Flight Arrangements for return trip to USA

[morry & ren 124]

Hi everyone, This has been weighing on my mind for a while. I am going to fly to Manila to be with my Fiance during her interview. God willing she will be approved and as soon as we can get her Visa in hand, we will be flying home to the US. My question is, Can anyone give us your experience with how to go about booking a flight "Together" on our return trip to the USA? In other words, should I book a Round trip ticket and purchase her ticket when we get her Visa? Or should I book myself a One way and then book together (which will cost a fortune), I apologize in advance but I'm completely baffled! I'm sure that we are not the first to experience this particular situation and appreciate any guidance anyone can offer.

[Dashinka 23,294]

8 minutes ago, morry & ren said:

Hi everyone, This has been weighing on my mind for a while. I am going to fly to Manila to be with my Fiance during her interview. God willing she will be approved and as soon as we can get her Visa in hand, we will be flying home to the US. My question is, Can anyone give us your experience with how to go about booking a flight "Together" on our return trip to the USA? In other words, should I book a Round trip ticket and purchase her ticket when we get her Visa? Or should I book myself a One way and then book together (which will cost a fortune), I apologize in advance but I'm completely baffled! I'm sure that we are not the first to experience this particular situation and appreciate any guidance anyone can offer.

Considering you are not certain exactly when her visa will be issued, I would go with the one ways as having to change a RT ticket a few times can also be costly.

 

Good Luck!

[Daphne . 1,692]

4 minutes ago, morry & ren said:

Hi everyone, This has been weighing on my mind for a while. I am going to fly to Manila to be with my Fiance during her interview. God willing she will be approved and as soon as we can get her Visa in hand, we will be flying home to the US. My question is, Can anyone give us your experience with how to go about booking a flight "Together" on our return trip to the USA? In other words, should I book a Round trip ticket and purchase her ticket when we get her Visa? Or should I book myself a One way and then book together (which will cost a fortune), I apologize in advance but I'm completely baffled! I'm sure that we are not the first to experience this particular situation and appreciate any guidance anyone can offer.

Exciting times ahead of you! I hope all will go well!

 

Booking her ticket might be a little tricky as you will have no idea when she will actually have her visa in hand.. Maybe the CO needs more documentation, maybe she will be in AP for a long time, you never know! When buying her a ticket now, you will either have to buy a ticket that will allow you to make (costly) changes or be okay with the fact that you might not be able to use it.. So it will be a costly operation either way I think..

 

At all stages of the Immigration process, it is advised not to make any travel arrangements until the visa is in hand. My advise would be to buy the ticket after she has her visa in hand.

[HRQX 4,145]

8 minutes ago, morry & ren said:

Or should I book myself a One way and then book together (which will cost a fortune), I apologize in advance but I'm completely baffled! I'm sure that we are not the first to experience this particular situation and appreciate any guidance anyone can offer.

Recent thread that talks about why one-way is so expensive:

 

[morry & ren 124]

7 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Recent thread that talks about why one-way is so expensive:

 

Yes thank you so much for responding, I have read this particular post but unfortunately it did not address nor did it answer my questions in which I posted. I was not able to find in any other posts on the site that addressed my particular situation hence why I posted. But again I respectfully thank you for responding.

[jskibo 588]

I booked a round-trip and then married them up with two one ways for my wife and step daughter. 

 

I did roll the dice and booked them 30 days after the interview but also used frequent flier miles for all the flights. Normally $125 a ticket to recoup the miles if I had to change but fee waived as a million miler for that airline. 

 

If you're trying to book close to the interview it may be risky. 

 

Also since they were booked under two different record locators I called the airline to link them in case we got seats moved or rerouted which happened at POE (DFW to GRR turned into camp out until next day (DFW-DTW-GRR)

Edited July 8, 2019 by jskibo

[Pitaya 2,576]

The general rule of thumb that has been printed and mentioned numerous times on this very forum, is to never make any non-refundable, non-changeable, non-transferable travel or marriage arrangements/reservations until your passport is in your hand, and the visa is inside the passport. :

[Crazy Cat 39,373]

I would:

1.  Schedule myself a round trip ticket to PI.

2.  Upon arrival in PI, cancel my return leg.

3.  After having visa in hand,etc.......schedule a one way ticket for 2 back to the US.

 

Everything associated with immigration is expensive.......

[arken 4,197]

Not commenting on risk factors in case of extended visa processing, just on how to be together on your way back.

 

If it helps, what i did was bought the round trip ticket for me with the return ticket one month after the interview and bought my wife’s ticket as soon as visa was in hand.

 

 

I was able to select/modify airplane seats online and put me and my wife together. All airlines may not do have that feature.

 

if you can’t select your seats online, you can call the airline and ask for seat assignment or you can show up early during departure check in and ask them to put you together.

[morry & ren 124]

2 minutes ago, Pitaya (火龙果) said:

The general rule of thumb that has been printed and mentioned numerous times on this very forum, is to never make any non-refundable, non-changeable, non-transferable travel or marriage arrangements/reservations until your passport is in your hand, and the visa is inside the passport. :

of course

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Filipino immigration law requires that you show an onward ticket.

 

- Buy a oneway ticket with a cheap ticket to somewhere nearby like Thailand or Vietnam  and not use it but have it available to show. 

 

- wait till the visa is issued and buy two one way tickets to the US. Her visa maybe issued within two weeks of interview.  Your mileage may vary. 

[morry & ren 124]

Very good advice guys,  I was thinking along the same lines but was just looking to see what options are available for our particular situation.

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, morry & ren said:

Very good advice guys,  I was thinking along the same lines but was just looking to see what options are available for our particular situation.

I was in your exact situation.   I did what missileman did.

[morry & ren 124]

3 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Filipino immigration law requires that you show an onward ticket.

 

- Buy a oneway ticket with a cheap ticket to somewhere nearby like Thailand or Vietnam  and not use it but have it available to show. 

 

- wait till the visa is issued and buy two one way tickets to the US. Her visa maybe issued within two weeks of interview.  Your mileage may vary. 

Now This is what im talking about! The man with the plan! Very imaginative thinking! Thank You!

[morry & ren 124]

I'm sorry if I seen to be without a clue here. With everything that is going on lately with this Visa process, its a wonder I can find my way home from work 😅. Believe me when I say, I Don't regret any of it, Not for 1 second! I absolutely cherish the ability to participate in this process and thank God every day for my Angel that he has Blessed me with. And I thank everyone here for sharing their knowledge so freely.

Edited July 8, 2019 by morry & ren