Purchasing Air Ticket for Fiance to USA before she has her Visa?

[Scott & Kaye 32]

Hello, I want to purchase airline tickets on PAL for my fiancé and her daughter so they can return with me on the same flight from the Philippines to USA. Kaye's embassy interview will already be finished and the only thing that will be left to do is reserve her sticker for her visa at the airport prior to departure.

The problem is when purchasing the flights from Phil to USA they are asking for her Visa #? Since we do not have that yet would it be ok to put a bogus # just to complete the online purchase and then she will obviously show her correct visa prior to boarding?

Has anyone done this?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Personally I would not do bogus numbers.

Interesting that PAL is asking for the visa number and not the passport number.

[Jeremy12095 8]

You shouldn't buy tickets until your visa gets approved. The consulates actually advise to wait until you have visa in hand.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Never buy tickets till the visa is in hand or you are a millionaire and money is never an issue for you.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Greenbaum

[Scott & Kaye 32]

Personally I would not do bogus numbers.

Interesting that PAL is asking for the visa number and not the passport number.

Yes PAL asked for Visa and Passport info.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes PAL asked for Visa and Passport info.

Well that limits buying tickets early for sure. I wonder if other airlines require the visa number now.

[bdrew612 1,071]

I've read way too many threads on this site with people buying their ticket early and then something happening and not having the visa in time for the flight.

Wait to buy the ticket until you have visa in hand. It will save you stress and money

[Scott & Kaye 32]

I've read way too many threads on this site with people buying their ticket early and then something happening and not having the visa in time for the flight.

Wait to buy the ticket until you have visa in hand. It will save you stress and money

Sounds like good advise but I was really trying to have the girls fly back with us. If I wait until the visa is in hand the flight may fill up and prices increase. Its not the end of the world if they need to fly a few days after us or something.

[Darnell 8,478]

Purchasing Air Ticket for Fiance to USA before she has her Visa?

This is a great idea,

only if done for a date 2 months after the interview date.

Otherwise? no, the risk is too huge.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Here are examples of others who purchased tickets early and lost.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/449343-advice-purchasing-airline-tickets-prior-to-interview/

[bdrew612 1,071]

Sounds like good advise but I was really trying to have the girls fly back with us. If I wait until the visa is in hand the flight may fill up and prices increase. Its not the end of the world if they need to fly a few days after us or something.

If you look on the home page of this site, there's someone who completed interview at the end of February, was told she was approved and it still waiting for her visa.

Darnell stated it best!

[Scott & Kaye 32]

Here are examples of others who purchased tickets early and lost.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/449343-advice-purchasing-airline-tickets-prior-to-interview/

Thanks for the link. Looks like I better hold off.

Kay's interview is on March 24th and my flight back to USA is on April 20th so I would hope they will have some seats open after she gets the visa in hand. If not I guess she will need to take a latter flight.

Thanks everyone for the quick feedback!

[Darnell 8,478]

with that type of spread, march to april,

i think you have a good chance of getting them on the plane, barring any problems with the medical exam or CFO silliness.

but still, it's a chance, not 100 percent.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

with that type of spread, march to april,

i think you have a good chance of getting them on the plane, barring any problems with the medical exam or CFO silliness.

but still, it's a chance, not 100 percent.

CFO silliness...that's for sure! That was the biggest beaurocratic cluster-f*^K I have ever seen in my entire life. My wife had to go back and forth like 3 times just to take complete the class. (In Cebu.) They kept asking for more documents. Documents that were not mentioned on their own fricking website! Then she finally was allowed to take the class. Then we had to go to Manila CFO to get the sticker...that took like 4 or 5 hours of waiting in line like 3 times. I hate the friggin' CFO.

God Bless you all

[Hank_ 9,174]

Purchasing Air Ticket for Fiance to USA before she has her Visa?

This is a great idea,

only if done for a date 2 months after the interview date.

Otherwise? no, the risk is too huge.

That is pretty much what we did, bought both airfares, then I flew over just before the interview after that we relaxed and visited with family over the next (almost) two months.