I want to buy plane a ticket. Is 13-14 days after the interview enough time to get the visa or is that cutting it too close? Most timelines I saw didn't take very long to get although I did see one that was 14 days. I found a fare $961 nonstop and want to get it before it goes up.

...or is there a way for DHL to hold it until she comes back to Moscow for her flight? Thanks

You should be okay, most of the time the visa will be delivered by then. The worst case is that you will buy another ticket - not the end of the world. (Galina had to buy another ticket because she missed her flight - waiting for the visa isn't the only complication).

If you are worried about the money, buy the ticket after the visa is in hand, knowing it may be a few weeks away.

If you are worried about time and money, buy the ticket now. Worst case is that it will not get used and will not be refundable. 90% chance is that you will use it. (So, you have a 10% chance of needing to buy another ticket - 10% X $1,500 = $150. Let's say you save $500 buying now. 90% X $500 = $450. I like those odds.)

If you are just worried about time, buy a changeable ticket. This might be cheaper anyway.

Sorry, this is in Russian: Москва, Россия (MOW) - Нью-Йорк (NYC), США

Try this site: http://avia.startravel.ru
And here: http://www.statravelgroup.com/where/branch...?Country=Russia

I'm seeing round trips from Moscow to New York for 504 Euros. These are usually changeable tickets (no fee sometimes!) Your fiance may need to be under 26 to get the best prices. I am seeing about 620 EUR to most US cities from Moscow, round trip.

One way from Moscow to New York, 376 EUR. Not bad, eh?

I've used these guys in Europe and the US (in my student days, not too long ago).

Hope this helps! Here are some (bad) translations that might help you:

Куда ты летишь? - Where are you flying?
Вылет из - Leaving from?
Прилет в - Flying to?
Когда ты собираешься лететь? - When are you going to fly?
туда и обратно - round trip
в одну сторону - one way

You can have the package sent to the DHL office in Moscow and held for pickup. I recommend this. My wife did this, got her visa 2 days after interview at the embassy. She just hung out at a friend's flat in Moscow in the meantime. Easy as pie.

Good luck!
AKDiver

Thanks everyone.


Any idea how long they will hold the visa for pickup?

Russ I will probably go ahead and buy the tickets before the interview.

No, but you can ask them when you pick up the envelope from them. What my wife did was go to DHL the day before, tell them she wants it held there, so they put on the right address and whatever else. You could do the same, and then just ask them how long they will hold, or ask them to hold to a specific date and hope they say yes.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Even to the Russian Far East, it only took about a week for DHL to deliver the visa.

If you buy the ticket now for a couple of weeks after the interview, you should have no problems at all. If you're worried about anything though, pay the extra money and get a refundable ticket or a flight coupon good for travel on that specific flight from such-and-such date to such-and-such date. Most airlines will do this for an additional fee.

Like everything else in this process, a little extra money now will save you some time down the road and add some piece of mind.... but a little extra patience, some crossed fingers or extra whispers to God, and you could save a bunch of money. (Without switching your car insurance to Geico.)