When would you order tickets?

[Nywoek 72]

I know this varies a lot, but I was wondering what you guys think or what experiences you have. After you finish the K1 process or at least see the end of it, when would you order tickets to move?

My interview is june 16th. I am looking at one-way tickets for me and the kids in the later part of july and the prices are outrageous. I would wait until mid august, but I really want us to be able to settle in for a while before school starts. But when is it "safe" to order these?

 

Spending a little extra, I could order tickets that can be changed, but due to the time of year I fear there wont be a lot available, especially for 3 people.

 

I asked people on a discord, and some people say I should wait until I have the visa in hand but I mean.. that might make this even more expensive. X_X

Also.. anyone have any experience with buying round trip tickets and the second ticket being like... 6-7-8 months later? I guess you just end up with the same problem because you would want to go back. Lol.

[Dashinka 25,338]

Simple response is to wait until visas are in your possession.  You can certainly look at fares, but unless you are willing to pay extra for fully refundable tickets, you should wait.

 

As to doing RT tickets, we did that for my now wife when she came over on her K1, and put the return date out as far as possible (6 months IIRC).  Back then AOS was not taking quite so long, so she was able to use the return leg for a trip back to see her family after she received her GC.  I believe you can cancel the return leg prior to the date and you will retain the credit less whatever the change fee is.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 43,351]

1 hour ago, Nywoek said:

I know this varies a lot, but I was wondering what you guys think or what experiences you have. After you finish the K1 process or at least see the end of it, when would you order tickets to move?

My interview is june 16th. I am looking at one-way tickets for me and the kids in the later part of july and the prices are outrageous. I would wait until mid august, but I really want us to be able to settle in for a while before school starts. But when is it "safe" to order these?

 

Spending a little extra, I could order tickets that can be changed, but due to the time of year I fear there wont be a lot available, especially for 3 people.

 

I asked people on a discord, and some people say I should wait until I have the visa in hand but I mean.. that might make this even more expensive. X_X

Also.. anyone have any experience with buying round trip tickets and the second ticket being like... 6-7-8 months later? I guess you just end up with the same problem because you would want to go back. Lol.

The conventional wisdom of Visa Journey is to wait until visa is in hand, and after you have checked it for error.   Your risk...Your consequences.

[MalloryCat 563]

my husband waited to get his visa in had

and booked a round trip ticket cause it was significantly cheaper

he got the return ticket canceled (and refunded) a day or 2 after he landed

[SL2024 206]

Wait until you have the visa in hand

[PokuPoku 33]

Wait until you have the visa. It can sometimes take weeks to receive your visa after the interview.

Plane ticket prices change regularly. Its entirely possible for plane tickets to actually come down in price by July.

[Crazy Cat 43,351]

1 minute ago, PokuPoku said:

Wait until you have the visa. It can sometimes take weeks to receive your visa after the interview.

Plane ticket prices change regularly. Its entirely possible for plane tickets to actually come down in price by July.

and there have been cases where the visa had an error which had to be re-issued by the consulate....causing a significant delay.

[smilingstone 283]

If it helps, I felt that prices went down Mon - Weds and increased as it got closer to the weekend. 

 

It may not save you much, but it's something.

[Nywoek 72]

I see all of your points. 😕

I think my biggest issue is that it is kind of like not knowing when we are moving, and things have been SO up in the air for the past year that it frustrates and scares me.

 

But you are right.

 

And maybe it gets cheaper. I do think the one way tickets were messing with us though, the price was like 4000 dollar for the 3 of us for one way tickets, and only a few hundred was the cancellation thing. X_X But it is what it is, this whole experience is expensive. Lol. But if we can order both ways and cancel and get either credits with the airline or money back that would help a lot.

[TBoneTX 46,828]

Just be sure to cancel the return leg as a priority.  Airlines sometimes forget to correct their flight manifests.  In these instances, the K-1 recipient can be listed as a passenger on a flight out of the U.S.  If travel permission or the green card isn't yet in hand, it causes grave headaches:  how do you prove a negative (that you weren't on a flight leaving the U.S.)?

 

Canceling the return can easily be overlooked amidst the excitement and uproar of moving, but be sure to do it.  Make note of when you called the airline (date and time), whom you spoke with, and what the assurances were -- and keep these notes with your most important immigration papers.

[ineedadisplayname 517]

15 hours ago, Nywoek said:

I know this varies a lot, but I was wondering what you guys think or what experiences you have. After you finish the K1 process or at least see the end of it, when would you order tickets to move?

My interview is june 16th. I am looking at one-way tickets for me and the kids in the later part of july and the prices are outrageous. I would wait until mid august, but I really want us to be able to settle in for a while before school starts. But when is it "safe" to order these?

 

Spending a little extra, I could order tickets that can be changed, but due to the time of year I fear there wont be a lot available, especially for 3 people.

 

I asked people on a discord, and some people say I should wait until I have the visa in hand but I mean.. that might make this even more expensive. X_X

Also.. anyone have any experience with buying round trip tickets and the second ticket being like... 6-7-8 months later? I guess you just end up with the same problem because you would want to go back. Lol.

Safest is when you have the passport(s) with the visas(s) in you hand.

[Lemonslice 5,101]

5 hours ago, Nywoek said:

I see all of your points. 😕

I think my biggest issue is that it is kind of like not knowing when we are moving, and things have been SO up in the air for the past year that it frustrates and scares me.

 

But you are right.

 

And maybe it gets cheaper. I do think the one way tickets were messing with us though, the price was like 4000 dollar for the 3 of us for one way tickets, and only a few hundred was the cancellation thing. X_X But it is what it is, this whole experience is expensive. Lol. But if we can order both ways and cancel and get either credits with the airline or money back that would help a lot.

Once you have the visas, you might want to come back with dates and departing/destination airports.  Some members are great at finding the best deals on flights. 

[Scandi 4,257]

I waited until I had the visa package in hand, would never book tickets before that.

Norwegian was by far the cheapest option back then, I always flew with them, and one-way tickets were half the price compared to a roundtrip.

With most airlines, roundtrip is cheaper than a one-way ticket (you just cancel the return ticket once you have landed). 

Norse would 100% have been my option today if I had to do it all over again, they appear to be Norwegian 2.0. 
ALL flights during June-August are going to be expensive, no matter what airline you choose. I moved in October and the flights with Norwegian were dirt cheap. 

[Cathi 5,820]

Not a moment before you have the visa physically in your possession.