I just want to survey how many purchased airline tickets/bookings before/after actually passing the interview? We are about to purchase and I want to know YOUR experience/s?

Is it worth it to buy before passing the interview (worst come to worst, we can pay the $50 to rebook the flight)?
or wait after the interview (but our target date for him to be here is Feb 15, his interview is Feb 7th! It would be too expensive to buy after the interview because it is s close to the flight date)?

in my case, I will wait for my visa-in-hand before I will buy a ticket because there might be unexpected delay at the US embassy in releasing your visa.

we purchased our tickets (me & my daughter) before the interview date ..flight was scheduled 21 days after my interview in USEMbassy..

like what i'm always saying..ITS NOT IDEAL TO MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT BEFORE HAVING THE VISA ON HAND..so couple should realize the risks they're about to take in doing such action..

anyway, my experience is clearly stated in this link
http://annie-thejourney.com/?p=77

goodluck!

we will buy it after the interview.

We bought after the interview.

we bought it a month before the interview.. with so much prayer though that the visa will be released asap..

We will buy ticket when VISA in hand...

After

once i have the visa, not after the interview.

30 minutes after I had my visa

One should never put the cart before the horse. Visa in hand first, then the purchase of tickets.

To make it sure everything will be o.k, just purchase your ticket when the visa on hand. just always remember the amount of the ticket not only a single peso. but more than a thousand pesos. so much better, purchase your ticket, when the visa on hand. and make a plan. just take it easy and relax, dont be pressured in your mind about the trip coz in God's perfect time you will be in the mean point of your journey.. God bless you

i booked mine already to coincide with mike's flight back, but haven't paid for it yet. told my agent to just hold the booking until i get my visa in hand.

lani

Claudeth bought hers after the interview. I sent her the money, it was about $150 cheaper for her to buy it than what I could find.

I would either book a flight after getting the visa OR if you have to book it before, give yourself a month after the interview date.
I'm speaking from my experience where I had flights booked but they needed an additional police report with my maiden name showing in the subject line (anywhere else was not accepted). I sent this in 2 days after the interview. they said their turnaround time would be 2 weeks, as it turns out it was 4 weeks.
sooooo......moral of the story: you never know......

I will be attending Joy's interview, so I bought a round trip ticket for me. About 2 weeks ago, I purchased a one-way ticket for Joy on the same flight as my return so we can travel back to the US together a week after the interview.

Yes, I am gambling that the embassy will approve the visa and allow us to pick it up in time for Joy to make the scheduled flight. It is, however, a calculated risk. If I wait until we have Joy's visa in hand, I may not be able to get her on the same flight as me, or the price may be prohibitive. So, we are rolling the dice.

Marc

Most people wait until they're actually approved. Most also wait until the visa is in hand.

Although USEM's guidelines said not to finalize travel unless applicant have their visa.... my husband bought the ticket before my interview, so we can travel together. We were pushing our luck then... I received my visa Friday at 1PM, went to CFO for the stamp at 3PM since Monday will be a holiday and our flight will be on Tuesday... and we made it. But it is really not advisable because there are some things that can happen during the interview, better to buy the ticket when you have the visa at hand.

i had my interview in dec. 27 (got approved), got my visa in jan 3 and i texted my husband about the great news. later did i know he bought the ticket right away after he got the msg. which we could have had get a better deal if he waited for me to check some deals in our local phil agent. but guess he was so excited and he's been looking for great deals/dates to travel even before hand in the internet so made it as a surprise when i checked my email and saw the flight sked ... GOOD LUCK!!!
GOD BLESS!!!

I purchased my honey's return ticket back with me, our return flight is 2 weeks after her interview. Hopefully, with God's help, things will go well. If not, I just lose $50 cancellation fee.

I don't think I will even celebrate if my wife gets approve..

Not with the VISA in Hand..

We bought Mir's ticket after her visa was already delivered and in hand. Did not want to risk it. I sent her the money and she bought it there because it was about $150 dollars cheaper. She said that she was even asked to bring her visa (to make a copy) by the ticket agent that sold her the PAL ticket. Not sure that part would happen if I bought it here for her though.

Another point is that for the Philippines, they are now doing an additional document check with NSO prior to issuing the visa that has delayed some people. This is new and only adds another layer of government that can slow things down. One government agency is enough. Now there are two having to work together in a timely manner. Good luck! I say buy it after or you are taking a big risk.

Scott

Our interview is Wednesday (I AM SO SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and he won't buy a ticket until the visa is in hand. We have looked at prices and dates of when he plans to come, but that's all so far. Definitely not jumping the gun.

Jennifer

my hubby booked a ticket with date for me but didn't pay yet until am done with my interview.. coz abviously, we must wait first for the result but not expecting of such unwanted circumstances that may arise.

AFTER.......too many things can go wrong.

Good Luck on that.. Doesn't the Booking only last 2 weeks? If not paid for you will need to rebook again?

I have canceled my wife and daughter's booking... It is just plain too risky... I don't want to re-schedule 3 flights if we don't get my wife's Visa on time..

We will just take this process step by step..

Oh come on you bunch of chickens...LOL Just kidding you all. I'm a gambler. I bought her one way ticket shortly after I learned of her interview date. During the interview, which I attended, we asked that she was allowed to pick up the visa in person. Our wish was granted but no promises were made on the date. Her interview was on a Friday, so after the interview we flew to Samar that Saturday for a celebration espidida (spelling?). We received a call or text on Wednesday or Thursday I can't remember, that her visa was ready for pickup. We flew back to Manila and picked up her visa and then stayed in Phils until the next Wednesday I think.

It was a gamble and a little nerve racking waiting to be contacted about the pickup but in the end it was worth it because I was able to attend the interview and we were able to fly back together. That was July 2007. I'm not sure if a lot of people are doing it that way now or not.

Good luck on whatever you decide. Our case was fairly simple with no kids involved.

Kev n Jena

Yeah.. If things didn't turn out the right way for you, you would have been crying here in VJ and ranting on USEM Manila's incompetence..

hmmm.....do I rant a lot?

The only "rant" that comes to mind is one time I posted something about an email from from USCIS after the fact and I'm not even sure if that would qualify as a rant. Oh well......I really try to avoid it.

Well put Roserick and thats the reason why we are not planning to purchase a travel ticket for my wife until we learn she has been approved. Anyways she wants to spend few more days with her family in Philippines cuz of her father's birthday soon after ner interview. Thats the reason why we are just going to wait until we are finally really ready for her to be here until any Airline ticket purchase. Its fine with me, I just want my wife to be happy nothing else..!!

My wife (fiance at the time) didn't want to fly to the USA by herself and I definately wasn't going to miss her interview. I don't blame her, she had never even been to Manila until her medical. I would have had to buy another plane ticket and return again to fly back with her anyway.

Kev n Jena

Well I was just saying.. I mean How would you react if that happens?

in my case, i bought the ticket for me and my son before the interview. but praying so hard there won't be any problem with my interview and and delay with visa.

Better to have ur visa on hand first before purchasing ur airline ticket...for safety!
My hubby bought it in advance... good luck, I got my visa early from what we expected.

Before the Document Verification thing.. I would have bought their tickets even before the Interview..

But now that this exist.. You can never predict the issuance of Visa.. Some people even paid for the Docs Verification fee and still got delayed..

So all I can say right now is DON'T DO IT!!

Visa Issuance is so unpredictable after the Docs Verification taken effect...

I'm telling you.. USEM doesn't make life easier for everyone!!

So I guess we just go with the flow and suck it up.. Like what we did with the USCIS process and NVC.

One way or another you will come to America anyways...

After the interview and receipt of VISA airlines wouldn't hold the ticket without it

My husband booked and had a confirmed ticket 1 week after my interview..Whew..I told him not to do so but he wants to take the risk..Well, everything went ok..We just show them our flight itinerary..2 days after my interview, we got my visa..

We didn't really need to buy a ticket before the interview as I'm spending 2 months here before heading home. I would say no in most cases though because even a check on mnor evidence can delay the visa delivery by 2 weeks.

P.S. Our visa was delivered to my wife's office today, less than 48 hours after we walked out of the embassy.

My fiance bought our ticket today..He was soo excited! I am worried but hoping we will be granted Visa and wont take long for the releasing. My interview will be on March 3 and flight sched March 13. 10 days after interview.

i booked the tickets after i received the visas. i guess that's the best and practical idea.
i purchased the tickets through travel agent in the philippines, much cheaper than doing online.

GOD BLESS!

ana

My husband purchased a ticket online a month before my interview,"as i remembered"And used it as a proof why i need to have my visa pick up coz i was booked to fly to US a week after my interview.


CG

I already got my visa since jan 19, but still we havent purchased our tickets.

maybe this week nalang.

-jyz

But it think buying it before the interview gives you an advantage, for it will be your reason for visa pick-up.
Isn't it, Sis Lheds?

But it clearly states not to make travel plans...

yes USEM firmly states that.. but other have the will to take the risk.
But in our case, we didn't. And still now we dont have our ticekts yet.

Roserick,

Speaking of clearly. You're clearly beating a dead horse here. Obviously making travel plans hasn't been grounds for denial or delay in the recent past. To the contrary, it's been used as a reason to actually speed up the process. That said, it may not be the best idea given the current state of affairs ie: document checking. I don't know. Has anyone been able to pick up their visa in the last month?

You makes yo choices, you takes yo chances...

Kev

I bought tickets before the interview, but allowed enough time for them to deliver the VISA in the event that they denied my request for VISA pick-up.

Well I never said anything about denial.. All I'm trying to say is this is very risky. and its highly not recommended..

Geezz.. I'm not that rich to gamble that kind of money.. I value every cent I make..

Like you said.. There is choice and its yours to make..

I won't buy my ticket until after she is approved. Don't want to risk it and I have waited this long already, whats a little while longer.