Who should pay for beneficiary's flight?

[APA 44]

DS160 - Question "Person/entity paying for your trip"

 

Not sure what to make of this one. If my beneficiary pays for the trip to the US (should we be approved), I feel like it looks as if I'm not supporting him. If I pay for the trip, I feel like it looks like he's using me for the money. I don't know how they look at these answers or what the right thing to do is.

 

Several times while flying around Asia, I would try to check in online or at a kiosk and my reservation would be "frozen". I had to physically show the card and my passport to an agent before they would check me in. I asked about this a few times and they always said they had to physically see the card to verify it wasn't stolen. If I buy him a ticket and they do this, he won't be able to show them my card because he won't have it. One option is he pays for the trip with his card (so he can show it if asked) and I reimburse him when he arrives. He could explain this situation if asked but I'm not even sure how much this issue matters. Are we overthinking this?

[payxibka 10,044]

I have never had an issue purchasing flights for my now wife.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Whoever had the money. My husband, the immigrant, had no credit card -I paid for everything. You are overthinking.

Edited November 13, 2020 by Luckycuds

[Babu Frik 1,162]

The only time when paying for things is an issue if 1 is flying alone to a country for vacation and they're asking how they will support themselves why they're there.

For instance, when going to Spain we flew separately, and they told the beneficiary to but the hotel in their name next time as they were from a more risky country.

[NoMansLand2020 298]

It doesn't matter. Some people might not be able to afford a flight. $700 for a ticket is a lot for someone who makes an equivalent of $10 USD per day. 

[APA 44]

5 hours ago, payxibka said:

I have never had an issue purchasing flights for my now wife.

 

It happened to me 3 times in 2 years of traveling through Asia on 2 different credit cards. One of those times was actually in Cambodia. That's enough to make me not want to take chances of him getting stuck in the same position. On the chance that it does happen, there would be no issue for him to show his card. I'm trying to determine if selecting the wrong answer will be a red flag.

[Just Paul 4,591]

Remember that the DS-160 is used for non immigrant VISAs.   For visas other than Ks it is a backdoor question about financial solvency.   It has no meaning for a K1.

[APA 44]

4 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

 it is a backdoor question about financial solvency. 

This is exactly why I was concerned. Seeing as how it doesn't affect the K1, I will have him buy the ticket to avoid the credit card issue that I referenced. Thanks for your feedback!

[Rlewis 73]

9 hours ago, APA said:

DS160 - Question "Person/entity paying for your trip"

 

Not sure what to make of this one. If my beneficiary pays for the trip to the US (should we be approved), I feel like it looks as if I'm not supporting him. If I pay for the trip, I feel like it looks like he's using me for the money. I don't know how they look at these answers or what the right thing to do is.

 

Several times while flying around Asia, I would try to check in online or at a kiosk and my reservation would be "frozen". I had to physically show the card and my passport to an agent before they would check me in. I asked about this a few times and they always said they had to physically see the card to verify it wasn't stolen. If I buy him a ticket and they do this, he won't be able to show them my card because he won't have it. One option is he pays for the trip with his card (so he can show it if asked) and I reimburse him when he arrives. He could explain this situation if asked but I'm not even sure how much this issue matters. Are we overthinking this?

I used to work for an airline, and usually this happens when a person's name is flagged due to someone else with a very similar name to you has committed fraud somewhere with that particular airline you are flying with. A lot of the times airlines share this list between each other. So to verify that it is indeed a different person, airlines usually require you to present your passport and credit card that was used to pay the ticket with to the agent directly, making you unable to do online check ins. It is linked with the person's name and ID, not the card usually. Sometimes even the types of credit card can have an effect. Although it is less common.

 

You might be able to take it higher with the airlines to clear your account, by adding certain differentiating factors like loyalty program memberships with airlines, middle names, age, and what not to be able you to distinguish from that particular flagged person. I.E. John Smith is a very common name so often times passengers with this name travelling internationally get flagged, because another John Smith somewhere in the system may have committed credit card fraud. It happens more often than people think!

 

as for wondering if you are overthinking it, I agree with others. I doubt people who look over your DS-160 think too hard on who is paying for the ticket and why.

[APA 44]

28 minutes ago, Rlewis said:

I used to work for an airline, and usually this happens when a person's name is flagged due to someone else with a very similar name to you has committed fraud somewhere with that particular airline you are flying with. A lot of the times airlines share this list between each other. So to verify that it is indeed a different person, airlines usually require you to present your passport and credit card that was used to pay the ticket with to the agent directly, making you unable to do online check ins. It is linked with the person's name and ID, not the card usually. Sometimes even the types of credit card can have an effect. Although it is less common.

 

You might be able to take it higher with the airlines to clear your account, by adding certain differentiating factors like loyalty program memberships with airlines, middle names, age, and what not to be able you to distinguish from that particular flagged person. I.E. John Smith is a very common name so often times passengers with this name travelling internationally get flagged, because another John Smith somewhere in the system may have committed credit card fraud. It happens more often than people think!

 

as for wondering if you are overthinking it, I agree with others. I doubt people who look over your DS-160 think too hard on who is paying for the ticket and why.

That makes sense. I have a fairly common name so I understand your explanation. And while I do appreciate the extra scrutiny (it defintely cuts down on fraud), I just don't want my fiance to be stuck at the airport because of it. I think it would just be easier if he books it and pays for it so this isn't even an issue.

[Loren Y 2,731]

Easy way around this, I have done a few times with many different airlines. As long as the person flying can present a copy of the credit card holders passport ID page, and a copy of the credit card used ( front and back) I was able to fit both on 1 page and email it to my now wife who printed it out and took with her. I did redact ( blackout) the 3 digit code on the credit card and some of the numbers on the passport page just in case she lost it. But air Asia, vietjet airlines, china airlines, and a few others asked for proof she knew the credit card holder, and she showed them the page, and had no issues. But, obviously the best way is to have him purchase it on his card.

Benefits of me using my card is she got all the travel benefits such as missed flight insurance, lost baggage insurance, one time the flight got cancelled and the credit card reimbursed food and a hotel room for the night until she got in a new flight the next day. Plus, I earned points and travel miles from it.

Edited November 14, 2020 by Loren Y

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

10 hours ago, payxibka said:

I have never had an issue purchasing flights for my now wife.

The same thing happened to my now wife in the Philippines. She had to show a color of the card and my passport for her to use that ticket. I remember one time she didn't habe that and they wouldn't let her board the plane.  

 

 

[payxibka 10,044]

3 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

The same thing happened to my now wife in the Philippines. She had to show a color of the card and my passport for her to use that ticket. I remember one time she didn't habe that and they wouldn't let her board the plane.  

 

 

I'm not saying it doesn't happen,  my experience is my experience.   US Domestic,  Philippines (my wife made 3 trips to manila), as well as European flights, all purchased either in advance or even for same day travel, were made from the comfort of my living room and the traveler never had an issue.  

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

I'm not saying it doesn't happen,  my experience is my experience.   US Domestic,  Philippines (my wife made 3 trips to manila), as well as European flights, all purchased either in advance or even for same day travel, were made from the comfort of my living room and the traveler never had an issue.  

I always purchased the flights in advance in Pinas and she always had to bring that. 

[PWB 213]

Wow, if you are questioning paying for a ticket on some perceived moral issue then excuse me, are you ready to spend your life with this person.  Right now my fiancee is caught in the middle of the horrid flooding in Luzon Philippines and the USEM is still playing games with her visa.  Money for a ticket should never be the issue.