1. The Interview
2. Continuing to the U.S.A.
3. Standard Packages
4. Additional Services

General Process

What works out best for many fiancés is to go to Kiev, have their medical check up there, then depart to Warsaw by any of the available flights. The tradeoffs for that first stage are:

• Kiev is relatively familiar to them. The language is their own, making it easy for them to get around. Although the Kiev routine takes longer, the prices are lower making this a more cost effective scheme. For residents of the nearby Ukraine, this is also a convenient option.
  
  
• Warsaw offers a more rapid progression of activities. With our support she can navigate the clinics and the embassy quickly and conveniently. A European city, Warsaw is more expensive than Kiev. For those who are not close to Kiev, this is the fastest, most convenient option.

Entry to Poland from the all of these countries, except Belarus, does not require visas, so long as the intended stay does not exceed 3 months. Byelorussian citizens must show an official invitation in order to buy tickets to travel into Poland. The letter from the US Embassy, which details their interview appointment in Warsaw, is an official invitation for this purpose.

Travel Arrangements

Air Travel

We recommend that you make and prepay for your fiancé’s air travel through Encore Travel, in the US, so that your fiancé can receive her tickets wherever she wishes to get them, either at her home city or in Warsaw.

The travel itinerary to Warsaw depends on the city of origin:

• From the Ukraine there are numerous 1.5 to 2.0 hour flights to Warsaw each week from Kiev, Lviv and Odessa
• From the Byelorussian capital, Minsk, 100 minutes flights depart daily
• From any of the Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia) flights are available on several airlines. The close proximity of Poland also makes bus and train routes a feasible option to consider.

Train Travel

All the train travel arrangements must be made locally by your fiancé. You can reimburse her when you meet. Trains from Kiev depart daily on a trip lasting 15-20 hours and there are overnight trains available as well. As a rule, train fare amounts to 15-25% of the airfare.

Bus Travel

The bus is less common method of transportation, and the least comfortable one at that. We suggest that you not consider this method..

Continuing to the USA

We suggest that your fiancé plan on leaving Warsaw for the US soon after her interview. If the interview passes well, then she will have the necessary paperwork to travel directly to the US. The benefits of this scheme are that you two will get to see each other with the least delay, and it is the most cost effective for you. Such a plan also means that she must be packed for the full trip to the US once she leaves her home. Many fiancés cannot put all these arrangements together in one step, especially if they have children. Their plans include a return home to close their affairs, allowing them to travel at a later time directly to the US.

Many international carriers, such as Delta, American Airlines, and LOT Polish airlines fly from Warsaw to almost any city in the US. Fiancés typically arrive in New York City or Chicago, where they undergo the passport and visa checks and customs inspections on their luggage. A second domestic flight brings them to you.

Reservations Requirements:

1.  Please book at least 10 days in advance. For bookings received less than 7 days prior to arrival in Warsaw hotel rooms cannot be guaranteed at this price, and additional fee of $50.00 will apply.

2.  If you made your own rail arrangements, then please advise Encore Travel of the dates, times, flight, train, and train car # of your fiancee arrival in Warsaw in order to arrange a timely meeting service and transfer to the hotel.

•  Note that only the Forum Hotel can handle triple reservations, that would be required for a Fiancé and two children of any age.

Additional A La Carte Services:

1. Additional Hotel Nights
   
   
   • Hotel “Grand”: $75/night – Single / $110/night – Double
   • Hotel “Novotel Centrum”: $125/night – Single / $150/night – Double
   
   
2. Additional Transfers: $30 per passanger one-way (yes, kids count as a passenger)
3. Late Night Transfers: $75 per car (from 10:00 pm till 6:00 am)
4. Transfer to the medical exams and back (all day): $250.
5. Transfer to the American Embassy and back: $75 each way.
   
   

Click here or on the map above to see a full-size map with the location of these hotels in relation to the U.S. Embasy and major landmarks within Warsaw.