has anyone ever experienced problem with visa when at foreign airport?

[mollywinters 0]

Hi everyone!

My fiance recently received his visa to travel to the United States. He currently lives in France though we will be leaving from Switzerland on August 4th to travel to the U.S. He is originally from Sierra Leone so he does not have a French passport, just a "Titre de Voyage" which I guess is similar to permanent residency and allows him to travel within any country in western Europe. Has anyone ever experienced a problem at the check-in counter when presenting their travel documents, including the paper visa that the U.S. has pasted in the travel document? I will be flying with him that day, but just do not want to have any issues at the airport. I am hoping they are familiar with this paperwork because it is not like he has a formal passport from France.

Thanks!

[Frenchwife 1]

I have been travelling tens of times and departing airport never asked me about visa for your destination.

So Airport does not care about his visa to US, but if airport is in switzerland question is more about can he go to switzerland.

[payxibka 10,048]

Hi everyone!

My fiance recently received his visa to travel to the United States. He currently lives in France though we will be leaving from Switzerland on August 4th to travel to the U.S. He is originally from Sierra Leone so he does not have a French passport, just a "Titre de Voyage" which I guess is similar to permanent residency and allows him to travel within any country in western Europe. Has anyone ever experienced a problem at the check-in counter when presenting their travel documents, including the paper visa that the U.S. has pasted in the travel document? I will be flying with him that day, but just do not want to have any issues at the airport. I am hoping they are familiar with this paperwork because it is not like he has a formal passport from France.

Thanks!

My wife departed from Poland with a Ukrainian passport and a US VISA.... as long as the traveller has the needed permission to seek entry at the point of arrival (in this situation a US VISA), they are not concerned about where he is from....

Edited July 31, 2009 by payxibka

[ScottThuy 140]

I am always asked for visa when arriving at airport going to a country requiring visa. The airlines dont want to send you there when a visa is required and you dont have one... most have a policy that requires you are legally able to enter the country they are taking you to.

[TBoneTX 47,644]

I am always asked for visa when arriving at airport going to a country requiring visa. The airlines dont want to send you there when a visa is required and you dont have one... most have a policy that requires you are legally able to enter the country they are taking you to.

Ditto to this, and I've seen people turned away from boarding the plane at the airport gate because of this. Perhaps the policy is stricter in the U.S. Check the policies on the appropriate airlines' websites.

[Frenchwife 1]

The key question I had was, is your friend authorized to go to Switzerland

you seem to think so. you may want to confirm with him.

About questions at the swiss airport

I'd say again they don't care very much

I have travelled tens of times to the US out of which several from a swiss airport

and I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED ABOUT VISA at the departing airport

this is maybe because I am French and travelling to the US for a French (or a Swiss) is customary without visa

under the Visa waiver program.

Now maybe because your friend is from Sierra Leone he will have more questions.

but I don't see the problem if you have all visas and authorizations.

[SCFsnoopy 0]

I've heard that travel agencies won't sell you a one-way ticket into the US unless you have a visa that allows you to stay there but I've never heard about it being an issue at the airport - then again, I've only ever travelled on return tickets so maybe I've just never been in the situation where they had to ask.

I think that since he has a visa for the US and you are travelling with him on the day, there shouldn't be a problem. Good luck and safe travel!

[lilies 0]

I've heard that travel agencies won't sell you a one-way ticket into the US unless you have a visa that allows you to stay there but I've never heard about it being an issue at the airport - then again, I've only ever travelled on return tickets so maybe I've just never been in the situation where they had to ask.

I think that since he has a visa for the US and you are travelling with him on the day, there shouldn't be a problem. Good luck and safe travel!

Yes, that's right.. When I bought a one way ticket, my travel agent asked me if I have a permission to stay there or GC. But, if you buy it online (eg: orbitz, priceline) I don't think they will ask that

Edited August 2, 2009 by lilies

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

What he may need is called a transit visa. Many countries require this when a foreign national is passing through at an airport. In some places this includes people just sitting at an airport.

[JeremyR 8]

Yes, that's right.. When I bought a one way ticket, my travel agent asked me if I have a permission to stay there or GC. But, if you buy it online (eg: orbitz, priceline) I don't think they will ask that

They (Expedia, Opodo, Orbitz) have always made me tick a box to say I agreed that I alone was responsible for checking that I was eligible to enter, checking visa requirements, flight restrictions, etc, etc and that I wouldn't hold them responsible for any problems.

The airline will always want to see some proof of eligibility to stay for people flying to the USA one-way or on a R/T longer than the VWP period or from a non-VWP country because the airline can, I believe, be fined for sending inadmissible people to the USA more often than is considered acceptable to the State Dept.