One Way vs Round Trip Ticket

[silverbear 0]

Hi Everyone,

I know this question has been asked before but I'll ask it again. If I book a one way ticket for my fiancée will she have any problems from customs at JFK airport for having a one way ticket as opposed to a round trip ticket? I just want her trip here to be smooth with no complications when she arrives.

[redvelvet 12]

I don't think she will have a problem with a one-way ticket. But I suggest to wait until she has the visa before booking a ticket. My fiance and I waited until we got approved in the interview before booking the flight. Good luck!

[agrabs 241]

It was cheaper for us to purchase a roundtrip ticket

[thinkerlove0212 158]

Round trip why?....leaving so soon?

[TBoneTX 45,304]

Oft-discussed topic. In short, count on nothing until the visa is in hand.

Buy round-trip if it suits your budget. However, be sure -- as a priority -- to cancel the return portion once the beneficiary is in the U.S. Record the date, time, and name of the airline agent with whom you speak. File this information safely with your file copies of the other immigration papers. As easy as it might be to let a "detail" like this slip from your consciousness amidst the excitement of arrival, etc., do all of this FIRST.

[LSnBigBear 61]

I pondered round trips as well due to it being only 400-600 more then one way. I have never seen a one way to Ft Myers more than round trip. However it is estimating the time of her return to visit her family within a year. And then oh by the way I have to play this game again when she is back there as to one way or round trip again to come back Long story even longer One way is best unless you know she must be back in 7-12 months for a reason. Remember AOS rules Also as many mentioned, wait until she has passed. Normally Visas are issued within 7-10 days but one never knows. After waiting this long and worrying, why worry more of 2-3 week wait. There is my two cents.

[CaroSL 68]

Oft-discussed topic. In short, count on nothing until the visa is in hand.

Buy round-trip if it suits your budget. However, be sure -- as a priority -- to cancel the return portion once the beneficiary is in the U.S. Record the date, time, and name of the airline agent with whom you speak. File this information safely with your file copies of the other immigration papers. As easy as it might be to let a "detail" like this slip from your consciousness amidst the excitement of arrival, etc., do all of this FIRST.

Question: why does it have to be canceled?

here is why I ask:

I'll hopefully get in the US next month or so. We'll get married and file for AOS, and Advance Parole for me to come back to France for a visit, with my fiancé, in november next year.

We already know we are going to visit france in november... So it made sense to us to buy me a round trip ticket with the return ticket being in november. And use it to visit my familly. Would it work? (of couse it is gonna be a few weeks trip, I have no plan to settle back in France )

[silverbear 0]

Thanks everyone. I know my question is premature as my fiancee's interview isn't until February 7th but just wanted your imput. Thank you.

[dekedwin 52]

If I remember something I read some time back, if you don't cancel a round trip ticket, the beneficiary might be accused of leaving the country. Do I have have that information correct? I know the advice is to cancel the two way ticket once the fiance is in the county, and I think it has something to do with being accused of using the return ticket when you are not allowed to be out of the country. Correct me if I am wrong on this?

[TBoneTX 45,304]

If I remember something I read some time back, if you don't cancel a round trip ticket, the beneficiary might be accused of leaving the country. Do I have have that information correct? I know the advice is to cancel the two way ticket once the fiance is in the county, and I think it has something to do with being accused of using the return ticket when you are not allowed to be out of the country. Correct me if I am wrong on this?

This is correct and the reason for the advice above. A round-trip ticket was bought for cost reasons; the beneficiary arrived in the U.S.; the return portion of the ticket wasn't cancelled; when the original passenger (beneficiary) didn't show up for the return flight, a standby passenger was given the seat; the airline didn't properly update the passenger manifest; and the beneficiary got into major, deep trouble when it came time for AOS, because the records showed that she had left the country.

There's more than one report of this on VJ.

However, if the return portion is far enough in the future so that it enables a beneficiary to apply for and receive Advance Parole (or a green card), it's OK to retain the return portion in the beneficiary's name.

[CaroSL 68]

If I remember something I read some time back, if you don't cancel a round trip ticket, the beneficiary might be accused of leaving the country. Do I have have that information correct? I know the advice is to cancel the two way ticket once the fiance is in the county, and I think it has something to do with being accused of using the return ticket when you are not allowed to be out of the country. Correct me if I am wrong on this?

This is correct and the reason for the advice above. A round-trip ticket was bought for cost reasons; the beneficiary arrived in the U.S.; the return portion of the ticket wasn't cancelled; when the original passenger (beneficiary) didn't show up for the return flight, a standby passenger was given the seat; the airline didn't properly update the passenger manifest; and the beneficiary got into major, deep trouble when it came time for AOS, because the records showed that she had left the country.

There's more than one report of this on VJ.

However, if the return portion is far enough in the future so that it enables a beneficiary to apply for and receive Advance Parole (or a green card), it's OK to retain the return portion in the beneficiary's name.

Thank you for the explanations!!

[dekedwin 52]

Okay, good, now I have a clearer memory of this and understand it better as well. It is okay not to cancel that second leg of the ticket as long as that second leg is scheduled beyond the date of the Advanced Parole, or beyond the date of the AOS. The important thing is to make sure you can't be credited with a flight that you didn't take. So if you want to use that return leg make sure it is sceduled for a distant date, after you will have the Advanced Parole, or safely after your AOS. This is very important information for the people with K 1 visas buying airline tickets to the USA.