Arriving in the USA without return ticket - how long can I stay?

[Cyclemad 0]

Hi,

I am planning an extended stay in the USA next year to visit my sister, who has not been well, as well as to take some time to do some training at the US Whitewater Center as I have gone through a long and stressful divorce and would like to get my body back in shape.

I have a 10 year B1/B2 visa, and am receiving a payout from my company when I end my term of service there at the year's end (the payout would be enough for me to spend about 8-12 months in the US). Normally when I have travelled there I have had a return flight and so have not received any paper saying how long I can stay. What do I need to say or fill in when I land in the US? I will be going end January or mid February, and would like to be given 10 months.

Any advice?

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Hi,

I am planning an extended stay in the USA next year to visit my sister, who has not been well, as well as to take some time to do some training at the US Whitewater Center as I have gone through a long and stressful divorce and would like to get my body back in shape.

I have a 10 year B1/B2 visa, and am receiving a payout from my company when I end my term of service there at the year's end (the payout would be enough for me to spend about 8-12 months in the US). Normally when I have travelled there I have had a return flight and so have not received any paper saying how long I can stay. What do I need to say or fill in when I land in the US? I will be going end January or mid February, and would like to be given 10 months.

Any advice?

Without a return ticket you are risking a denial of entry.

B-2 visa theoretically allows a stay of up to 6 months, but how long you will be allowed to stay will be decided upon POE by an immigration officer.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Generally authorized stay in the US is 6 months for a B1/2 visa.

However, without a return ticket or a job, your ties to S.A. are lacking which may impact your entrance or duration of stay

good luck

[Hypnos 6,576]

Buy an open-ended return ticket that you can change the date of return with.

As stated above, you are giving them a reason to deny you entry if you attempt to do so without a return ticket; it isn't an automatic denial like it is with the VWP, but it doesn't help you at all.

[Ilovemyman 147]

Foe b1 visa they give you 6 months, but it isnt good idea stay the 6 months.

If you stay more time , you will be in trouble

Without return tiket? You will have problem a the airport because they are going to think you are going to stay ilegal.

[Cyclemad 0]

Wonderful, thanks for the replies. They are very helpful!

[Cathi 5,755]

You will be lucky if you are admitted without a return ticket and no job. If they do admit you it is up to thr cpb officer as to how long. If he allows you to stay the maximum it is 6 months. If you overstay, your visa will be revoked and the chances of you ever getting another b1/b2 is zero

[Teddy B 17,252]

Hi,

I am planning an extended stay in the USA next year to visit my sister, who has not been well, as well as to take some time to do some training at the US Whitewater Center as I have gone through a long and stressful divorce and would like to get my body back in shape.

I have a 10 year B1/B2 visa, and am receiving a payout from my company when I end my term of service there at the year's end (the payout would be enough for me to spend about 8-12 months in the US). Normally when I have travelled there I have had a return flight and so have not received any paper saying how long I can stay. What do I need to say or fill in when I land in the US? I will be going end January or mid February, and would like to be given 10 months.

Any advice?

As has already been said, I would not attempt entry into the states without a return ticket. My wife was once denied entry for this very reason. Also, you will not be given more than a 6 months stay max on a tourist visa, if you wish to stay longer, then you will have to file form I-539 for an extension of stay. That form will have to be in USCIS hands before your 6 month stay expires. If you are not given the full 6 months by the POE officer, then you will need to leave by the date specified.

[inloveVEN 46]

For sure You won't be Able even to take your plane to USA, airlanes must asure you habe visa when apply and a ticket to Return

E

[cdneh 3,112]

They usually ask to see your "proof of onward travel" Without a return ticket, they may well not let you board in SA. You'd not be allowed as long as you want either.

[JohnR! 5,495]

They usually ask to see your "proof of onward travel" Without a return ticket, they may well not let you board in SA. You'd not be allowed as long as you want either.

This. No airline will board you to the US unless you have a return ticket. If you are planning to stay for more than 5 months you will need a ticket with an 'open' return data anyway, which should not be a problem for you to purchase in your home country.

In addition, don't count on being allowed to stay for more than 6 months. It is very rare anyone is given longer than six months without asking, so if you are planning to stay for 10 months you will need to indicate that to the immigration office, be prepared to explain why you want to stay that long and show enough money to pay for such a long stay.

Good luck!

[Cyclemad 0]

Thanks for the replies

A last question.......on the B1/B2 visa, is the 6 month limit per stay, or per calendar year? I visited the USA in September/start of October for 3 weeks, so need to know because if it is per calendar year then I'll need to plan a shorter stay.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Tourists should aim to spend at least six months out of every twelve outside the US; that's why so many requests for an extension of B-2 status are denied (including my own) because it would put the alien over six months which is very frowned upon. If CBP even get a whiff of an idea that you are trying to de facto live in the US on a tourist visa then they will either flat out deny you entry (most likely) or give only a few weeks of authorised presence.

Honestly, the chances of you receiving a full six months with no return ticket is very low indeed, and the chances of receiving ten months is almost zero. A few years ago you might have had a shot, but not how things are now.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Hypnos

[Cyclemad 0]

Thanks for the reply.

That makes sense. I do not want to be in breach of any laws and like to play things by the book, so it is helpful to understand all of this......Knowledge is power......

I will make sure that I book a return flight, either open return data but more likely just set the date for a return flight so that in the 12 month period I do not overstay the 6 month rule. Not quite what I was planning, but such is life. I'll look to adjust plans and then work from there.

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Thanks for the reply.

That makes sense. I do not want to be in breach of any laws and like to play things by the book, so it is helpful to understand all of this......Knowledge is power......

I will make sure that I book a return flight, either open return data but more likely just set the date for a return flight so that in the 12 month period I do not overstay the 6 month rule. Not quite what I was planning, but such is life. I'll look to adjust plans and then work from there.

Good luck