Job Discussion Forums

kittenshoes · Joined: 14 Apr 2013 Posts: 8 Location: Moscow, Russia

i've accepted a teacher internship at a mcschool in moscow that starts in september. they've advised me not to buy my plane ticket until i get my visa. obviously i can't get my visa until i've got my letter of invitation. but they also say i can't receive my letter of invitation until the end of june. the visa process takes about a month after that, so i can't buy my ticket until a few weeks before i have to leave??

this makes me worry because a one way ticket for september now is relatively inexpensive, but if i purchase it just a few weeks before leaving, i am concerned that it will be REALLY expensive.

i know there is a chance that i won't get my visa, but the loss of the $500 i'd spend on a plane ticket now would be nothing in the wake of having my dreams shattered by not getting to go to russia. or i could wait the entire time i'm "supposed" to wait and have to spend twice as much money that could have been supporting me in russia. which i've been saving for a year and a half on a secretary's salary, eating nothing but ramen and peanut butter.

is it advisable (or even possible?) to just buy my ticket now before i get my LOI and visa?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

To tell you what I suppose you really know: it is a question of what can you afford to lose. If buy a ticket now, you must be prepared for the possibility of losing that money, so be prepared to grin and bear it if it happens.

kittenshoes · Joined: 14 Apr 2013 Posts: 8 Location: Moscow, Russia

So it's possible to buy the ticket now. Ok I think I'll do that, unless anyone advises me against this in the coming days. Thanks!

RoscoeTX · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 56 Location: Moscow, Russia

Hey there Kitten,

Ditto what Cole says

In regards to "it being possible" to buy a ticket:

From my own experience of buying airline tickets to Russia, you really should have no problem buying the ticket with or without the visa. Sure, when you buy tickets online there will be a message advising that this country requires an appropriate visa for entrance into the country and/or it being checked at the check in desk before departure.

But you shouldn't be denied the access of simply buying the ticket.

And I'm sure if all contractual details have been agreed with the mcschool and visa arrangements have been agreed upon, then the denial of a visa is fairly unlikely.

best of luck to you

mybu84 · Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Daqing, China

Have you checked that it is cheaper buying it in advance?

Nowadays, depending on the route, it can be cheaper to wait. May I suggest you check the following websites:

www.skyscanner.com or www.lastminute.com

Often they have very good deals. You can check your departure date, and then also check dates that are 1 week away, 2 weeks away and 3 weeks away and see if there is any difference with the price. If not, then you may as well just wait to buy the ticket.

If there is a huge difference, then why not buy a ticket that can be refunded?

Mart1300 · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 11

Just my 2 cents, if I may. If I would have bought my ticket before flying out, I would have been out a bundle of cash. Due to my very late invitation and a plethora of other small issues, my start date in Russia was pushed back by a whole month. I bought a ticket three days before leaving and that was a good decision. Perhaps all your documents will arrive on time and you will have no problems, but it truly is a gamble. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!