Any sort of visa for stranded tourist?

[Natcanbux 0]

ok, I feel really stupid because I honestly believed it was genuine! Thank you for your help everyone, I'll go and hide in embarrassment now lol.

[Moomin 292]

ok, I feel really stupid because I honestly believed it was genuine! Thank you for your help everyone, I'll go and hide in embarrassment now lol.

3000 dollars? From a random airport in Idaho or Massechusetts to NZ it's around 1200 dollars. If nothing else, you can tell the person that you found cheaper tickets and unless he/she is too good for economy class, or they are full of it, there is no way a one way(or return ticket) will end up costing more than 1500 dollars from US to NZ. Even at that point of time, it's also odd to have no money and no return ticket. Those are issues that travelers work out even before they departure from home country. This person is only taking advantage of other people.

[jaycali 415]

ok, I feel really stupid because I honestly believed it was genuine! Thank you for your help everyone, I'll go and hide in embarrassment now lol.

No need to be. But:

1. A return ticket is a requirement for entry on the VWP.

2. No VWP country costs $3,000 to fly to.

3. There is no "stranded visa" but short overstay is usually overlooked in exceptional circumstances outside the person's control.

If they did in fact arrive on the VWP, they had a return ticket. If they didn't use the return ticket, and then ran out of money, that's their own fault. I have a hard time believing that any person on government benefits would travel to the US for vacation by themselves, without knowing anyone in the US or their home country. Either way, the best option in that case would be to turn oneself into the USCIS ask to be removed IMO. Of course, that would make another trip in the future extremely difficult. However, aside from some kind of medical emergency or extraordinary event, there is absolutely no way a VWP tourist just gets stranded like that.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Jay Jay

[Darnell 8,478]

ok, I feel really stupid because I honestly believed it was genuine! Thank you for your help everyone, I'll go and hide in embarrassment now lol.

quite possibly a scam.

[Sirdaniel42 86]

ok, I feel really stupid because I honestly believed it was genuine! Thank you for your help everyone, I'll go and hide in embarrassment now lol.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

And this is why most countries require a return ticket.

What country is it that costs you more than $3000 for a one way ticket, because JFK to Denmark cost me about $400 one way.

It's $2400 return to visit Australia and more depending on when you travel. In 2008 I was stuck in the UK (I'm a citizen of the UK so not really "stuck" but I was extremely sick) so mum bought me a ticket home. $4400 one way (it was a last minute trip though).

I WISH it was cheap to go home. $400 I could do easily and validate that for a w/end trip even! But instead I have to decide if $5K for Tony and I to fly return to Aus (and probably only for 2 weeks) would be worth it :S

[Villanelle 4,122]

New Zealand is part of the VWP and as posted, you are required to have a return ticket when traveling.

If for some reason you were not traveling under the VWP, as already mentioned you would simply turn yourself into USCIS explain your visa expired and surrender yourself for voluntary deportation. No need to hide in embarrassment. In fact you should back to where ever it was you found this post and bust this person before they take in other good hearted people like yourself with their scam.

[spn1025 38]

here's my suggestion:

Thread Lock.

Don't help illegals. Give them only the right way of doing things: Get out, and if you want to stay here, do it the legal way like the rest of us. If you can't afford a ticket home, then you can't afford to take care of yourself here. Turn yourself in.

[visasandheadaches 14]

$3,000 would almost be correct because its true costing about $2,400 just to get to Australia and thats being basically cheap and flying into Sydney/Melboune.

But it definately raises the question HOW did that person from N.Z. get into the U.S. on a VWP on a one-way ticket....unless CBP didn't bother asking when they were inspected...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

**Assuming this person isn't scamming***

Everyone is stating that this person had a one-way ticket. I can't see where this is stated.

Could be they missed their flight because they couldn't get to the airport, or they got the date wrong, lost their passport and ticket etc etc. Could be they were going to stay and AOS with a partner but that fell through but they stayed past their return ticket on purpose.

It is also HIGHLY unlikely their own embassy wouldn't help in some way, at least with advice or something. Usually when they help you end up with a huge bill.

Friend of my husbands was stranded in the UK (US citizen visiting his then UK wife). She went bat-###### crazy and as his spouse they let her change the ticket date and wouldn't tell him to when or give him the tickets. I believe his embassy was able to change his flight but asked if he had anyone who could help out with the fee for change it ($200 or so) and he called my husband who loaned him the money. He lost out on a job he was due to start when he was supposed to get back (before she changed the date) and all other sorts of #######.

Anyway, there are always options. Some not pleasant, but options none-the-less.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

VWP REQUIRES a return ticket to be used, so this person is lying to you.

They can ask the US government to deport them and Uncle Sam will pay for the ticket. If they are from a VWP country they should have CC cards they can use for emergencies.

This sounds like a NIGERIAN scam, are you sure it's not? There is a scam that someone gets into a friend's email and says they are stuck somewhere and need $$$ to get home. They have no friends in the world, etc, and need money from you!

This would be the first time they are stuck in the USA.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hi, does anyone know if there's a type of visa (temp or permanent) for a person in America who has no money, their government income from their home country has been stopped, they have no friends or family that could help them, and their own countries embassy has said they are unable to fly them back to their country of citizenship. Is there a visa that can help them with staying in America and getting shelter and help?

The government income from their home country will not be reinstated unless they return back. Which they can't do because no one will help them with flights, not even their countries own embassy.

Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for assistance. Also, do a local search for "traveler assistance".

[Aya_P 17]

return ticket is required for vwp. the person can turn himself in for deportation.

3000usd?? are u flying to the moon??

2 and a half months and no friends? have u been in your basement the whole time? ok so no 'friend' would help but some random person online would help.

this is too obvious a scam, a nigerian scam.

Natcanbux, are you on a visa journey?

your profile is blank.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

return ticket is required for vwp. the person can turn himself in for deportation.

3000usd?? are u flying to the moon??

2 and a half months and no friends? have u been in your basement the whole time? ok so no 'friend' would help but some random person online would help.

this is too obvious a scam, a nigerian scam.

Natcanbux, are you on a visa journey?

your profile is blank.

Please read the previous posts about the cost. It's totally reasonable (well not "reasonable" but believable) I've paid $4400 before for a one-way to Australia on an emergency last-minute flight.

"No friends" can depend on the person and what they were doing while in the US. And "no friends" simply might mean no-one willing to loan/give him that much money. It can also be insulting to others who have had a hard time adjusting to life in the US. It can take a while to make good friends when you're not happy, trapped in the house, unable to drive, unable to speak the language etc etc.

Also, just because the person the OP is asking about says they're from NZ doesn't mean they speak English. We have a lot of non-english speaking persons in Australia/NZ.

Again, this is all assuming it's legit. I wouldn't give a random money (even for charity these days unless I see them - too many scams around).

p.s. It is not a requirement of VJ to be "on a visajourney" to post (that I am aware of or many members would be gone once their processes are finished). So whether they are or not isn't relevant as their qn is immigration related it belongs here.

[Lemonslice 4,858]

Someone with a NZ passport can go to many other countries too, without needing visa, and at a lower cost than going "home". With a few days, it's even possible to do so by bus, ferry or another "cheaper" way. Hey, they could fly to you OP!

Edited January 17, 2013 by Boston~Montreal