Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?

[JunFanTX]

Hello gringos,
For those of you who have brought their wives/fiances back.  Did you wait to buy the tickets until after she got the visa at the Embassy?  I am trying to get her back in about a month.  For one, ESL classes begin here on Aug. 25th and I want to make sure she is here in time, hopefully a couple to 3 weeks sooner.  On one hand I need to make plans so I can get the best available fare...but on the other, I don't want to have to eat the ticket in case there is a problem. What did ya'll do?

Also, when you did buy her a ticket, did she buy it locally and was it a 1 way or roundtrip ticket?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

www.sparhard.com/colombia.htm

[Pete E]

... in response to Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?, posted by JunFanTX on Jul 6, 2001

We had a delay in getting my wife and her son's visa because we needed more original paperwork for her son.I flew home and sent it to her and then met her in Miami 2 weeks later.Her plane landed and I was waiting and waiting for her to come in to the terminal.It took 2 hours for her to get through immigration,and that was with no problems.So if you are trying to fly somewhere eslse the same day better plan on sufficient time to catch the second plane.
As far as plane tickets it cost me almost as much for their one way tickets as a round trip ticket.I would make sure they can be exchanged if there are any delays.
The good news about the INS at the airport,they start the paperwork for her to get her green card in the mail in about 6 weeks.(with a spousal visa).Thats the end of the paperwork untill the interview 2 years later.

Pete

[Golden]

... in response to Re: time to get her through immigration ..., posted by Pete E on Jul 8, 2001

You helped answer a question i was wondering about. I knew with the fiance visa you had to file for change of status once married inorder to get the green card. I was wondering when or who would file to get the green card with the spouse visa. Now i know, it happens when she arrives here. I knew when i was told to fill out the I-864 form affidavit of support and give to the embassy, the green card process couldnt be to far behind. Thank you for sharing your experince....Golden

[Dean]

... in response to Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?, posted by JunFanTX on Jul 6, 2001

We purchased round trip ticket for Paty and Lina in Bogota.
It was much cheaper to purchase tickets there than a one-way or a round trip here.... ~30% less....

Dean

[Rico]

... in response to Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?, posted by JunFanTX on Jul 6, 2001

Mike
I forgot to mention the B/quilla airport tax for colombians
on June 25 was 103,000 pesos
Later,
Rico

[jo12208]

... in response to Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?, posted by JunFanTX on Jul 6, 2001

I bought my wife a one way ticket from Cali to Miami for January.  I purchased it from American Airlines.  A lot of times one ways are more expensive but this one wasn.t  Our wedding was postponed and we did not get married until March

They was NO, I repeat NO change fee charged me by American Airlines.  Normally there is a $100 fee to change dates plus any fare diferential.  This was not a favor to me by some AA employee.  They told me there is no change fee for a one way ticket.  I can not remember exactly how long my wife had to use the ticket.  But I am thinking one year, or possibly six months.  I purchased the ticket in the US.

When we left I had changed my ticket and they charged me the $100.  But not my wife.

I purchased her tickets to Iowa with Air Tran.  I think they are the former Valujet airline.  The two legs were bought at different times.  I did have to pay a change fee for her on Airtran.  The fare was ridicuosly cheap from MIA to Iowa actually Moline, IL.  ONly 80 bucks.

I like to buy my own tickets and search the internet.  You can get some really good fares if you want to spend the time.

If I had purchased the complete trip for her at one time,  I do not know what would have happened.

[Rico-M]

... in response to Airplane Tickets To USA For Her?, posted by JunFanTX on Jul 6, 2001

Mike,
My fiancee and I didn't want to wait for a better fare,so as soon as she got the visa at Bogota I got a round trip ticket from the local travel agency for 10 days later. The round trip ticket is usually cheaper then the one way. However if you are not in any hurry I think you can find a much better priced fare. Remember to allow about a couple hours or more at Miami for another flight. My novia was in line at Miami imigration for about 2 hours. They didn't ask her any question there, just processed her paper work. If I remember correctly I think your novia is traveling from
B/quilla as mine did. Have her check with A-Airlines there
for fares. I bought mine locallly (electronic) and them I send my novia a copy by e-mail.
My novia doesn't plan to return to B/quilla, so are able to use the unused portion of the round trip for something else.
Good Luck, Regards,
Rico