HELP! Airline won't let beneficiary buy one-way ticket to US!!

[alleyezonmi 0]

So my fiance is in Algeria and he tried to buy a ticket from Qatar Airlines. His K-1 visa was approved a few months ago and he is now ready to come to me but when he tried to purchase a one-way ticket, the agent told him he had to buy a round-trip ticket. He explained that he's on a K-1 visa and the whole point is for him to stay with me in the US. He asked them to call the US Embassy in Algiers and they did but no one is answering at the Embassy.

 

Can the airline require a round-trip ticket/refuse to sell him a one-way ticket?

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has run into this problem. Please help! Can I buy him the one-way ticket like through Travelocity or whatever?

 

Thx so much!!

[Coco8 1,039]

Can he try to buy it only from Qatar Airlines? Yes, you could buy his flight on any of those websites too; it doesn't matter where you buy the ticket.

 

If it is not possible, he could get a return ticket a year from now. It would be far away and in case he gets asked, he can say they wouldn't sell him a one way ticket. 

[Georgia16 2,858]

A return ticket is fine. 

 

Most people in here do that including myself.

 

He can either cancel the return when he gets here OR he can make the return far out in the future and use it. 

[vocaledge 3,340]

In many instances a return is cheaper than one-way anyway... it certainly is the case from the UK... and it won't affect your entry at all.  Just cancel the return portion of the ticket after you arrive.

[Habibati & Habibi 21]

4 hours ago, alleyezonmi said:

So my fiance is in Algeria and he tried to buy a ticket from Qatar Airlines. His K-1 visa was approved a few months ago and he is now ready to come to me but when he tried to purchase a one-way ticket, the agent told him he had to buy a round-trip ticket. He explained that he's on a K-1 visa and the whole point is for him to stay with me in the US. He asked them to call the US Embassy in Algiers and they did but no one is answering at the Embassy.

 

Can the airline require a round-trip ticket/refuse to sell him a one-way ticket?

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has run into this problem. Please help! Can I buy him the one-way ticket like through Travelocity or whatever?

 

Thx so much!!

Good day

first of all congratulation on your approval and visa acceptance I am on the process.

I want to say that the Qatar airlines agent  is asking your fiance to buy a roundtrip ticket because he is jaleous and want to cause a problem for your fiance and there is no need to call US embassy. it is just  not their issue. I totally advice you to buy a ticket online, cheap ,fast and secure and no hassale like this.

could you please provide me with the documents the embassy asked your fiance to bring to interview? was it packet 3 or 4. our petition have been sent to NVC and we still did not receive any news from them and we still did not get any case number so we are preparing ourselves and I need those papers and if also possible interview questions.

I hope this is not a burden to you and I wish yu all the best.

thank you

[onetothered 90]

Buy round trip is cheaper then one way. No one care what type visa he have. 

I came here with k1 too and got a round trip ticket with Air France. No one asked or cared to ask anything. 

[useful89 692]

10 hours ago, alleyezonmi said:

So my fiance is in Algeria and he tried to buy a ticket from Qatar Airlines. His K-1 visa was approved a few months ago and he is now ready to come to me but when he tried to purchase a one-way ticket, the agent told him he had to buy a round-trip ticket. He explained that he's on a K-1 visa and the whole point is for him to stay with me in the US. He asked them to call the US Embassy in Algiers and they did but no one is answering at the Embassy.

 

Can the airline require a round-trip ticket/refuse to sell him a one-way ticket?

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has run into this problem. Please help! Can I buy him the one-way ticket like through Travelocity or whatever?

 

Thx so much!!

I would inform the airline there are options besides Qatar Air, so would they prefer a one-way ticket or none at all?

 

You just got your K1 and don't need more hassle, unless you are dead set on him flying QA I'd quickly buy from someone else.

[Lemonslice 4,554]

Nothing more than passport and visa is required in his situation: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Carrier Information Guide- English.pdf

[Hypnos 6,576]

It sounds like Qatar Airlines don't want his money. 

[Unidentified 2,930]

You should go for a round trip anyway because it is cheaper, just make sure you cancel your return flight before it departs or USCIS might think you left the country and that is bad. 

 

My theory of this situation is that whoever you talked to at Qatar doesn't understand what visa you are on. So they are worried that you are going to fly to the US and get denied entry in the US because you only have a one way ticket and then Qatar are responsible to fly you back meaning they will loose money. Just a theory though. 

 

Good luck!

[MzJan 18]

22 hours ago, alleyezonmi said:

So my fiance is in Algeria and he tried to buy a ticket from Qatar Airlines. His K-1 visa was approved a few months ago and he is now ready to come to me but when he tried to purchase a one-way ticket, the agent told him he had to buy a round-trip ticket. He explained that he's on a K-1 visa and the whole point is for him to stay with me in the US. He asked them to call the US Embassy in Algiers and they did but no one is answering at the Embassy.

 

Can the airline require a round-trip ticket/refuse to sell him a one-way ticket?

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has run into this problem. Please help! Can I buy him the one-way ticket like through Travelocity or whatever?

 

Thx so much!!

He is not a citizen nor a resident of the USA as such by law he is required to purchase a round trip ticket. Airlines operate on this premise as they were given instructions. They can also deny boarding as they have that right to do so.

Edited July 7, 2017 by MzJan
Additional info

[Unidentified 2,930]

5 minutes ago, MzJan said:

He is not a citizen nor a resident of the USA as such by law he is required to purchase a round trip ticket. Airlines operate on this premise as they were given instructions. They can also deny boarding as they have that right to do so.

According to what law? If this was true why can non citizens on visas buy one way tickets?

[Unidentified 2,930]

There is no law that says you have to have a round way ticket. Majority of the members here on VJ come to the US on K1 visa with a one-way ticket are perfectly fine. If you come here on ESTA or tourist visa then yes you need a return ticket or the airline might refuse to board you because they are going to have to pay for your return ticket if CBP refuse your entry. If you come here on a visa you're not required to have a return ticket. 

[MzJan 18]

17 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

Not sure about this.. we purchased one way tickets for our entry using IR5 last year...,  no issues at checkin.. they needed to see our US visa but thats all...

You had an immigrant visa and as such is ok to purchase the one way ticket

[dudeinTriBeCa 38]

Do airlines even have the right in the first place to demand or specify what type of ticket a passenger should purchase? That sounds outright ridiculous! Besides why is he even purchasing the ticket with an agent when he could easily go online at their website and buy it without interference... if anything I think it's only immigration officers at the POE has the authority to require a passenger to have a round trip ticket and/or deny entry based on not having that if they feel like the person has no intentions to return. But then again it's a K1 visa so that's counterproductive.