K1 flight

[DanimalBVB 15]

When it comes to entering the USA on a K1 visa, does it matter if you enter on a one way ticket or a return ticket? Obviously I wouldn’t be returning to my country but the price of a return ticket is half the price of a single ticket (go figure).

Edited March 20, 2018 by DanimalBVB

[jkstark 97]

I can't imagine that there would be any issue of having a return ticket that you don't intend to use, especially since tickets these days are not paper anyway...  It is possible that the information about your return flight would be in the USCIS/CBP database somewhere, though I'm not sure if they collect information on outbound planned journeys like they do with inbound flights.

 

Can you get a "return" that is open-ended, or at least well into the future, with the idea that you might be able to use it to visit later on if that is a possibility/need?  The airlines would be the only ones who would care, and since the ticket that you don't use is the later one, you don't risk having your entire itinerary canceled just because you don't show up on a portion of the trip - other than the return portion...  I don't know what they would have to say about it later on, but that is a different issue entirely.

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

7 minutes ago, DanimalBVB said:

When it comes to entering the USA on a K1 visa, does it matter if you enter on a one way ticket or a return ticket? Obviously I’ll won’t be returning to my country but the price of a return ticket is half the price of a single ticket (go figure).

 

Shouldnt be an issue either way.

 

We did one way, it was cheapest but obviously didn't need a return flight.

 

For a lot, round trip is cheaper. Book the returning flight 6 months out then just cancel it before that time comes (avoid any possible penalties or what not depending on the airline).

 

But one way, or round trip, doesn't matter, whatever works best for you.

[geowrian 22,335]

You can enter on either...it's not uncommon for people to get a return flight as it can be cheaper.

 

Just be sure to cancel the return ticket after entry! Get it refundable or transferable if you can. It's uncommon, but sometimes people get flagged as having used those tickets and left the country, which will cause frustration and delays in your AOS application to get it sorted out and prove you never left the US.

[geowrian 22,335]

4 minutes ago, jkstark said:

It is possible that the information about your return flight would be in the USCIS/CBP database somewhere, though I'm not sure if they collect information on outbound planned journeys like they do with inbound flights.

Airlines report passenger manifests to APIS, which (eventually) gets into their systems. Sometimes airlines make mistakes.

[AshMarty 359]

My husband bought a round trip ticket because it was cheaper. He had no issues entering on a K1.

 

I would guess if you were questioned about it you can just answer honestly... and tell them it was a lot cheaper.  

Edited March 20, 2018 by AshMarty

[Londonergirl 133]

I bought a one-way ticket, no problem at all. I guess they only require a round trip ticket if you come on a tourist visa etc?

I actually managed to get a 1st class ticket for the same price as a round-trip ticket. Was really nice 12 hours, lol. 

[jkstark 97]

6 hours ago, geowrian said:

Airlines report passenger manifests to APIS, which (eventually) gets into their systems. Sometimes airlines make mistakes.

True, but APIS for departing flights (from the US) requires, if I am not mistaken, that the data be provided before the doors are secured - ie. on the departure of the flight.

[payxibka 10,044]

Honestly I don't know why people are concerned about this...  CBP simply doesn't care when it comes to a K-1 entry...  Remember, if you don;t marry within the 90 days you must leave the USA.. so a return ticket is not such a bad thing anyways

[agrabs 237]

We bought a round trip ticket for my husband when he entered on K1 as it was so much cheaper than one way.    We booked the return flight 6 months out thinking we  would be able to use it to go back to visit.  Life got busy and we forgot all about it.  Never used it and never canceled it.  Was not an issue at all. 

[Unidentified 2,930]

9 hours ago, payxibka said:

Honestly I don't know why people are concerned about this...  CBP simply doesn't care when it comes to a K-1 entry...  Remember, if you don;t marry within the 90 days you must leave the USA.. so a return ticket is not such a bad thing anyways

It's not a problem getting in, it sometimes becomes an issue when they think you also left. The K1 is a one use visa. If you buy a round trip and you don't cancel it and the airline, by mistake, report you as having boarded that airplane you have to have CBP fix it or you'll have some issues. Some get lucky and it doesn't happen to them,  some don't. So make sure you cancel. Plenty of VJ member has had to deal with that.  

Edited March 21, 2018 by Unidentified

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

It's not a problem getting in, it sometimes becomes an issue when they think you also left. The K1 is a one use visa. If you buy a round trip and you don't cancel it and the airline, by mistake, report you as having boarded that airplane you have to have CBP fix it or you'll have some issues. Some get lucky and it doesn't happen to them,  some don't. So make sure you cancel. Plenty of VJ member has had to deal with that.  

I was 10 years in an airline as a senior manager.  This false reporting of a passenger on a manifest rarely if ever happens.

[Unidentified 2,930]

4 minutes ago, payxibka said:

I was 10 years in an airline as a senior manager.  This false reporting of a passenger on a manifest rarely if ever happens.

It happened frequently enough to be very much talked about when I was filing for K1 and everyone reminded each other hundreds of times "cancel your return ticket!" 

 

People can choose what they want to do, I am just letting people know it COULD be an issue. 

[geowrian 22,335]

2 hours ago, payxibka said:

I was 10 years in an airline as a senior manager.  This false reporting of a passenger on a manifest rarely if ever happens.

Indeed, it is rare. But it certainly has happened. A quick search:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/548917-i-94-thinks-i-left-the-usa/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541911-aos-from-k1-travel-history-error/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/509209-about-to-file-aos-but-i-94-shows-incorrect-travel-history-will-this-create-problems/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/507243-i-94-incorrect-travel-history/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/539054-i-94-travel-history/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/387716-aos-denial-uscis-said-i-left-the-country-but-i-did-not/

[agrabs 237]

26 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Indeed, it is rare. But it certainly has happened. A quick search:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/548917-i-94-thinks-i-left-the-usa/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541911-aos-from-k1-travel-history-error/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/509209-about-to-file-aos-but-i-94-shows-incorrect-travel-history-will-this-create-problems/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/507243-i-94-incorrect-travel-history/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/539054-i-94-travel-history/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/387716-aos-denial-uscis-said-i-left-the-country-but-i-did-not/

Wow!  we got lucky - You should be sure to cancel the return ticket if you buy round trip