Embassy told me I can't buy plane tickets!!!

[e-migra 4]

Question:

Got my interview date, wrote the Embassy to ask how many days till visa in passport, passport in my hand because I wanted to buy my plane tickets.

Embassy's answer: Buying plane tickets before you have the visa is strictly prohibited. Do not buy any tickets before you have your visa.

Is this true, or one of those stupid things they tell you not to do but you can do anyway? I mean, they can't know when you bought your plane tickets... do they?

I'm SO tired of all this nonsense... AAGGGGHHHHH!!!

e-migra

[payxibka 10,045]

strictly prohibited because they do not guaranty visa issuance and if you do purchase, and the visa is not issued, or is delayed for any reason that causes you to miss the flight, you are 100% responsible.

Edited December 3, 2008 by payxibka

[tanyaru 3]

Question:

Got my interview date, wrote the Embassy to ask how many days till visa in passport, passport in my hand because I wanted to buy my plane tickets.

Embassy's answer: Buying plane tickets before you have the visa is strictly prohibited. Do not buy any tickets before you have your visa.

Is this true, or one of those stupid things they tell you not to do but you can do anyway? I mean, they can't know when you bought your plane tickets... do they?

I'm SO tired of all this nonsense... AAGGGGHHHHH!!!

e-migra

Well, I have a totally different scenario here. I`m gathering all the paperwork for my hubby USC to get a tourist or visitor visa to my country to meet my parents in the summer. And there on all the forms it directly asks about the date of the arrival and departure which you can`t know unless you have a ticket.... So, I don`t know if it depends on country rules, visa type or anything else, but I think you can buy tickets anytime you want, it does not man you will take the trip. Just make sure you get ticket insurance just in case embassy will do some unexpected tricks.

Best of luck.

[jhcruz18 3]

I don't think that you should buy the tickets yet. Even if you have all your papers in order, it really depend on how the interview goes. Sometimes consulates ask for more documentation to be submitted after the interview, so therefore that will put your visa on hold. Just be patient. Buying the plane ticket is the easiest part of all. God bless you.

[Cuchita 1]

They say prohibited cause they don't want you to blame them if something goes wrong, you can buy them but run the risk of having to change the date or even cancel if something happens at the interview, and that means the airline will charge you more and at the end you will end up paying pricey tickets.

[Ning 619]

Question:

Got my interview date, wrote the Embassy to ask how many days till visa in passport, passport in my hand because I wanted to buy my plane tickets.

Embassy's answer: Buying plane tickets before you have the visa is strictly prohibited. Do not buy any tickets before you have your visa.

Is this true, or one of those stupid things they tell you not to do but you can do anyway? I mean, they can't know when you bought your plane tickets... do they?

I'm SO tired of all this nonsense... AAGGGGHHHHH!!!

e-migra

Well, I have a totally different scenario here. I`m gathering all the paperwork for my hubby USC to get a tourist or visitor visa to my country to meet my parents in the summer. And there on all the forms it directly asks about the date of the arrival and departure which you can`t know unless you have a ticket.... So, I don`t know if it depends on country rules, visa type or anything else, but I think you can buy tickets anytime you want, it does not man you will take the trip. Just make sure you get ticket insurance just in case embassy will do some unexpected tricks.

Best of luck.

Better listen to the guy above. They view advance purchase of tickets as arrogance & ignorance. You can forecast the dates or write after visa issuance.

Its also unlikely that you will get a tourist visa based on what I was told in my 3 attempts. None were in Russia but the training & thinking is the same.

I was told at the Embassy by the officer they would not issue tourist visas to people married to USCs because they would not return to home country. The " strongest ties " rule is tough to overcome. Embassy officer told me it was a classic " Catch 22. Also if you get the visa he may be turned away at the POE; the visa doesnt guarranty entry.

I hope you are right & I am wrong but a mistake can be expensive in many ways.

[When2RNLove 6]

Question:

Got my interview date, wrote the Embassy to ask how many days till visa in passport, passport in my hand because I wanted to buy my plane tickets.

Embassy's answer: Buying plane tickets before you have the visa is strictly prohibited. Do not buy any tickets before you have your visa.

Is this true, or one of those stupid things they tell you not to do but you can do anyway? I mean, they can't know when you bought your plane tickets... do they?

I'm SO tired of all this nonsense... AAGGGGHHHHH!!!

e-migra

That person had no right telling you not to buy plane tickets. He/she could have phrased the comment better than what he/she did. At least saying its not wise to purchase tickets at this time because there may be a possibility of some sort of delay. Some people just make me sick. People need to realize when they are Public Servants and nothing else.

[tanyaru 3]

Question:

Got my interview date, wrote the Embassy to ask how many days till visa in passport, passport in my hand because I wanted to buy my plane tickets.

Embassy's answer: Buying plane tickets before you have the visa is strictly prohibited. Do not buy any tickets before you have your visa.

Is this true, or one of those stupid things they tell you not to do but you can do anyway? I mean, they can't know when you bought your plane tickets... do they?

I'm SO tired of all this nonsense... AAGGGGHHHHH!!!

e-migra

Well, I have a totally different scenario here. I`m gathering all the paperwork for my hubby USC to get a tourist or visitor visa to my country to meet my parents in the summer. And there on all the forms it directly asks about the date of the arrival and departure which you can`t know unless you have a ticket.... So, I don`t know if it depends on country rules, visa type or anything else, but I think you can buy tickets anytime you want, it does not man you will take the trip. Just make sure you get ticket insurance just in case embassy will do some unexpected tricks.

Best of luck.

Better listen to the guy above. They view advance purchase of tickets as arrogance & ignorance. You can forecast the dates or write after visa issuance.

Its also unlikely that you will get a tourist visa based on what I was told in my 3 attempts. None were in Russia but the training & thinking is the same.

I was told at the Embassy by the officer they would not issue tourist visas to people married to USCs because they would not return to home country. The " strongest ties " rule is tough to overcome. Embassy officer told me it was a classic " Catch 22. Also if you get the visa he may be turned away at the POE; the visa doesnt guarranty entry.

I hope you are right & I am wrong but a mistake can be expensive in many ways.

Ricker,

I don`t get it, are you talking about visa for me or my hubby??? Perhaps, I didn`t explain myself really well. I`m already in US and helping USC hubby to get a visitor visa to Russia and they assume he already has tickets and ask for exact dates. OP is in the process of getting CR-1/IR-1 which means the immigrant HAS a USC spouse and thats what visa is based on, so he/she cannot be turned away at POE because of that.

To OP:

I agree with the rest of replies that embassy simply does not want to be responsible for losses you might have by booking tickets too early. But hey, ticket prices are growing too with time.

Edited December 4, 2008 by tanyaru