A hard immigration question about pets..... seriously

[Mike129F 53]

This is a serious but hard question. My fiance is in Russia and just got visa approval after embassy interview.

 

We just had an unexpected delay in buying tickets to come here. She called the airline Aeroflot to ask about pet requirements and the said that dogs (She has a small chihuahua) must be chipped for more than 30 days prior to travel. 

 

On the airlines website this is not a requirement, and on all the US websites this is not a requirement for any government agency. Can anyone give advice on traveling to the US with a pet dog? This is not a service animal or anything exotic. She has all her paperwork and shots but it would be a shame to have to delay for 2 weeks or more to wait for a mysterious 30+ day after chipping travel requirement. 

 

Only knowledgable experienced replies please. I don't need general advice as we have already read all the relevant regulatory agencies websites. Has anyone actually immigrated to the US with a pet? 

[Ontarkie 13,918]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New life, from K1 P&P - Not a K1 related question, but a flying with pets question.~~

[Hamidparis 29]

24 minutes ago, Mike129F said:

This is a serious but hard question. My fiance is in Russia and just got visa approval after embassy interview.

 

We just had an unexpected delay in buying tickets to come here. She called the airline Aeroflot to ask about pet requirements and the said that dogs (She has a small chihuahua) must be chipped for more than 30 days prior to travel. 

 

On the airlines website this is not a requirement, and on all the US websites this is not a requirement for any government agency. Can anyone give advice on traveling to the US with a pet dog? This is not a service animal or anything exotic. She has all her paperwork and shots but it would be a shame to have to delay for 2 weeks or more to wait for a mysterious 30+ day after chipping travel requirement. 

 

Only knowledgable experienced replies please. I don't need general advice as we have already read all the relevant regulatory agencies websites. Has anyone actually immigrated to the US with a pet? 

Use a different airline, I flew with my dog from Paris to San Francisco on airfrance, I registered my dog as a "emotional support dog" and was able to have her with me on the plane sitting on my lap. 

[norrin 3]

Emotional support dog. Wish they had that when Natasha brought her cat. That will only work once you are out of Russia. They tend to change their "rules" at the last minute. They have to be chipped and all relevant shots. They have to have "clearance" from a vet or they won't even let them get on the plane. Once you are out of Russia it's much easier. You should follow the airlines rules and then go to the vet. Don't put them in cargo if you can avoid it especially not a chihuahua. Our cat wound up lost, sitting on the Tarmac at Frankfurt and 3 hour wait in the hall of the airport while going thru immigration. Don't wait till the last minute and never sedate

[Yan_Inna 32]

4 hours ago, Mike129F said:

This is a serious but hard question. My fiance is in Russia and just got visa approval after embassy interview.

 

We just had an unexpected delay in buying tickets to come here. She called the airline Aeroflot to ask about pet requirements and the said that dogs (She has a small chihuahua) must be chipped for more than 30 days prior to travel. 

 

On the airlines website this is not a requirement, and on all the US websites this is not a requirement for any government agency. Can anyone give advice on traveling to the US with a pet dog? This is not a service animal or anything exotic. She has all her paperwork and shots but it would be a shame to have to delay for 2 weeks or more to wait for a mysterious 30+ day after chipping travel requirement. 

 

Only knowledgable experienced replies please. I don't need general advice as we have already read all the relevant regulatory agencies websites. Has anyone actually immigrated to the US with a pet? 

Let her talk to someone in charge at Customs and  have her “grease their hand” This is Russia. That’s how things are done there or any other USSR country. Not a joke....speaking from experience. They do all of this on purpose to get paid.  impose some BS policies for people who have no other opinions....

Edited April 21, 2018 by Yan_Inna

[geowrian 22,335]

Airlines that conduct service in the US tend to be cracking down on animals claimed as emotional support animals and service animals unless you provide appropriate documentation in advance. This is due to people who have done so but the animals were not properly trained to function in that capacity and caused disturbances to the other passengers.

Not all airlines have imposed these requirements yet, but it is something to think about.

[Boiler 43,487]

I have an ESA, you can get the documentation on line, shop around cheapest I have seen I think was $70.

 

Now mine is a Great Pyrenees so a slight difference in size.

[Yan_Inna 32]

My sister had all of the right paperwork and shots for a cat, and still they gave her hard time and wouldn’t let the cat on the plane. Same airline.......

[Enigma11561 336]

My step-son brought his Bernese Mountain Dog puppy from Belarus thru Moscow and then New York in a kennel in the body of the plane. Too big for the passenger compartment. This was last year. The dog was chipped but no one asked about it. In NY they just asked to see the dogs papers and he was out in a few minutes. The dogs "passport" had all the shots in Russian and English. Going back a few years I brought my Black Russian Terrier directly from Moscow. No chip at the time but she had a tattoo in her ear.Again no one even asked. I had to take her thru animal control in Moscow and it cost $50 to the "officer" to approve transit. Cash only please. American dollars only.  I honestly do not know how they can tell how long the dog had a chip unless it is in the dogs paperwork someplace.And if so I am sure that can be "changed". Lastly, you fiance is Russian, your not. Makes a big difference. She can tell them just about anything in "the right voice". Doubt if they are going to argue.

[Mike129F 53]

Thank you all for your comments! My Fiance is going today to the vet to determine what can be done. 

[Chris Duffy 1,256]

17 hours ago, geowrian said:

Airlines that conduct service in the US tend to be cracking down on animals claimed as emotional support animals and service animals unless you provide appropriate documentation in advance. This is due to people who have done so but the animals were not properly trained to function in that capacity and caused disturbances to the other passengers.

Not all airlines have imposed these requirements yet, but it is something to think about.

I was reading a couple of airline, For Trained service animals not much they can do

 

For the Emotional support where people bring on hamsters, ferrets, dogs, etc. they are trying to crack down on that.  Seems like it still pretty easy to get around the requirement just find a person to sign off

[Blue Bianchi 77]

I moved to the US with my kitty. That was a long time ago: different rules, and the airline I used no longer exists (Northwest). Have you looked into using a different airline that has friendlier rules for pets?

[Vholde346 351]

I am horrified at some of the suggestions on here. If you NEED an emotional support animal, by all means, register your dog as one, but don’t do it for the free ticket. People who do that are jeopardising the whole process for people who actually need one. 

[Boiler 43,487]

Where do you register an ESA?

 

Link?

[Mike129F 53]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

Where do you register an ESA?

 

Link?

Sorry, not sure but I agree with others that this should be done exclusively for those that have a legitimate psychological need for such. If you have a hamster/bird/fish etc I sympathize but such can be given to a reputable store or relative/friend for good care and replaced. If you have a true service animal then ESA is the way to go. For my fiance(now Wife 😊) she was able to get her vet to provide the appropriate chip/paperwork and even though she had ample documentation it was never questioned or even examined during her travel to the US.