Point of Entry JFK - K1

[epdx]

At the point of entry is it necessary to have a return ticket for a K1 visa?

[GoodOlBoy]

At the point of entry is it necessary to have a return ticket for a K1 visa?

NO.



GOB

[Mishenka]

Excellent question since the K1 expires in 90 days. With all the new laws coming into effect since January I would check that out carefully with immigration. For all we know, it could be an issue, expecially since by statistic, about half of all K1 visa's issued result in women returning to their home country. I know for sure that if it were the other way around, you must have  RT tix.

Mishenka

[GoodOlBoy]

I just got off the telephone with the Dept. of Homeland Security, Miami International Airport and the answer is a definite "NO".

You do not need a return ticket with a K-1 Fiancee Visa.

I know what I am about to say will probably touch off another firestorm of debate, But here goes.

Along this same line of question, many years ago on another RW forum there was a difference of opinion about buying a return ticket for you Fiancee.

If I recall correctly, most members were for the idea of purchasing a return ticket and giving it to their Fiancee when she arrived. The member's opinion being something along the lines of  "Your woman will feel more secure and safer if she thinks she can go home anytime she wants to" and "She won't think she is your sex slave" etc. etc.

Unfortunately, being the naive person that I was back then, I approached my Marina with this idea (buying a return ticket), before she came to the GoodOl' USA.

As usual, Russian Women have a different perspective about life's issues than WM. 

When I told her of my "brilliant idea" she got very upset with me and was "offended". 

She asked me when I exactly planned on "shipping" her back to Russia?  :evil:

Before I could respond, she said: "Maybe after a couple of test drives"?

So, I learned one of many dear lessons in my short life with a Russian lady that day.

DO NOT BELIEVE ALL ADVICE YOU GATHER FROM RUSSIAN WOMENS DISCUSSION FORUMS (Dan...this should probably be RWD Commandment #11).


GOB

[groovlstk]

Excellent question since the K1 expires in 90 days. With all the new laws coming into effect since January I would check that out carefully with immigration. For all we know, it could be an issue, expecially since by statistic, about half of all K1 visa's issued result in women returning to their home country. I know for sure that if it were the other way around, you must have  RT tix.

Mishenka

Absolutely ridiculous.

[groovlstk]

I just got off the telephone with the Dept. of Homeland Security, Miami International Airport and the answer is a definite "NO".

You do not need a return ticket with a K-1 Fiancee Visa.

I know what I am about to say will probably touch off another firestorm of debate, But here goes.

Along this same line of question, many years ago on another RW forum there was a difference of opinion about buying a return ticket for you Fiancee.

If I recall correctly, most members were for the idea of purchasing a return ticket and giving it to the Fiancee when she arrived. The member's opinion being something along the lines of  "Your woman will feel more secure and safer if she thinks she can go home anytime she wants to" and "She won't think she is your sex slave" etc. etc.

Unfortunately, being the naive person that I was back then, I approached my Marina with this idea (buying a return ticket), before she came to the GoodOl' USA.

As usual, Russian Women have a different perspective about life's issues than WM. 

When I told her of my "brilliant idea" she got very upset with me and was "offended". 

She asked me when I exactly planned on "shipping" her back to Russia?  :evil:

Before I could respond, she said: "Maybe after a couple of test drives"?

So, I learned one of many dear lessons in my short life with a Russian lady.

DO NOT BELIEVE ALL ADVICE YOU GATHER FROM RUSSIAN WOMENS DISCUSSION FORUMS.


GOB

I had a similar experience although I didn't actually purchase the return ticket. During our first full day together in the States I gave my wife a little speech about how I was sure things were going to work out great for us, but just in case they didn't I wanted her to know I'd instantly buy her a ticket back and never force her to remain here, etc. etc. Thinking I would reassure her and score some points for myself, I was instead grilled about why I wanted her to leave and how could I have such little confidence in our future together, etc.?

Like GOB, I had read advice from other guys about this and decided it was a good idea, only to have it backfire.  It wasn't the first time I did something that would be considered respectful and even chivalrous among Western women only to have it interpreted completely different by a RW.

[Vaughn]

"Just in case" was never a part of our vocabulary. We considered it a bad omen. Why enable it?

Before I could respond, she said: "Maybe after a couple of test drives"?

Ouch.

[tfcrew]

By 'return ticket' I suppose we should mean round trip?
I just did a 'SmartFlight' search JFK-Moscow [Wow..tickets are cheap right now !!!]...
Anyway the difference between 1 way and RT is only a hundred bucks or so.

Look at a RT ticket as an insurance policy a [just in case]...smart to get one but hopefully won't need.

[Shadow]

I did buy a return ticket. The reason was simple. A roundtrip ticket (with possibility to shift dates) was cheaper as a one-way.

[ConnerVT]

By 'return ticket' I suppose we should mean round trip?
I just did a 'SmartFlight' search JFK-Moscow [Wow..tickets are cheap right now !!!]...
Anyway the difference between 1 way and RT is only a hundred bucks or so.

You checked the wrong way.  You should of checked "Moscow-JFK", and you would of found it is a bit more costly these days, as many airlines are charging a fuel surcharge on flights originating outside the USA.  The surcharge applies to all legs of the ticket, even the connecting flight from JFK to wherever.

For example, the price is nearly double flying SVO-BTV than flying BTV-SVO.

Also, many times RT tickets are cheaper than one-way, as they are typically booked as 'excursion' fare.  If you read the fine print, the airline can charge you the one-way fare if you don't use the return portion of your ticket.  But I have never heard of anyone ever being billed for this.  But then, it is only recently that the airlines started charging for your first checked bag, or for a pillow and blanket.  So anything is possible this day...

[Simoni]

I flew to Kiev to meet her, so we could fly into JFK together for her arrival in the USA.   We did have a round ticket, but the return was for 8 months later, when we went for a visit.

But no, epdx, no one asked to see her airline ticket.

[epdx]

Thanks for the comments gents.

The route will be KBP to JFK.

[ScottinCrimea]

Just bought tickets for my wife to go to Ukraine to bring her daughter here.  I found it was much cheaper to buy two round trip tickets than just one for my wife and a one way ticket for our daughter.  At least my wife doesn't have to worry about who will be sitting next to her on the flight there.

[ConnerVT]

Just bought tickets for my wife to go to Ukraine to bring her daughter here.  I found it was much cheaper to buy two round trip tickets than just one for my wife and a one way ticket for our daughter.  At least my wife doesn't have to worry about who will be sitting next to her on the flight there.

Is the ticket you bought for your daughter RT from Ukraine->US->Ukraine?

If the first leg (or any leg) of a multiple flight ticket is not used, all of the other flights afterward on that ticket are cancelled.  One of our long time members here discovered that recently, and it cost him a lot of money and stress, scrambling to buy a last minute seat.   

[GoodOlBoy]

Is the ticket you bought for your daughter RT from Ukraine->US->Ukraine?

If the first leg (or any leg) of a multiple flight ticket is not used, all of the other flights afterward on that ticket are cancelled.   One of our long time members here discovered that recently, and it cost him a lot of money and stress, scrambling to buy a last minute seat.   

Ditto.

American Airlines did this to me.

I don't know if they just do it on International flights (they might do it on Domestic too),
but they did it to me.

Bookoo Bucks $$  


GOB

[ScottinCrimea]

You guys just saved me a huge headache and a ton of money.  I checked and verified that if our daughter did not use the first leg, the second leg would be canceled.  I can just imagine my wife and her learning this on arrival at Boryspol.  The cost to take the same flight as my wife's would be over $3,000, plus we would have lost the cost of the initial ticket.

I wasn't about to pay over $3,000 for the one way ticket, so what I did was change the reservation making the Kiev to US flight the first leg and the US to Kiev portion the return trip, which we won't use.  This ended up costing us $280 to change the reservation plus the difference in the cost of the flight versus what we had originally paid, which ended up being around $350.  So instead of paying $3,000 for her flight, with the change it cost us around $600 more.

Once again, thanks for the head's up.

[ConnerVT]

No problem.  Glad I could help save you the headache and the $$$.

[Simoni]

Ditto.

American Airlines did this to me.

I don't know if they just do it on International flights (they might do it on Domestic too),
but they did it to me.

Bookoo Bucks $$  


GOB

Yeah, this is standard operating procedure for all airlines and all domestic flights, too.

[Brianinaz]

Yeah, this is standard operating procedure for all airlines and all domestic flights, too.

That's correct. I might add it's worth checking the difference in RT flights originating from Ukraine vs elsewhere. On Delta the RT flight originating from Kiev was more than the same trip originating from the states. On the other hand the RT originating in Paris was the same as the one originating in the US. I'm going to buy a couple of one way's on Ukrainian International to Paris and originate my wife and daughter's trip from Paris.

As an aside for Delta flyer's on my last trip back I flew Paris to Atlanta and going through customs and changing flights was much nicer than going through JFK

[tfcrew]

You checked the wrong way.  You should of checked "Moscow-JFK", and you would of found it is a bit more costly these days, as many airlines are charging a fuel surcharge on flights originating outside the USA.  The surcharge applies to all legs of the ticket, even the connecting flight from JFK to wherever.

That would have been Moscow-USA...USA-Moscow.
Buying two one ways now would be really bogus.
The best bet is still travel agencies who use brokers who arrange all these flights into block tickets. There is another thread currently running about flights.
Here is what I'm finding out...
 When the demand goes up...the price goes up
When the demand goes down...the price goes up
Go figure
 

[Doll]

should of checked "Moscow-JFK"

SVO-JFK

[ConnerVT]

SVO-JFK

True.  I went generic, as their are other airports in Moscow that fly to the USA.  But only SVO-JFK for a direct flight.

The important thing is to start the journey from the correct location.

BTW - Delta just changed when their summer rates begin.  It used to be mid June.  Now the prices go up starting June 1 for RT flights originating at JFK to SVO.  Pricing stays the same for flights originating from SVO to JFK.

[Chicagoguy]

I will be bringing my fiance over in early April. The best way is American Airlines with a non stop to Chicago.
Round Trip   $   910
One Way     $ 3,160

LOT is cheaper one way but more time plus a change of planes and my fiance has not traveled much.
LOT One Way  $ 822

Suggestions ?

[ConnerVT]

Cheapest isn't always the best.  Saving a few $$$, and having an inexperienced traveller, alone, dealing with just the required stuff is a chore.  Adding in dealing with immigration, and potential other problems, my suggestion is always take the path of least resistance.

I just looked up RT from DME to ORD, it was $890, not $910.

A couple of useful travel tools:

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/

The first is great for finding flights, prices, and connections.

The second, all thie visa/passport requirements for every country, for every nationality.

[ScottinCrimea]

I will be bringing my fiance over in early April. The best way is American Airlines with a non stop to Chicago.
Round Trip   $   910
One Way     $ 3,160

LOT is cheaper one way but more time plus a change of planes and my fiance has not traveled much.
LOT One Way  $ 822

Suggestions ?

Book the round trip originating there and then just toss the return ticket.