Advance Parole and the Airlines ( Aeroflot Airlines)

[Jackson71 1]

My wife and stepdaughter will be traveling to their native country of Russia this summer with AP, they will be flying with Aeroflot airlines.

I called Aeroflot Airlines and two different Aeroflot representatives told me that they will not let anyone board the airplane flying back to the U.S without a visa.

They said they will not allow my wife to board with the AP,  that she and my stepdaughter must have visas .

I explained to them what AP is and they told me in a rude way, "then let your wife and stepdaughter fly at their own risk but we will certainly not let them board the plane with this AP " !!

I have heard others having trouble with other airlines with AP, the majority of these airline employees have no clue what AP is , but they have the power not to let you board the plane .

Has anyone gone through this ?

I would be very grateful for any feedback or advice !!

Thank you VJ community !

[barashka 97]

On ‎5‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 9:02 PM, Jackson71 said:

My wife and stepdaughter will be traveling to their native country of Russia this summer with AP, they will be flying with Aeroflot airlines.

I called Aeroflot Airlines and two different Aeroflot representatives told me that they will not let anyone board the airplane flying back to the U.S without a visa.

They said they will not allow my wife to board with the AP,  that she and my stepdaughter must have visas .

I explained to them what AP is and they told me in a rude way, "then let your wife and stepdaughter fly at their own risk but we will certainly not let them board the plane with this AP " !!

I have heard others having trouble with other airlines with AP, the majority of these airline employees have no clue what AP is , but they have the power not to let you board the plane .

Has anyone gone through this ?

I would be very grateful for any feedback or advice !!

Thank you VJ community !

@Bill & Katya - I'll let you chime in on this one.

Edited May 20, 2019 by barashka

[Dashinka 23,245]

My wife never traveled on an AP, but the CBP Carrier Guide clearly states that a person can enter the US using an AP card (I512).  You may want to talk more with the airline and refer them to page 10 of the carrier guide.  Also, make sure when she travels she has copies of the AOS NOA just in case someone asks for it.  I should note that we have never used Aeroflot since Katya has come to the US (we fly through Beijing using Delta and S7), but when she was in her ROC phase with an expired GC and extension letter, she had no issues.

 

Lastly, you may want to ask this thread be moved to the Russia regional forum as it is sort of regional specific and someone there may be more familiar with Aeroflot and AP.  Simply hit the report button on your OP and request a moderator move it.

 

Good Luck!

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Carrier Information Guide- Russian_0.pdf

 

 

Edited May 20, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[Jackson71 1]

Bill and Katya, thank you very much for the advice !

[barashka 97]

14 hours ago, Jackson71 said:

Bill and Katya, thank you very much for the advice !

Please come back to this topic and provide us with an update!

[Jackson71 1]

My wife has talked with supervisors with Aeroflot Airlines and with someone who works at passport control at Sheremetyevo Intl Airport , all have told her the same thing that they will not accept the EAD/ADVANCE PAROLE COMBO CARD, they don't recognize this and they will only allow her to board the plane with a green card or visa stamp.

They rudely told her fly with an American Airliner who accept such documents !!

We don't have the money to buy another round trip ticket, don't know what to do .

Thanks for your response !

[Dashinka 23,245]

I am not sure what to tell you.  Aeroflot's rules for carriage state the following:

 

4.4.4. Other passenger documents

The passenger shall be responsible for obtaining all documents, visas, permits, etc. required for travel, as well as for compliance with all the applicable laws concerning exit, entry and transit in the countries of departure, arrival and transit. Aeroflot PJSC shall not be liable to the passenger if the passenger does not obtain such documents or visas or does not comply with the requirements of applicable laws.

At the request of Aeroflot PJSC, the passenger shall present all documents required for exit, entry and transit, documents confirming health status and other documents required by applicable law, and allow Aeroflot PJSC to make and keep copies of the documents or to keep the information contained in the documents in some other way, if Aeroflot PJSC deems it necessary.

 

https://www.aeroflot.ru/media/aflfiles/rules/rules_of_aeroflot_pjsc_for_air_carriage_of_passengers_and_baggage_en.pdf

 

The I512 Advanced Parole card is a valid permit for re-entry into the US (per the link in the previous post).  I certainly understand the consternation here, and this airline that is a part of a larger air group (Skyteam I believe), If they chose not to honor their own rules and the rules of the US CBP, then there is not much that can be done.  I am not sure if a boarding foil is appropriate here since technically the OPs wife and stepdaughter are not LPRs yet, but maybe research that.

 

Good Luck!

[Jackson71 1]

Bill and Katya,  thank you for the information, I appreciate it very much.

I also don't know what to do, unfortunately I think there is some politics  involved here  because of the bad relations between the U.S. and Russia.

[Dashinka 23,245]

Just wondering if there is any update?

[Jackson71 1]

Hello Bill and Katya,

 

Nothing has changed, Aeroflot and passport control are still saying they will not accept the EAD/AP COMBO CARD.

I made a copy of the CBP AND AEROFLOT LINKS that you sent me, my wife will show this to Aeroflot and passport control at the Moscow airport .

I appreciate very much your help and you checking up on this situation .

My wife is still going to Russia because she needs to see her parents.

 

[barashka 97]

10 hours ago, Jackson71 said:

Hello Bill and Katya,

 

Nothing has changed, Aeroflot and passport control are still saying they will not accept the EAD/AP COMBO CARD.

I made a copy of the CBP AND AEROFLOT LINKS that you sent me, my wife will show this to Aeroflot and passport control at the Moscow airport .

I appreciate very much your help and you checking up on this situation .

My wife is still going to Russia because she needs to see her parents. 

 

I have enjoyed all of my experiences with Aeroflot. I don't understand why they are acting so strange with your case. I actually want to call and see what they say in regards to the Employment Authorization/Advance Parole combination card.

Edited June 1, 2019 by barashka

[barashka 97]

Just out of curiosity; Are there any other good airlines that fly to Russia from the United States besides Aeroflot? 

[Dashinka 23,245]

4 hours ago, barashka said:

Just out of curiosity; Are there any other good airlines that fly to Russia from the United States besides Aeroflot? 

Nothing direct that I know of.  I think you can fly through London and then into Moscow via British Airways, I also think Korean Air flies in from Seoul.

[Rosalind F 178]

I flew with different companies on multiple occasions, including Aeroflot; Turkish and British airlines were the best in my experience.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,079]

On 6/1/2019 at 12:55 AM, barashka said:

Just out of curiosity; Are there any other good airlines that fly to Russia from the United States besides Aeroflot? 

There are no commercial airlines that fly from Russia directly to the US other than Aeroflot, period (and only Moscow to NYC, Miami, and LAX). Though Aeroflot's a SkyTeam member, so you might seem some flights listed on other airlines.

 

If you're willing to make a connection (and if you're traveling to/from a Russian city other than Moscow that has direct flights to a major international hub other than Moscow, or you're not in driving distance of LA, NYC, or Miami but are close to another airport you can reasonably get to with one connection, that's probably your best option), there are other options.