Advance Parole and the Airlines ( Aeroflot Airlines)

[barashka 97]

16 hours ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

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.

I figured this was the case. I am a Russian American and my wife is from Russia so I have tons of relatives in Russia and Aeroflot is all I have ever known as the best method to fly to Russia. On top of my own relatives, I have even more relatives (my in-laws) now.  I was just so surprised when I found this thread because all of my experiences with Aeroflot (whether it was international or within Russia itself) have been great and I am honestly shocked to see such a prestigious airline company such as Aeroflot give the OP a difficult time about the Employment Authorization/Advance Parole combination card.

[Dashinka 23,209]

On ‎6‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 7:12 PM, DaveAndAnastasia said:

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.

We generally fly into Krasnoyarsk when visiting relatives and there are direct flights from Beijing via S7 Airlines, so for us it is actually easier, Detroit to Beijing, Beijing to Krasnoyarsk.  Any other option would add a third leg.

 

Just wondering if the OP has any update on the experience?

[Teemo 252]

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 !

What's the update here, did they get back with no issues?

[Jackson71 1]

They are back but they were held up in CUSTOMS for 4 HOURS.

They interrogated my wife for one hour, about our relationship, the nature of her trip abroad, her family ties, etc.

They took her in a secondary line , then they took her passport and docs, and they made her wait 2 hours in this line, then they interrogated her.

 

With the Russian airlines ( Aeroflot) they delayed her boarding the plane because they didn't know what AP is.

 

Thankfully she's back but it is a royal pain in the neck traveling with Advance Parole .

 

[Teemo 252]

Wow. Stressful.  I traveled 7x with advance parole with no issue. 

[alexandraanya 0]

Hi Jackson,

 

My husband and I are planning to travel back to Russia this December. We also fly Aeroflot and land in sheremetyevo. He’s adjusting status and has his EAD advance parole card. Do you think we will be fine? It seems like we have the same situation. 

[alexandraanya 0]

On 9/9/2019 at 6:54 PM, Jackson71 said:

They are back but they were held up in CUSTOMS for 4 HOURS.

They interrogated my wife for one hour, about our relationship, the nature of her trip abroad, her family ties, etc.

They took her in a secondary line , then they took her passport and docs, and they made her wait 2 hours in this line, then they interrogated her.

 

With the Russian airlines ( Aeroflot) they delayed her boarding the plane because they didn't know what AP is.

 

Thankfully she's back but it is a royal pain in the neck traveling with Advance Parole .

 

Did your wife only have Advance Parole document? No visa, right?  Because I’m confused if you need both a visa and advance parole document to leave from Russia to USA. What did she show? Foreign passport and Advance Parole document? 

[millefleur 5,035]

**Moved from Working & Traveling During US Immigration to the RUB regional subforum; question is specific to Aeroflot (Russian) airlines**

[millefleur 5,035]

This is crazy...I've moved this to the RUB forum in case others here from Russia want to share experiences or want to be informed about issues with the EAD/AP card and Aeroflot.

 

What was the reason for the 4 hour hold up at CBP? That happened in the US correct? I'm sorry you guys had to go through this.

[Dashinka 23,209]

On 9/9/2019 at 6:54 PM, Jackson71 said:

They are back but they were held up in CUSTOMS for 4 HOURS.

They interrogated my wife for one hour, about our relationship, the nature of her trip abroad, her family ties, etc.

They took her in a secondary line , then they took her passport and docs, and they made her wait 2 hours in this line, then they interrogated her.

 

With the Russian airlines ( Aeroflot) they delayed her boarding the plane because they didn't know what AP is.

 

Thankfully she's back but it is a royal pain in the neck traveling with Advance Parole .

 

So Aeroflot allowed her to board with the AP card, at least that was positive.  It certainly was a pain getting pulled into secondary by CBP, but I understand that is fairly normal when returning with AP, Katya would get pulled into secondary regularly when traveling with her expired GC and extension letter.  I assume she came into JFK, so the four hours may have been due to how busy they were, in Katya’s case, she entered via DTW and they are usually not so busy with international arrivals.

 

Anyway, hopefully she will get her GC soon.