Usual US Port of Entry Questions - Tourist

[mama squeak!]

Oh, sorry I don't think I was clear with my question. I wanted to know how to make sure that the ticket I buy won't require me to get a transit visa. I tried mock booking MNL to JFK via CX and at first, the flight I chose needed me to get a Canadian transit visa even if we won't be landing in Canada. So I wanted to know if all airlines, like CX, indicate which flights need transit visa and which don't.

I can't say for other airlines but for CX yes we do require a Canadian transit visa for CX888 since it will be stopping over in YVR. For the other JFK flights, these are direct flights and no need for transit visas.

[theflygirl]

^^OT na but in case may preferred booking/routing ka na and you wanna make sure about required documentation, you can contact the airline directly so they can consult TIMATIC naman.

[gcarrie]

hi sis mama squeak, im looking for the lowest fare going to SFO this april 15, and found CX so far to be the lowest, $1112. ok na ba to?
naku marami pa sana ko follow up questions about tickets and airlines, but OT na ata may thread na ba on this? esp suggestions on where to find cheap fares going to US and travel docs requirements like transit visa as mentioned by sis summer.

thanks!

[theflygirl]

@mama_squeak-Does CX still require that even for those mentioned exempted from transit visas? CX, CI and PR were specifically mentioned by Canadian authorities na visa-exempt ang nationals of ID, PH, TW and TH if transiting 48 hrs or less in YVR and in possession of a valid US visa. Ako, I was required to get a transit visa by PR only because I was travelling sublo. Otherwise, no need din dapat.

[mama squeak!]

@gcarrie, sis April kasi is a peak travel month ex Manila so medyo mataas ang fares. Para di tayo ma OT, post your other questions here:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,240228.0.html

@theflygirl, for our flight stopping in YVR (CX888) yes we do require Canadian transit visas for PH passport holders. We had an incident before kasi na nagka-technical yung aircraft which required JFK bound passengers to disembark and transfer/layover in YVR. Since then for that particular flight we require a transit visa. If a passenger would not want to get one we offer our other direct flights to JFK.

[theflygirl]

^oh yeah, exactly the reason why the kids and I had to get transit visas, too, lest we get bumped off in YVR. Yikes OT na nga to.

Para medyo related, if ever you take interline services (domestic USA) under zed / ID90 and such, diba baggage clearance is at port of entry...yung FBA Ng dom carrier na mag-aapply diba? So mae-excess na automatically yung MNL-USA FBA natin? Haven't tried doing interline yet, even when I was still with KE. Curious lang ako. I was gonna do SFOLAS last summer but southwest discouraged me to have chkd baggage. I backed out na lang kaya I got the MNLYVRLAS PR flt.

[mama squeak!]

^If travelling on non-rev interline carriers, yes to all your questions. If travelling on revenue confirmed, yes to the first Q. As for the second and third Qs, the modified FBA policy will take effect.

 

[theflygirl]

^Ok, thanks!

[lyragirl]

Hi, is there anyone here (or you know anyone) who experienced using the US Visa just a few days before the expiration? Note that the passport is still valid for two more years.

I read somewhere that it's still valid for entry even up to the last day but just want to know if anybody has experienced it and what are the POE questions asked. Thanks.

[mama squeak!]

^I used to supervise the check-in counters of an airline company and we've had lots of cases of US bound passengers with visas expiring in a few days of their arrival there. As long as within the validity pa yung visa upon their arrival in the US and passport is valid for 6 months it shouldn't be any problem.

A friend was only asked how long she was staying and 6 months stay was given to her. Gamit na gamit din yung visa nya since almost every year she takes her vacation there.

[theflygirl]

^^Happened to me last year. I arrived Las Vegas 23Apr and my visa was expiring 26Apr. It's perfectly fine.

I'm here in SFO right now and for the 1st time, came across a grumpy immig officer the other night. Didn't give me a hard time but was frowning the entire time.Haha. Didn't ask much except previous stay's length & how much money I had on me.

[lyragirl]

Thanks for the replies.   I'm leaving for LA this June, arriving around 4 days before my visa expiry.

[aquacharly]

MAMASQUEAK - isn't the rqmnt for a passport valid for a year upon entry?
Sa departure at NAIA pa lang  they check na di ba? 

[mama squeak!]

^Nope, 6 months validity is the rule. Btw, just missed you in NYC. Was there from the 15th-20th. 

[*joie*]

mga sis, ask ko lang kamusta naman ngayon mga IO sa detroit? mabusisi parin ba? hubby and i will be travelling to the US on a business trip and our POE is detroit. talaga bang magrereflect sa computer kung ano sinabi mo sa consul na length of stay mo during visa interview? we said one week lang kami but we book our flight back one month after arrival.

[mom_G]

^based on my experience, mas strict yung IO sa detroit (it's been my POE at least 5x) compared sa iba.  wala naman sila magagawa but to let you in if you're not doing anything wrong.  i don't think magrereflect sa computer whatever it is that you told the consul about length of stay.  there is nothing unusual if you want to stay for a month so it should not be an issue.

[m_lim]

mga sis, yung hubby ko pinadala sa Chicago for a business trip. 2months siya doon. susunod ako for 1month. ideclare ko ba sa officer na nandun na hubby ko at sa hotel niya ako magsstay? wala akong balak mag TNT doon. gusto ko lang sumunod kay hubby at mag shop narin.

kaso nung 2005, nag stay ako sa LA ng more than 6months. nag apply naman ako ng extension pero hindi ko na na antay result kasi umuwi na ako.

nakabalik ako ng US last 2010, sa Hawaii kami namasyal. we just came from Europe last month. natatakot lang ako baka ma question ako dun sa overstay ko at bakit mag isa lang ako magtravel this time.

[*joie*]

@mom G

thanks sa pagsagot sis.. medyo kinakabahan nga kami ni hubby eh, pero carry lang..hehe sa june 15 na alis namin!weeee

[mom_G]

^ sis, basta look them in the eye and be straightforward sa answers nyo.  have a safe trip & enjoy

[aquacharly]

^Nope, 6 months validity is the rule. Btw, just missed you in NYC. Was there from the 15th-20th. 

Am still here.  Unexpected extension. Yes, was here -- arrived on the 17th.