K1 Visa - Return ticket ISSUE

[Daniela M_______ 409]

Hello there.

 

I've been reading a lot of posts regarding this topic and I know we don't need a return ticket to enter the US on a K1.

 

You know that, I know that, but sometimes the airline does not.

 

I was talking with a girl from Mexico who had a really hard time in the airport because they won't let her board the plane for not having a return ticket. They didn't even know what a K1 was and almost refused to do research. She knew some people at the airport and after some calls they help her, but she was the last person to board the plane and they almost made her buy a return ticket "just because".

 

Do you have any tips on how to avoid this? I just contact -not one-, but two airlines and both gave me this useless anwer "This is a question that is better directed towards the government or embassy that you choose to travel to and from".

 

Thanks

Edited March 5, 2019 by Daniela M_______

[Ate 180]

2 hours ago, Daniela M_______ said:

They didn't even know what a K1 was and almost refused to do research.

 

Ask to speak to a supervisor.  They should know how to contact the CBP's 24/7 call center for the Regional Carrier Liaison Group for any questions on entry requirements and document validity.

 

For your own peace of mind, maybe you can try emailing them yourself.  Details here:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/travel-industry-personnel/carrier-liaison-prog

 

If you do contact them and get a response about your concern, please update us.  It might help others in a similar situation.  Good luck!

 

[Daniela M_______ 409]

Just now, Ate said:

 

Ask to speak to a supervisor.  They should know how to contact the CBP's 24/7 call center for the Regional Carrier Liaison Group for any questions on entry requirements and document validity.

 

For your own peace of mind, maybe you can try emailing them yourself.  Details here:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/travel-industry-personnel/carrier-liaison-prog

 

If you do contact them and get a response about your concern, please update us.  It might help others in a similar situation.  Good luck!

 

OMG this is so helpful, I will update for sure!

 

I've been wondering around that website the whole day because I knew there had to be a way to get more information...

[Daniela M_______ 409]

10 minutes ago, Ate said:

 

Ask to speak to a supervisor.  They should know how to contact the CBP's 24/7 call center for the Regional Carrier Liaison Group for any questions on entry requirements and document validity.

 

For your own peace of mind, maybe you can try emailing them yourself.  Details here:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/travel-industry-personnel/carrier-liaison-prog

 

If you do contact them and get a response about your concern, please update us.  It might help others in a similar situation.  Good luck!

 

This guide is also really helpful, I found it under "CBP 24/7 Regional Carrier Liaison Group phone center" in google.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

[JohnE 57]

Good morning,

 

  The airline can always be a wild card as the employees are not always schooled with different visas.  Quick story many years ago when my wife had her combo card.  She was flying from Atlanta to Mexico City and the check in ticket agent was ready to refuse to check her in.  I had to school the agent and requested a supervisor.  Finally someone understood the combo card and we checked in after 30 minutes of going round and round.  At that point I asked for the station manager's name and phone number at the Mexico City airport for the airline.  I talked to him before we left Atlanta to confirm he understands the combo card and there would be no problem when we flew from Mexico City back to Atlanta.  

 

  When my wife received her K1 (mind you that was many years ago) she had a one way ticket from Mexico City to Atlanta and had zero issues.  Again the wild card is the airline and which airline employees happens to be checking you in.  My two cents is to contact the airline in the city you are flying from in Mexico and get a manager's name and phone number.  Make sure they understand the K1 and they will be available for assistance if needed on the day/time you are checking in and flying from Mexico.

 

God bless

John

 

[Greenbaum 12,258]

@Daniela M_______ Thanks for posing this question. It gets asked all the time as you well know but I have never found an answer to use to address this problem at the airport. @Ate Thanks for the starting off point with your link which has allowed the couple to get an answer. I am grateful to the both of you. I've saved the information in the event I hear this issue from others. Again, thanks to the two of you for schooling us on what to do.

Edited March 6, 2019 by Greenbaum

[Daniela M_______ 409]

2 hours ago, JohnE said:

Good morning,

 

  The airline can always be a wild card as the employees are not always schooled with different visas.  Quick story many years ago when my wife had her combo card.  She was flying from Atlanta to Mexico City and the check in ticket agent was ready to refuse to check her in.  I had to school the agent and requested a supervisor.  Finally someone understood the combo card and we checked in after 30 minutes of going round and round.  At that point I asked for the station manager's name and phone number at the Mexico City airport for the airline.  I talked to him before we left Atlanta to confirm he understands the combo card and there would be no problem when we flew from Mexico City back to Atlanta.  

 

  When my wife received her K1 (mind you that was many years ago) she had a one way ticket from Mexico City to Atlanta and had zero issues.  Again the wild card is the airline and which airline employees happens to be checking you in.  My two cents is to contact the airline in the city you are flying from in Mexico and get a manager's name and phone number.  Make sure they understand the K1 and they will be available for assistance if needed on the day/time you are checking in and flying from Mexico.

 

God bless

John

 

This is a very helpful advice, thank you!

[Daniela M_______ 409]

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

@Daniela M_______ Thanks for posing this question. It gets asked all the time as you well know but I have never found an answer to use to address this problem at the airport. @Ate Thanks for the starting off point with your link which has allowed the couple to get an answer. I am grateful to the both of you. I've saved the information in the event I hear this issue from others. Again, thanks to the two of you for schooling us on what to do.

I talked again with my friend from Mexico and she told me that after a long wait the airline (AeroMexico) finally called this CBP line to confirm -she didn't remember the acronym untill I tell her about this- , it's a nice card to have ready to play, I would even give them my phone to make he call lol.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

3 minutes ago, Daniela M_______ said:

I talked again with my friend from Mexico and she told me that after a long wait the airline (AeroMexico) finally called this CBP line to confirm -she didn't remember the acronym untill I tell her about this- , it's a nice card to have ready to play, I would even give them my phone to make he call lol.

That's the challenge to this process. Everything is ebb and flow. Not till their feet have crossed your threshold to your home is any one safe from "you need this, I have no idea about that, you can't do this or that" it seems like it never ends.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from K1 Progress Reports to Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.