buying air tickets before Visa approval

[pad]

hello all,

my parents have their visa interview scheduled for next month at Chennai.
(this will be their first trip to USA).

Can we book (or alteast block) air tickets before the visa approval or
it can happen only after the visa approval.

thanks a bunch

[pnandu]

Block the tickets

Hi there,

Even i had the same query few days back! i guess booking the tickets does not help in any way. so jus block the tickets and keep! All the best.

[Sathyasai_777]

Tickets can be blocked and put a copy in the documents.But i have sent detailed Travel plan for three months including where all they are going and all.As we told for three months i have made wrod document of Travel plan for three months.I have seen in one post they sent parents to get that and come back.So include Travel Plan
Sri

[manishc]

If booking, you may be required to pay while doing so since booking is not the same as blocking. It could vary by airline though. Therefore if you are deciding to book, make sure you are not paying otherwise in case of a possible rejection you will have to pay ticket cancellation, etc. charges.

[rani_14]

My parents visa appointment is in august. I heard if you have travel plan , that will be good at the visa time.
Sathyasai, Please let me know is this true in your case. And how you blocked tickets for whole trip? Or you just prepared the document? is it possible to copy the format how you did? That would be great help. My parents visa already rejected first time on 214b. we want to add travel plan this time, since no other new documents to show them

[manishc]

rani_14, in addition to the travel plan - if not already done so - would additionally suggest to scan through this discussion forum, read experiences, and this site itself (visitor's visa section) in full before appearing for the interview again.

[Sathyasai_777]

Hi Rani

I did not send any information about blocked tickets.I have sent travel plan like this.Ask them to ask trip for 3 months and try to prepare them for the questions and take mock interviews before actual interview.Questions what I prepared my parents I have posted in anther thread.Here is the travel plan I prepared for my parents.

Regards
Sri

Place Date

Hyderabad to Newark NJ by Air India July 9th 2005
Hyderabad-Bombay-London-Newark


Trip to Washington DC, Virginia July 16th, 17th


Trip to Newyork City July 23 and 24th


Trip to Atlantic City July 30th

Trip to Niagara Falls by flight to Buffalo August 6th and 7th

Trip to Maine August 13th and 14th

Florida trip by flight August 20th to 24th

California trip flight to Sanfransico Sep 10th to 15th 2005

Shopping in NJ malls for gifts to take to India September 17th, 18th

Return to Hyderabad by Air India from Newark September 31st 2005
Newark-London-Bombay-Hyderabad

[rani_14]

Thanks SathyaSai, Manish. I have been checking this site after my parents visa rejected in march. My husband sponsered for my parents.We mentioned in I-156 that my brother also in US. I think that would be the reason they rejected , also dad showed enough property and also he is currently Govt employee. They did not look any documents.Simply rejected after hearing 2 kids in US, one in india.So this time we want to add as much info as possible to make them believe they go back in 3 months.

[PR2005]

Hi Sathyasai_777 ,

regarding the detailed travel plan, did you prepare a separate document for that or used personal letter to consulate to include them?
Who was the letter addressed to.?
My parents are appearing the interview next month and I am thinking to send a detail travel plan.
Please provide me any details if you have any.

Thanks for your help