Visa approved! Now, re travel to U.S.: one way or RT ticket?

[grinchus 11]

Hi everyone,

I posted this less than an hour ago in the "US Consulate/Embassy" section but I realize that it's more appropriate to this forum. Dear administrators - please don't be mad at me for posting the same topic in multiple threads. I am simply moving myself here b/c I need a response quickly. My travel agent is standing ready to book the tix and I don't want to lose them!

Here's my original post as of an +/- an hour ago:

My fiance's visa was approved at the Naples consulate this past Wednesday!!

Now I have a question and I'm not sure where to post it. We are in the process of booking my flight to visit him for Xmas and then our flight together to the U.S. Here's the rub:

Our flight to the U.S. will be my return flight, but for him it's his flight TO the U.S. One way flights cost twice as much as round trip, so the economically most advantageous option is to book a round trip ticket and then not use the return portion of it. So essentially that makes it a "fake" return for the purposes of getting the cheaper rate. I would hate to spend the money on a one-way only flight if it's unnecessary, but will booking a RT ticket cause him problems when he gets to the US with his K-1 visa?

I have to book this flight soon, so your responses will be very helpful!!

[Otto 83]

Book which ever is the cheapest/most-convenient for you - either R/Trip or One-way. Doesn't matter. No one will care either way - not the airline or the US government.

Have a safe trip...

[johnholmessc 0]

Hi everyone,

I posted this less than an hour ago in the "US Consulate/Embassy" section but I realize that it's more appropriate to this forum. Dear administrators - please don't be mad at me for posting the same topic in multiple threads. I am simply moving myself here b/c I need a response quickly. My travel agent is standing ready to book the tix and I don't want to lose them!

Here's my original post as of an +/- an hour ago:

My fiance's visa was approved at the Naples consulate this past Wednesday!!

Now I have a question and I'm not sure where to post it. We are in the process of booking my flight to visit him for Xmas and then our flight together to the U.S. Here's the rub:

Our flight to the U.S. will be my return flight, but for him it's his flight TO the U.S. One way flights cost twice as much as round trip, so the economically most advantageous option is to book a round trip ticket and then not use the return portion of it. So essentially that makes it a "fake" return for the purposes of getting the cheaper rate. I would hate to spend the money on a one-way only flight if it's unnecessary, but will booking a RT ticket cause him problems when he gets to the US with his K-1 visa?

I have to book this flight soon, so your responses will be very helpful!!

RT is fine. I don't think anyone will even ask (given that he will have a type of visa that does not require him to leave the country), but if someone does, just explain the economical reasoning behind buying a RT ticket versus a one way.

Edited October 16, 2009 by InterFC1

[grinchus 11]

Book which ever is the cheapest/most-convenient for you - either R/Trip or One-way. Doesn't matter. No one will care either way - not the airline or the US government.

Have a safe trip...

Thank you!! BTW the thanks are both for the wishes for a safe trip and for the good news about them not caring!! I'm always happy to save a couple thousand bucks that can be better spent on our new life together!

[grinchus 11]

RT is fine. I don't think anyone will even ask (given that he will have a type of visa that does not require him to leave the country), but if someone does, just explain the economical reasoning behind buying a RT ticket versus a one way.

Phew, thanks!

[DeniseBill 4]

I booked a RT ticket... But maybe you don't want to tell them that your not using the return ticket of it. I've said this with the first flight company when I tried to buy a ticket and they refused me and said I had to buy a one way. So I went to another company and did not tell them and it is booked.

With the RT ticket it's 500 euro. With a one way it wouldve been 2000 euro.... It's stupid but oh well...

[grinchus 11]

I booked a RT ticket... But maybe you don't want to tell them that your not using the return ticket of it. I've said this with the first flight company when I tried to buy a ticket and they refused me and said I had to buy a one way. So I went to another company and did not tell them and it is booked.

With the RT ticket it's 500 euro. With a one way it wouldve been 2000 euro.... It's stupid but oh well...

Thanks! Yeah, we're not going to say anything. I went through a travel agent anyway, so the airline has no idea we're not using the return portion. And when we check in, it's none of the airline's business that my fiance' is coming over on a K-1 visa. For all they know and care he's going on vacation. It's the US government's business that he has the visa, so he only needs to get the envelope out when we reach the border in NY.

I really appreciate all of your responses to my post.

[christeen 966]

Auguri! Book the RT, my husband does it ALL the time, pretty much every time we go to Italy (2x a year) for the past 9 years. Since his company paid to get him back or forward to the US after each vacation, we only had to buy one leg (either to the US or from the US)... They dont care!!! As long as you use the outbound (1st leg) you are fine!!! Search for the cheapest RT and dont worry about the rest of it!!!

Auguri! Book the RT, my husband does it ALL the time, pretty much every time we go to Italy (2x a year) for the past 9 years. Since his company paid to get him back or forward to the US after each vacation, we only had to buy one leg (either to the US or from the US)... They dont care!!! As long as you use the outbound (1st leg) you are fine!!! Search for the cheapest RT and dont worry about the rest of it!!!

Hey BTW... How was the interview at the Naples Consulate??

[grinchus 11]

Auguri! Book the RT ...They dont care!!! As long as you use the outbound (1st leg) you are fine!!! Search for the cheapest RT and dont worry about the rest of it!!! Hey BTW... How was the interview at the Naples Consulate??

Grazie! His interview was great. He said the Naples consulate was very efficiently run, that everyone was very gentile e cordiale, and he said the whole interview took about 10 minutes. He got there really early, was the 4th one called, and the woman there (after he made all of the sworn statements) asked him the usual questions: how did you meet, what does she do, when did you become engaged, etc., and then she said, basically, well, it looks like everything is in order; your visa will be ready later today. And that was it!

The paperwork is really intimidating, but I'm so glad we did it ourselves. And resources like VJ are invaluable. It de-mystified the process a lot!

[lenaandbilly 0]

Hi everyone,

I posted this less than an hour ago in the "US Consulate/Embassy" section but I realize that it's more appropriate to this forum. Dear administrators - please don't be mad at me for posting the same topic in multiple threads. I am simply moving myself here b/c I need a response quickly. My travel agent is standing ready to book the tix and I don't want to lose them!

Here's my original post as of an +/- an hour ago:

My fiance's visa was approved at the Naples consulate this past Wednesday!!

Now I have a question and I'm not sure where to post it. We are in the process of booking my flight to visit him for Xmas and then our flight together to the U.S. Here's the rub:

Our flight to the U.S. will be my return flight, but for him it's his flight TO the U.S. One way flights cost twice as much as round trip, so the economically most advantageous option is to book a round trip ticket and then not use the return portion of it. So essentially that makes it a "fake" return for the purposes of getting the cheaper rate. I would hate to spend the money on a one-way only flight if it's unnecessary, but will booking a RT ticket cause him problems when he gets to the US with his K-1 visa?

I have to book this flight soon, so your responses will be very helpful!!

I found a site where it appears you can buy one-way tickets fairly cheaply: http://www.bt-store.com/default.asp?CatID=...CFSC7sgodAz102A

Good luck!