Booking a return flight for a one way trip?

[Kurnow 1]

Well, on the CR1 journey, getting close now and interview is booked for 30th November!!

I've been looking over flights as I want to be back with my bride before Christmas. One way is considerably more expensive than a return ticket... So I was all geared to buy a return ticket when a thought struck me, what if when I arrive the interview guys start onto me about buying a return, could it go against me?

This probably sounds bizarre and far-fetched but after all this time I'd hate to fall at the last on some bizarre technicality.

(I'm looking at booking a flight for the 11th, given the interview is on the 30th, is this too near?)

[Barbara J 115]

Well, on the CR1 journey, getting close now and interview is booked for 30th November!!

I've been looking over flights as I want to be back with my bride before Christmas. One way is considerably more expensive than a return ticket... So I was all geared to buy a return ticket when a thought struck me, what if when I arrive the interview guys start onto me about buying a return, could it go against me?

This probably sounds bizarre and far-fetched but after all this time I'd hate to fall at the last on some bizarre technicality.

(I'm looking at booking a flight for the 11th, given the interview is on the 30th, is this too near?)

Personally I would book it a week later around the 18th in case of any hold ups and try and get a flight through the week always cheaper than weekends. They should not even ask what kind of ticket you have bought all they want to know is when are you planning on entering the states? Well that's what they ask in Australia. And they know it is cheaper for a return rather than a single. I did the on way to be honest but then I had the 1600 to do it.Was 2500 return from OZ but is up to you but just make the flight a week later and make sure it is a changeable ticket. Good luck

[payxibka 10,045]

Well, on the CR1 journey, getting close now and interview is booked for 30th November!!

I've been looking over flights as I want to be back with my bride before Christmas. One way is considerably more expensive than a return ticket... So I was all geared to buy a return ticket when a thought struck me, what if when I arrive the interview guys start onto me about buying a return, could it go against me?

This probably sounds bizarre and far-fetched but after all this time I'd hate to fall at the last on some bizarre technicality.

(I'm looking at booking a flight for the 11th, given the interview is on the 30th, is this too near?)

How will they know you bought a ticket unless you tell them? besides a US resident holder has the ability to travel internationally immediately after arrival... no big deal

Stop worrying about far fetched bizarre possibilities

Edited November 2, 2010 by payxibka

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Most of us buy return tickets. Pick a return date for a cheap day in a cheap month as your price will be affected by the return date too. Play with the prices and avoid weekends, etc.

Be sure and call the airlines to cancel that flight back to the UK before the date on it. Somebody posted in the last few months that their AOS was cancelled/denied(?) because the officer said he left the country on <date> and thus abandoned his AOS application. Yep, you guessed it...the said <date> was his unused leg of his round trip ticket. There was much speculation in the forum how IO even knew or why immigrant's name remained on the airline list of who was on the plane that day. Some thought they sold the unclaimed seat but didn't change the name.

[Rob and Jill 82]

Be sure and call the airlines to cancel that flight back to the UK before the date on it. Somebody posted in the last few months that their AOS was cancelled/denied(?) because the officer said he left the country on <date> and thus abandoned his AOS application. Yep, you guessed it...the said <date> was his unused leg of his round trip ticket.

This is the correct answer. Make sure you cancel the return, get a little money back and have fun with it.

[JoannaV 174]

Hmm, I never cancelled the return portion of my ticket, it was non-refundable and I hate phones haha.

They're used to people using return tickets, because they're cheaper. The only person who knew/asked me about my ticket was the lady before check-in. (You know, when you are queueing up for check-in to America and they ask you questions?) She was quite happy about it though. Personally I booked the return portion for a while in the future (8 months). Firstly, you never know if you might actually be able to use it if you do it for some time way off in the future. Secondly, if you are worried about having the return ticket then having it for months in the future shows that you aren't planning on immediately flying back to the UK. (Oh, and remember lots of people do activate their visa when they visit the US on a holiday, or they fly over and then immediately return to finish up selling their UK house or whatever. So even used return tickets are normal.)

Given that flying before Christmas is very expensive, I understand you wanting to fly over sooner rather than later. Personally, I would feel confident about booking the ticket for that long after the interview. However, people are right about mid-week being cheaper. (Unless Christmas means the mid-week after the 11th is more expensive?) You'd probably be safe flying a couple of days earlier, but it might feel too risky. Personally I waited to hear "approved" at the interview before booking my ticket, but maybe Christmas means you need to book further in advance. Although most people shouldn't be flying for the holidays in the first half...

[Fandango 1,439]

Personally I waited to hear "approved" at the interview before booking my ticket

This.

[gmjdmj 2]

The person that was referenced earlier who's AOS was denied due to a return ticket was my husband. USCIS claimed that he left the country on the return ticket date and he did not. After meeting with our congressman's office and getting his case re-opened and then providing a phone book of evidence which was very difficult to obtain, we finally got his green card 2 weeks ago. It took 2 and a half months to get it worked out. I will say...had I known that we were going to have to go through all of this just because we bought a round trip ticket, we would have either cancelled the return ticket or bought a one way ticket and paid the extra money. Our case was a rare one. This normally doesn't happen but it did and it was a horrible experience. Had we not had the help that we did, I am not sure what we would have done.