Buying the ticket to the US!

[bennyb86 0]

About to buy the round trip ticket from Venezuela to Charlotte, NC.

Have heard the maximum stay on a Tourist Visa is 6 months.

My girlfriend has a 1 Entry Tourist Visa and we would love for her to stay the maximum amount of time before returning.

So should we buy a ticket for the 6 month stay and hope that the Customs Officers give her that time to stay??

Thanks for the help!

Ben

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Yes.

[Harsh_77 718]

or you buy an open ticket which does not have a return date but normally is valid for a year.

[Ivy. 113]

I entered the US in Chicago on a B-2 visa.

I was issued a one entry visa valid for 3 months. On my visa they wrote I will be staying in Texas for 5 weeks, and my visa application and plane ticket were both for 7 weeks exactly. I called the embassy in Croatia and asked if I would have problems with this, they said it does not matter because the immigration at the airport is who decides how long I can stay.

When I got to immigration I explained the situation to the officer who said he cannot grant me a stay longer than what was on my visa, but his superior could. He took me to his superior and the guy asked to see my plane ticket. My flight is Sept 29th, he said he will give me stay until Sept 30th just to make sure I don't get into any trouble in case my flights get delayed.

In my experience they are fair and understanding. Good luck.

[CC90 90]

or you buy an open ticket which does not have a return date but normally is valid for a year.

This usually doesn't work very well; you'll raise serious suspicion of a 214(b). You need to have concrete plans to return, particularly on a B-2.

[Harsh_77 718]

This usually doesn't work very well; you'll raise serious suspicion of a 214(b). You need to have concrete plans to return, particularly on a B-2.

I have used that in past on B2, it just gives you more flexibility as you dont have to pay the change fees etc. Whenever you are ready to travel back you can call the airline and fix the date.

Infact honestly I have never even been asked to show my return ticket.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Harsh_77

[Ivy. 113]

Infact honestly I have never even been asked to show my return ticket.

When you were booking the visa or when you were entering the US?

[Harsh_77 718]

When you were booking the visa or when you were entering the US?

Entering US, for India we dont need ticket during the visa interview.

[Ivy. 113]

Entering US, for India we dont need ticket during the visa interview.

I didn't need it either, but they didn't mind seeing it.

As for entering the country, I was asked to show my return ticket every time.

[bigdog 376]

We used a longer time frame for my sister in law, just in case. No problems, I wrote an invitation letter to her and the Embassy.

[Harsh_77 718]

I didn't need it either, but they didn't mind seeing it.

As for entering the country, I was asked to show my return ticket every time.

In fact for India they actually ask the ppl not to buy the ticket until you get the visa, coz having the ticket is not gurantee of getting a visa.