Buying a ticket to travel BEFORE getting a visa

[hgujral]

My Father-in-law in India wants to visit us in the US for the first time. I have sent in all the paperwork required to file for an application for a B-2 visitor's visa from India.

He's being told by a local agent that rules have recently changed and that he needs to purchase his tickets and health insurance BEFORE his visa appointment. He says that the immigration authorities want to see a round-trip ticket and health insurance details before they issue a visa.

Isn't this backwards!?

I always thought that one would first need to get a visa even before a ticket is issued by the travel agents.

Any information in this regard is greatly appreciated.

[immihelp]

There is no such rule change. He just wants to sell you those things.

You get air ticket and visitors insurance after they get visa, unless consular officer specifically asks for any of that during an interview. And in India, that happens in very rare cases.

Why are people going to travel agent for visa advice? What kind of knowledge or qualification they have for US immigration?

Do you buy home insurance from builder? Car insurance from car dealer? Then, why would you buy travel insurance from travel agent? What do they know about insurance and healthcare in US?

[hgujral]

Thanks

Thank you immihelp. That's what I thought.

I have already asked my wife to warn her father against these malpractices and to go on his own with the knowledge we provide.

As far as I know, the sequence is:

1. Get a visa
2. Get a round-trip ticket
3. Get health insurance with effective dates based on the ticket.

[immihelp]

Your understanding is right.

1. Visitors visa: http://www.immihelp.com/visitor-visa/
2. Air tickets: http://www.immihelp.com/trip-cancell...irtickets.html
3. Visitors insurance: https://www.insubuy.com/

[hgujral]

well my father-in-law ended up buying the insurance !!. I have asked him to fax me the details so that I can be sure of the authenticity of the Insurance.

My question is:
1. Should he take the Insurance details with him at the interview since he has already bought it.
2. Will this make his VISA case stronger- as also suggested by that Travel Agent? He also said since my father-in-law is 72, medical insurance at the time of interview is mandatory.

I know this is the wrong route but will it go against him ?

Thanks

[immihelp]

Buying insurance in advance does not make the visa case stronger by any means.

It is not mandatory for 70+ to buy insurance in advance for interview. Again, you are (or rather your father-in-law is) listening to the wrong person who has hidden agendas.

Again, travel agent's job is to sell air tickets. Why are people going to travel agent for visa advice and insurance advice? This is simply beyond my understanding.

[insubuy]

It is best to buy the insurance from the U.S. based company.

Read https://www.insubuy.com/visitors-ins...ia-comparison/ to understand the difference between buying from U.S. vs India.

Most of the companies in India provide only fixed coverage plan for persons above 55 years of age, that only pay a small portion of the actual expenses. You can get fixed or comprehensive coverage from here, even for 70+.

Please completely read the link above and if you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us or post them here.

[smohanty]

What is done is done! It is a good idea for you to check and confirm that the insurance policy is acceptable.

Buying insurance is neither going to help nor harm his visa application. The agent's reasoning about older people having to show proof of health insurance was completely false.

So please make sure your f-i-l does not go to the same agent to buy his tickets. He isn't honest or dependable.

well my father-in-law ended up buying the insurance !!. I have asked him to fax me the details so that I can be sure of the authenticity of the Insurance.

My question is:
1. Should he take the Insurance details with him at the interview since he has already bought it.
2. Will this make his VISA case stronger- as also suggested by that Travel Agent? He also said since my father-in-law is 72, medical insurance at the time of interview is mandatory.

I know this is the wrong route but will it go against him ?

Thanks

[hgujral]

Thank you so much for your prompt replies. I really appreciate them.

I will verify the details now. Also, I am planning to ask my FIL not to take the airline ticket that he has been issued, to the interview. Its a false ticket or what ever and he has NOT paid for it thankfully.

Thanks again for your wonderful help.