RW Connecting flights to Jamaica in US - Visa required?

[TigerPaws]

[size="4"][color="blue"] As recently as this past Sunday (01-15-06) my wife's sister transeted through London on her way back to Moscow from Nassau Bahamas, received a 24 hour transit visa on request, spent the night in London then returned home to Moscow.  She did have a visa for the Bahamas but this was the very same procedure  we used before visa's were required for the Bahamas, which by-the-was are very easy to obtain.[/color]
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[Charles]

I wasn't trying to question your approach through your batting average (.033 - reflecting the high standards and care that you took in your process) but rather to illustrate the problems and risks inherent in trying to meet someone in a tropical destination.  I really don't think you save any money by going there, and I am sure that you would agree that it is very important to see how a person reacts in her day-to-day surroundings, how she reacts to family, friends, etc.   You can't do that in the Bahamas, but you will have a good time.   I asked my wife about this because she received such offers.  She viewed it as someone out for a good time, and was not serious.  So if you are fortunate enough to meet "the one" you may be turning her off by an initial visit to the islands.

[BC]

Re transit EU Charles is correct jb. Just don't plan on leaving the international transit area/terminal.  The only time it might get 'touchy' or uncomfortable would be an overnight stay depending on airport facilities.  At most larger airports you can wine, dine and even shower  24/7 without having to go thru customs.

[Charles]

The UK, unlike the Shengen counties, allows an overnight transit visa.  Tell us the process that your sister went through for this.  Are these easy to get?

[r0gera]

My approach I am sure is affected by my past experiences and perceptions of the courting process.  If I were to meet an a/w on match.com or some place like that it would normally progress by exchanging some emails for a while, then follow with some phone conversations, then a date somewhere on neutral ground.  I could never imagine an a/w bringing me home to meet the parents after the first date nor even after just a few dates.  Now with that in mind the long distances to russia throw a twist into it for sure.  So I throw the first 5 dates together in a row at some nice neutral space.  We go home write and talk a little more assuming all seems good still... then we do the meet the parents visit.  And sure we could meet in moscow and if things didn't work out I could hit the pavement and look for another r/w for plan b.  That would make complete sense if I was just looking for a r/w bride because russia is the place to find them.  If it doesn't work with Natalya i might find someone in russia, asia, america or somewhere else in the world for that matter.  If I were looking for a r/w only, and I agree there are many reasons I might want to do so, I would do the trip to russia right off the bat.  We talked about a place to visit and I offered to visit her home town or russia or moscow as well as a warm tropical place.  She left the decision completely up to me but I could tell she was quite excited about the possibility of getting away from it all for a few day.  She really did not exert any pressure one way or the other. 

And we have talked more than 2 times.  That was meant as 2x a week for a few weeks here.  We schedule 1 with an interpreter and 1 without each week.  For flights the travel agency will be assisting with visas in connecting countries.  What I did first was the homework to find reasonale flights and prices.  Not that I don't trust a russian business to save me money... ok.. I don't trust them to look out for my interests in that way.. lol.. there are thousand dollar fares and three thousand dollar fares to just about any of these locations.  She could connect at heathrow and fly directly to jamaica from there.  The agency suggested that they may be able to get a flight connecting through germany also.  The dominican republic option was being looked at as an alternative but for me looks like a less desireable destination.

And perhaps I am looking at the visa requirements wrong but it appears that she would not need a visa at heathrow.  Per the delta visa info site as long as she has proper tickets (airline, hotel etc) she could change planes there and go on to her final destination as long as the layover is less than 24 hours.

/ 20JAN06 / 1809 UTC



National RUSSIAN FEDERATION (RU)                        
Transit UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)                   
Destination JAMAICA (JM)       
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW


 UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB


Visa not required if:
- continuing by same/first connecting aircraft to a third

  country within 24 hours; and
- holding confirmed reservations; and

- holding documents required for next destination.

[TigerPaws]

[size="4"][color="blue"]Charles,
 
 It is very easy and is handled in a matter of minutes, simply show her tickets and passport at immigration, end of story a 24 hour visa.[/color]
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[jb]

Charles,

You are probably correct, but it seems to me that would only be valid  only if she doesn't have to change planes and airport terminals  anywhere.  The moment she would have to transit a Passport Control  checkpoint somewhere she'd be dead meat without a visa.  Too  risky, since almost all flights to this part of the world originate in  different termimals than the flights arriving from the FSU.  I've  been to and back to Russia at least 30 times in recent years and  changed planes in virtually every major airport in western Europe at  one time or another, and I can't recall a single time I didn't have to  go through Passport Control somewhere.

There may be a different rule for Russians traveling abroad, but I'm not aware of it

[jb]

In any case, I still think Roger is being scammed and he's wasting his  time and money expecting a RW to show up in Jamaca or DR for a vacation.

[Charles]

Most of the big airports with the connections -- Heathrow, DeGaulle, Zurich, Frankfurt -- will allow connecting passengers to go to their next gate without having to go through passport control.   So it really isn't a problem and, as I learned today from the Tiger, if you are going through London you can stay overnight.

[TigerPaws]

I wasn't trying to question your approach through your batting average (.033 - reflecting the high standards and care that you took in your process) [color="red"][size="4"]Thank you Charles [/size][/color]but rather to illustrate the problems and risks inherent in trying to meet someone in a tropical destination.  I really don't think you save any money by going there, and I am sure that you would agree that it is very important to see how a person reacts in her day-to-day surroundings, how she reacts to family, friends, etc.   You can't do that in the Bahamas, but you will have a good time.   I asked my wife about this because she received such offers.  She viewed it as someone out for a good time, and was not serious.  So if you are fortunate enough to meet "the one" you may be turning her off by an initial visit to the islands.

[color="blue"][size="4"]Charles,
 Maybe some girls would feel as your wife did, at least 8 different girls did not in my case, additionally I was not concerned about the expense so that was not a factor for me. While in my case I did find exactly the lady I was looking for this approach is not for everyone nor is there any guarantee of success, it was just another approach to a very individual process.
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[r0gera]

lol.. well it could always be a scam.. one never knows what the future holds.  But if she is a scammer she isn't very good at it.. too low pressure.. should turn up the screws a bit to figure out a way to make some money.  And she could get a little pocket money out of it for the trip as well as a train ticket to moscow but I don't think a plane ticket to jamaica in her name that could only be refunded to my credit card would do her much good on the black market.  I'm thinking she should go for a better score than that if she was after some real money.

Tigerpaws, did any of the ladies seem to want to scam you on your trips there?  It would seem there would be better games to run on you to extract some money. 

What kind of fares did you find to the bahamas and what airlines did you use for nassau to moscow?  I had a bit of a problem finding flights that didn't touch down in the US.

[TigerPaws]

[color="aqua"][size="4"][color="blue"]r0gera,

 Check out British Airways, they stop in the Grand Cayman Islands, just a short stop over so there is no need to exit the aircraft, then on to Nassau, the flight arrives about 3:30 3:45 in the afternoon then leaves for a direct flight to London (8 hours).
 For the Bahamas she will need a visa which is very easy to get through the British Consulate I can suggest some very nice places to stay as well as places to go and things to do if you would like?

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[r0gera]

Tigerpaws,

Looks like I am only seeing 1 flight from london to that area non stop, it is on british airways but is twice the cost of any of the other airlines...  about 2k for that flight.  Been looking on kayak.com and it seems pretty good but doesn't always suggest flights that could be put together but would accomplish the same thing.  I found it seems to work a little bit better if you specify non stop for each leg of the flight.  That way you can avoid stops where you do not want them.

[TigerPaws]

[color="aqua"][size="4"][color="blue"]r0gera,

 Sorry I can not help you, we were not concerned about the cost.
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[Muj]

Visiting her in her country provides incredible insight into this woman of your dreams. 

 

 

[groovlstk]

Charles,

You are probably correct, but it seems to me that would only be valid only if she doesn't have to change planes and airport terminals anywhere.  The moment she would have to transit a Passport Control checkpoint somewhere she'd be dead meat without a visa.  Too risky, since almost all flights to this part of the world originate in different termimals than the flights arriving from the FSU.  I've been to and back to Russia at least 30 times in recent years and changed planes in virtually every major airport in western Europe at one time or another, and I can't recall a single time I didn't have to go through Passport Control somewhere.

There may be a different rule for Russians traveling abroad, but I'm not aware of it

I've never seen this question about transitting through Western Europe to Jamaica/Punta Cana from an FSU country answered satisfactorily, one way or another. However, last weekend I was in Frankfurt International and I was able to move from terminal to terminal without having to clear passport control. The airport's top level had an airtrain that stopped at each terminal but passengers could exit only in areas that were behind passport control.

[r0gera]

The best information I have found for those interested is this.  Russian citizens can transit through London and can also pretty easily get a transit visa at the airport there which allows them to even leave the airport for up to 24 hours as long as they have the documents and tickets with them for their next destination.  It depends on when their flight out is scheduled.  The purpose of that is to allow the traveller to stay at a hotel and rest if there is a longer layover in london or to be able to change airports if necessary.  The transit visa is relatively inexpensive and from what people have said it isn't much of a hassle to get once she is there. 

Changing planes in the US is theoretically possible but not actually practical.  The requirements for plane changes in the US are basically the same as for receiving a tourist visa even if they do not leave the airport or international flight areas.  Not worth the effort even though the fares may be several hundred bucks cheaper.

Thanks to all the members who provided input both on the board and off.  In all the research I've done on the topic I've found several spots that can be done relatively easily and still am deciding which to choose.  Jamaica is a slam dunk visa you by at the airport when you arrive.  Some safety concerns particularly after dark.  Dominican republic is about the same.  Bahamas visa is pretty easy to get and probably safer location.  Cyprus visa is pretty easy to get and visa to Greece is a slam dunk also.  All of those destinations end up being pretty close to the same cost for 1 ticket from Moscow and 1 ticket from the US.  One advantage of Cyprus and Greece is that you could probably schedule a short stay with your guest in London if you schedule it properly (under 24 hours between flights).  A tip on fares, it sometimes makes a huge difference in fares if you move the flights a day or two one way or another.  Travel to Cyprus, Jamaica, or the Bahamas would probaby be smoother by booking at an all inclusive resort but make sure you understand the rules fully before you plunk any money down for any reservations. 

 

[RacerX]

Thanks for the info, although I always 'hold my breath' when it comes to the passport control guy actually issuing the transit visa - just remember to leave LOTS of time and she should be very prepared to answer his questions.

One other note: for Belarussian girls - they MUST have the visa in hand before they will be allowed to depart.