Question about fiance coming over during airport layover

[goldenfavre]

So my fiance just got her K-1 Visa to come over from the Philippines.  She is done with her PDOS and ready to go.  I booked a flight for her that will go from Cebu to Chicago.  There is a 3 hour layover in Tokyo.  Does anyone know what she can expect to be required to do in Tokyo?  Can she just transit to the plane that goes to Chicago, or will she have a bunch of paperwork to fill out?   Should I send her a bunch of American money in case there are fees involved?  Will she have to go through some sort of immigration screening in Tokyo?  Will the 3 hour layover be long enough?  Thanks guys for all the help you have given us during the visa process.  I always come here when I can't find an answer, and you guys always seem to find a way to help me find the answer.

[Dave H]

Hey goldenfavre,

Not sure...but someone will come along who has been through this or has knowledge about it. (My fiancee/wife now, went from Manila to San Francisco 9 years ago) It should be no big deal IMHO. Just a plane transfer. Should not be any fees involved. Luggage should be checked through to Chicago, so no problem there. She will be re-screened in Japan before boarding the flight to Chicago. They will check her ticket, passport, and Visa (inside passport) and if she doesn't already have it...issue a boarding pass and seat assignment. She will pass through security, walk to the boarding gate, wait, board the plane, and meet you in Chicago.  Good Luck!

Dave

[Capstone]

It will be a pretty simple thing for her to do. She will not have to go through immigration in Tokyo but she will have to go through a security screening. After she exits the plane arriving from the PI she will be led through a set of hallways, which is segregated from the arrival/departure gates, and will end up at a security checkpoint. She will need to show her boarding pass for her onward flight and will need to go through a metal detector and her carry on luggage will be sent through an x-ray machine. After she goes through the security check she will end up in the common international departures hall where all the gates are located - there she will also find several gift shops & restaurants so that she can get something to eat and/or drink if needed. She will not need to claim her checked baggage as it will be automatically loaded onto her connecting flight.

[thekfc]

I assume that she is flying on PAL as that is the only airline I know of that have a direct flight from Cebu to Narita. There should be someone at the Narita arrival gate giving direction on where to go. A co-worker just flew from Manila to NYC via Tokyo last week & he told me that there were people there to direct them to their connecting flight/screening (but that depends on the airlines involved as that doesn't always happen).

Also remind her that the security screening at the Tokyo airport will be stricter (such as taking her shoes off) than what she when thru in Cebu - mainly because she will be coming to the USA. 

When she is at the (her) waiting gate, tell her to listen for any announcements (gate change, etc,).

Is Chicago her Point Of Entry in the USA? The first Airport in the United States that she lands on after leaving Tokyo.

[goldenfavre]

Thanks guys for the responses.  So it sounds like it should go fairly smooth and that the 3 hour layover should be plenty of time.  Chicago will be her city of entry.  She will be flying Philippine Airlines to Tokyo and Continental to Chicago.  I wanted her to have as few layovers as possible because she is scared of flying alone.

It is a relief that I am done with this step.  Now I have to get ready for the AOS and marriage certificate stuff.  It seems like the paperwork never ends, haha.

[Jeff S]

Yes Narita has a nice transient lounge area. No US customs there or paperwork, other than what she's already carrying.

[Dave H]

I wanted her to have as few layovers as possible because she is scared of flying alone.

It is a relief that I am done with this step.  Now I have to get ready for the AOS and marriage certificate stuff.  It seems like the paperwork never ends, haha.

Hey goldenfavre,

She will do fine! My wife is an old  (young)  pro now! She even had Miami as her final destination, where NOBODY spoke English, just Spanish and Haitian Creole.  They sent all the passengers on her plane a different way than normal, instead of out the concourse exit. It took me some time to find her...I don't speak Creole, but luckily I do speak Spanish.

After she gets there, the rest is easy!

Good Luck!

Dave