round trip ticket or one way ticket

[md_lh 0]

My boyfriend is working on getting his tourist visa from India to the USA. We've been talking about the duration of time for him to visit, etc. The topic of plane tickets came up. He thinks that he should be able to get a one way ticket to the USA, and then when he's ready to return to India, purchase a return ticket at that time.

I on the other hand think that if you are applying for a tourist visa the stipulation of the visa is you aren't staying.. you are returning to your country; and therefore, must show a return ticket upon entry to the USA.

So my question is.... is it mandatory to have a roundtrip ticket on a tourist visa to the USA or can you travel here on such visa with just a one way ticket?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[HFM181818 750]

If he is granted a tourist visa, but chooses to buy a one way ticket, when he arrives, CBP can easily look up his visa application, to see how long he said he planned to stay...then compare that to how long he plans to stay now, along with other information....arriving with an open-ended or one way ticket may easily give the impression that a mind change is looming.

[Hypnos 6,578]

It's possible he would be refused entry to the US on a tourist visa with only a one-way ticket. It isn't a requirement that you have a return ticket (like it is with the VWP), but it's going to make them take a harder look at you at PoE.

[Angiemed 1]

Round trip ticket! I've been in that situation and the CBP almost refused to let me in since I didn't have a proof that I was going back to my country.

Better safe than sorry.

[Boiler 45,952]

Round ticket is usually cheaper

[KierenHby 899]

Hmmm.. single guy from India, (a country with plenty of citizens coming on a B2 and overstaying), arriving on a one-way ticket.

And although CBP is not privy to his 37 unpaid traffic tickets in India, your boyfriend's financial situation could come up at some point. Is he a student with a financially strong background, or well employed to get back to his job after the US trip is over?

[iipenny 18]

Not only at the port of entry. Some airlines won't allow you to check-in if you're holding only one way ticket. As there is a big chance for you to be refused at the port of entry. There are some lucky people that are allowed to be in USA with only one way ticket. But in my case I was asked to show my return ticket booking at the port of entry. And lucky I always buy return ticket.