Mother in law coming, speaks zero English

[roykirk]

I'm certain some of you have been through this before with family members coming to visit.  My MIL is coming next week for a month long stay on a B-2 visa.  Here's my concern:  She has to connect through a U.S. airport (Minneapolis), before she catches another flight to us.  Since MSP is her first port of entry, that's where she'll have to go through customs.  The woman doesn't speak a word of English, I mean zero.  How is she going to get through customs with their normal battery of questions if she doesn't speak at least some English?  Since she's on a direct from Moscow, we're hoping she can attach herself to another Russian who does speak English that might be able to help her.  My wife has also thought of writing her a note in English that says why she's here and who she is visiting, that she could present to customs officers, but we're not sure if they'd accept that.

Unfortunately neither of us can be there to help her, but we couldn't be in customs anyway.  Have any of you dealt with this before with family visiting?

[Ade]

I'm certain some of you have been through this before with family members coming to visit.  My MIL is coming next week for a month long stay on a B-2 visa.  Here's my concern:  She has to connect through a U.S. airport (Minneapolis), before she catches another flight to us.  Since MSP is her first port of entry, that's where she'll have to go through customs.  The woman doesn't speak a word of English, I mean zero.  How is she going to get through customs with their normal battery of questions if she doesn't speak at least some English?  Since she's on a direct from Moscow, we're hoping she can attach herself to another Russian who does speak English that might be able to help her.  My wife has also thought of writing her a note in English that says why she's here and who she is visiting, that she could present to customs officers, but we're not sure if they'd accept that.

Unfortunately neither of us can be there to help her, but we couldn't be in customs anyway.  Have any of you dealt with this before with family visiting?

I can't speak for the US but we used the "note in English" for my MIL on her visit here and it went smoothly enough. I'm sure your MIL won't be the first Russian that can't speak English that they've encountered. Just make sure all the relevant information is on the note, including names, addresses, telephone numbers etc.

[Sailor291]

Believe me, Customs/Immigration will handle it.  They will probably have a Russain speaker handy.  My wifes parents have come to vist several time, they speak no English, and have come thru JFK, DFW, Chicago, etc.  Never really a problem.  The problem will come in when your MIL try's to find her connecting flight.  I dont know how big the Minneapolis airport is, but it could be a challenge fo her.  Good luck.

[roykirk]

Believe me, Customs/Immigration will handle it.  They will probably have a Russain speaker handy.  My wifes parents have come to vist several time, they speak no English, and have come thru JFK, DFW, Chicago, etc.  Never really a problem.  The problem will come in when your MIL try's to find her connecting flight.  I dont know how big the Minneapolis airport is, but it could be a challenge fo her.  Good luck.

That's going to be a challenge as well.  MSP is quite large.  If she misses her connecting flight, she'd have a tough time figuring out a pay phone to call us.  Then she'd have to try to navigate a Delta customer service desk to get scheduled on the next available flight.  We have a friend of a friend who lives in Minneapolis that might be able to help us with that portion.  They don't speak Russian, but they could certainly help her get to her gate and even get her scheduled on another flight if she misses hers. 

[GoodOlBoy]

The letter of introduction (with all details) sounds like a good idea to me.
One other thing, a little . You might want to consider refraining from using such names as "fire breathing dragon" to describe your MIL. It serves no purpose to fight and argue with her, your wife will only think less of you. Hopefully one of our other board members (GregfromGA) has learned his lesson about this.

Good luck!


GOB

[roykirk]

The letter of introduction (with all details) sounds like a good idea to me.
One other thing, a little . You might want to consider refraining from using such names as "fire breathing dragon" to describe your MIL. It serves no purpose to fight and argue with her, your wife will only think less of you. Hopefully one of our other board members (GregfromGA) has learned this lesson about this.

Good luck!


GOB

Well, you won't hear that from me.     My mother in law is a wonderful person, I just wish she spoke English so we could communicate without my wife having to interpret.  I'm pretty good with Russian Mat, but my wife says I can't test it out around her mother.   

[JR]

Most likely immigration will not bat an eye about it. This is what they do every day. My ex MIL came once or twice a year for ten years, spoke not one work of English and never had a single problem getting thru customs. If she has the proper paperwork there most likely won't be a problem. To make the connection all she has to do is show her ticket to the agent that will meet the plane, show her the ticket, shrug her shoulders and the agent will assist.

Hope the trip goes smoothe )

[GQBlues]

I'm certain some of you have been through this before with family members coming to visit.  My MIL is coming next week for a month long stay on a B-2 visa.  Here's my concern:  She has to connect through a U.S. airport (Minneapolis), before she catches another flight to us.  Since MSP is her first port of entry, that's where she'll have to go through customs.  The woman doesn't speak a word of English, I mean zero.  How is she going to get through customs with their normal battery of questions if she doesn't speak at least some English? 

Rest easy Roykirk. I've been through this experience with mine (FIL, too) and it shouldn't be a big deal...exciting, yes.

Email 'Cue Cards' of every possible information you can think of. English & Russian (Russian for her benefit so she knows what to handout to the proper person she's seeking assistance).

The first thing she needs to do before disembarking the first plane is hand-out the first cue card to any flight attendent; then the proper sequence e.g.

"Please let me know who and where to go to get through a) Customs, or b) Passport Control, or c) Connecting airline, d) McDonalds, , etc..."

Have your Missus explain to her what and how she needs to do this. It would greatly help your cause if you have knowledge of the following ports she'll be embarking/disembarking upon for navigation.

Cue cards may be done on a 3x5, or any type of sturdy papercard she can get in FSU.

At POE, Have a card ready for her to hand-out to the immigration officer that contain the following script...(sample)

" Hello officer, I'm here to visit both my daughter and son-in-law. They will be waiting for me at the reception area. However I do not speak English, in the event it becomes necessary, my children's cell phone number is (xxx) xxx-xxxx. Thank you.

As for the month long visit/vacation with an MIL who doesn't speak English...buddy (he-heh) You're on your own on that one, babe...

[acctBill]

Roy I wouldn't worry about it.  No need for notes, just tell her to show her passport and Customs will do the rest.  The US gets travellers from all over the world.  The travellers that don't speak English get into and out of the US just fine and Customs agents know how to handle those that don't speak English.  My MIL made several trips to the US with her friends, none of whom spoke more than a few words of English and had no problems.

As for your MIL making her connecting flight the easiest way is to find a map of MSP and put in some notes in Russian on the map so that she will understand the map.  Send it to her before she leaves.     

[roykirk]

Thanks everyone!  This makes both of us much more comfortable.  I think we'll definitely do the notes in English just as a precaution. 

[GQBlues]

Hope you all have a wonderful time, Roykirk!

Good luck....

[I/O]

Roy: Do the notes or "cue" cards as mentioned upthread. Been there done that about a dozen times and actually did that for myself in reverse on one of my early trips to Russia. That's immigration / customs which in all honesty is the easy part.

Transfers are by far the bigger deal. Again, been there done that about a dozen times and my MIL had about "bugger all" English in the early stages. Call a local taxi or limo or driver hire company, bet your socks they'll have some driver who can speak Russian, pony up for $100 bucks, have them meet her with the silly name sign waving as she exits customs (have the name and cell phone number of the driver included in her "notes to customs"), guide her to and through transfer and...............................you'll have a very happy, grateful and impressed "arrival" at your local airport. Yeah yeah, but she doesn't need driving anywhere right? Sure but drivers are happy to do these errends, they get paid the money and have no expenses.

Point is, if in doubt, think latterally.......................

[kievstar]

When she gets off the plane in Minny tell her to follow the others to the entry to USA passport check.  Let her know she can not go through customs in the USA citizen line.  After going through passport control she will need to pickup any checked in bags.  This can take up to 30 minutes before the bags start rolling off.  She will need to grab the bags otherwise consider them lost for a long time.

Than she proceeds to the baggage check where she may or may not be checked.  Tell her no food otherwise she may be held for awhile unless noted on card handed out during flight.

Than she needs to have her ticket available for her next flight as she will than have to drop off her baggage to be checked and than go through security machine to get into the airport.  Than she needs to find her gate for next flight.

One thing to note in the above unless you have a ticket your not going to be in the airport area she is in.  Majority of the airport is only open for ticketed passengers and people who work in the airport. 

Minneapolis is a huge airport.  She may need to take a tram between terminals.  It will be a good learning experience for her.  They have several people in the airport who speak Russian.  She will be fine.  Let he know police are friendly in USA. 

 

[facetrock]

What you could do is send her a cell phone. When she gets to MSP you could give her a call and maybe give her a little help and probably some comfort.
 

[Aloe]

It is a matter of utmost importance that she follows people from her plane (doesn't go to toilet until she is past customs, or whatnot). I went to toilet once in Paris airport, then everyone was gone, had to find my own way around, it was awful, huge empty glass buildings, not a single soul around, not to mention sliding doors that for some mysterious reason did not detect me, hence did not open (had to have some guy stand next to it for it to open lol), and freaky trams with no drivers, and no clue at which stop to get off the stupid tram. I managed ok, but if i was an old person, i would probably still be lost in that airport 

[tfcrew]

Side question...

 A married couple are both green card residents..[neither one a citizen] can their respective MIL still obtain a US visa to visit them?

Karl

[GQBlues]

Karl-

I know of only one case that this happened to...a Russian couple who recently became permanent residents, after arriving and living here via a work visa, did in fact had their Mumski come and visit them here when their baby was born.

Likely meeting the usual app requirements.

[Vaughn]

There's a Moldovan couple here, both GC holders, who have had some success after a few tries. On
attempt #3, the Moldovan Embassy granted the MIL a 5 or 10 year multi-visit visa... I forget which.
We were astounded, but yes, it can happen.

[tfcrew]

... the Moldovan Embassy granted the MIL a 5 or 10 year multi-visit visa...

I'm confused there. Is it not the US state dept that issues the visa?

In short..
Last Aug., Svetlana went to visit her son, dtr-in-law and brand new grandson.
Her dtr-in-laws' mom [also from Odessa] has since  applied for a vistors' visa to the USA  and was turned down for some [unspecified] reason.

[Vaughn]

I'm confused there. Is it not the US state dept that issues the visa?

I meant the USA Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova. Sorry 'bout that..

[Dar]

Prepare for your mother-in-law a letter like this: (send it by e-mail so that she could bring the letter with her when she travels)

My name is ………... I’m traveling to the US, (city) from Russia (city) to visit my daughter and son-in-law, AND I AM A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER.
Here is my traveling itinerary:
1)
2)
(number of flights, full detailed information)
I intend to stay in the US for 2 weeks (dates) at the following address: ………..
Here is my traveling itinerary back to Russia:
1)
2)
(detailed information on flight numbers)
THANK YOU

2) This is an example of a letter in case if she gets lost around the airport:
My name is ………... I’m traveling to the US, (city) from Russia (city) to visit my daughter and son-in-law, and I AM A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER.
I got lost and don’t know how to get to the immigration.
Please help me or contact my daughter at the following phone number:
Home:
Cell:
THANK YOU

[facetrock]

  I still think you should send her one of those cheap Walmart or Bestbuy phones. She could charge it before she leaves then turn it on when she arrives at MSP. Your wife could then help guide her through the airport.

[FredC]

She can only charge the phone if you have already given her a plug adapter. Better to charge the phone here, turn it off, and then send it to her. I know that is what I did. I just mailed Tatyana a phone for her to use in the airport when she gets here next month. This way you can also pre-program you phone numbers into the phone.

[Kuna]

Gents,

If this is such a big concern that the traveler needs a phone wouldn't you just send a local SIM card?  Everyone in FSU has phones already. Just pop a local SIM in and you're off and away - and at the advantage that they already know how to use their own phone.

Personally, we just emailed some notes in English (with her instructions in Russian) that she could show at each point of interst (changing planes - asking directions to her next flight, and for Passport Control and Customs offering our phone number if requried).

Each to their own but as always it's best not to make a huge issue out of something that's done thousands of times a year by passengers all over the world.

Kuna

[ECOCKS]

I believe a good set of letters will cover this situation. The phone is overkill and I am not so sure that the Customs guys are going to deal with another person over the phone unless there is no interpreter available. She's coming in on a tourist visa, not processing a GC or other immigrant visa.

If she has connections, that is where the phone would come in handy. Sending a US phone with all the numbers for family on it would come in handy to give you peace of mind for dealing with missed flights, rescheduling and finding each other at the airport.