to the key in your case.

[Mr and Mrs Bird 0]

I would change my ticket to about 2 or 3 weeks later if I were you. Too much rush is for me by experience not worth it to risk. I was living 2 hours from the place they would send me the visa from. It took 10 days for me to recieve it.

Also you must have alot of things in the last moment you gotta have to do.

And need more time