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2 hours ago, missileman said:

Technically, I don't think a return ticket is mandatory to enter on a B2 visa (It is mandatory for VWP visitors), but immigration can certainly ask them about their return plans.....and could deny entry if he/she feels the visitor is a risk to stay.......I would certainly purchase a return flight before entering.

It’s not mandatory (or I would have stated that rather than recommended!) but it’s highly risky.

12 minutes ago, ElDiablo said:

Your logic is completely wrong. If they arrive in May and want to stay till August, 80 days or so as you said, there is NO way they will get stamped to stay until July. When they arrive they will be asked how long are they staying. They say August and show the return ticket if asked.

 

CBP are not stupid, of they are allowing entry, they are not going to say 'oh I don't want you staying 80 days, but 60 days instead because that way you are more likely to not overstay'. That would make 0 sense. 

 

Buying a one way ticket without a return and turning up at the POE is just plain stupid.

 

It's not mother's day here.

They don’t need to “show” a return ticket - CBP knows who has and hasn’t one. 

 

And I don’t know what you consider zero sense, but I personally made many B trips to the US, and there were a couple of occasions (I think these were business trips, which would have been less than a week duration each) that I was stamped for 3 months rather than 6. We have also had other people here report family members getting stamped for less than the max, in some cases 1-2 months as I recall. I think OP’s fears are probably overblown, but I don’t think they are totally unfounded either.

 

Btw where is “here”? In the US it’s mother’s day, so it was a perfectly valid comment by OP.

Edited by SusieQQQ
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Just now, SusieQQQ said:

It’s not mandatory (or I would have stated that rather than recommended!) but it’s highly risky.

Agree..........I would certainly make sure my visitors had one to show the officers if asked.......

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November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

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2 hours ago, missileman said:

Technically, I don't think a return ticket is mandatory to enter on a B2 visa (It is mandatory for VWP visitors), but immigration can certainly ask them about their return plans.....and could deny entry if he/she feels the visitor is a risk to stay.......I would certainly purchase a return flight before entering.

This makes total sense - I bought them this morning. I’m highly risk averse and very law-abiding. I haven’t even gotten a traffic ticket in a decade. Better be safe than sorry! 

K1 Visa Application:                                                                                                                                                        Timeline for AOS
129-F Delivered: Lewiston, TX 10/29/2015                                                                                                                 AOS paperwork (including EAD & AP) sent via Express Mail: 10/1/2016
NOA1 eNotification: 11/3/2015 (Sent to CSC - yay!)                                                                                                 AOS paperwork received by USCIS: 10/3/2016
NOA1 Hard Copy: 11/8/2015 | NOA2 eNotification: : 11/30/2015 | NOA2 Hard Copy: 12/4/2015                   NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 10/5/16, ~11pm Central time, one notice for each application
NVC Received: 12/10/2015 | NVC Case Assigned: 12/11/2015                                                                             Check Cashed: 10/6/16
Mailed to Embassy: 12/16/2015 (Status shows as Ready)                                                                                     NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 10/11/16
Received hardcopy Letter from NVC: 12/19/2015                                                                                                     Biometrics Letter Received: 10/28/16
Embassy Received Packet: 12/21/2015                                                                                                                      Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/9/16 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day)
Email from Embassy for Beneficiary Email: 12/24/2015                                                                                          EAD approved on: 11/16/16 (early in the day) / AP approved on: 11/16/16 (late in the day)
Replied to Embassy: 12/24/2015                                                                                                                                  AP produced+mailed on:11/18/16 | AP letters (2) received on: 11/18/16
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 3: 12/28/15                                                                                                 EAD card produced+mailed on: 11/22/16 | EAD card received on: 11/25/16
Replied to Embassy: 12/28/15 (at night)                                                                                                                     Social Security card application date: 11/28/16 | LOST IN THE MAIL
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 4: 12/29/15 (in the morning)                                                                    Social Security card received on: 12/27/16 (Ordered a new one at the office on 12/19/16)
Interview Date: Jan 13th @ 12:30pm - Approved!                                                                                                      Interview Waiver! (6 months and 2 weeks past the first NOA1)
CEAC status changed to admin processing: 1/14/16                                                                                                Card Ordered notice (text and online): 4/19/17
CEAC status changed to issued: 1/19/16                                                                                                                     I-485 Approval notice (text and online): 4/20/17
US travel docs website shows "out for delivery": 1/20/16                                                                                          Card Produced + WILL Mail notice 4/27/17
Called by courier regarding delivery attempt: 1/21/16                                                                                                Card Mailed notice: 5/2/2017
Passport in hand:1/22/16 (he went to their office to pick it up) | Arrival date into the US: 3/09/16                    Green Card Received: 5/5/2017 
Married: 06/04/2016
Timeline for ROC
ROC paperwork sent via Express Mail: 1/24/2019
ROC paperwork received by USCIS: 1/28/2019
NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 2/4/19
Check Cashed: 2/6/19
NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 2/11/19
Biometrics Letter Received: 9/20/19 (Did not need biometrics)

Biometrics Letter Received: 10/25/19 (Biometrics Request)

Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/5/19 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day) 

Biometrics Review Completed: 11/6/19 (Processing I-751) - Online notice

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1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s not mandatory (or I would have stated that rather than recommended!) but it’s highly risky.

They don’t need to “show” a return ticket - CBP knows who has and hasn’t one. 

 

And I don’t know what you consider zero sense, but I personally made many B trips to the US, and there were a couple of occasions (I think these were business trips, which would have been less than a week duration each) that I was stamped for 3 months rather than 6. We have also had other people here report family members getting stamped for less than the max, in some cases 1-2 months as I recall. I think OP’s fears are probably overblown, but I don’t think they are totally unfounded either.

 

Btw where is “here”? In the US it’s mother’s day, so it was a perfectly valid comment by OP.

That is a completely different scenario. You were staying for 1-2 weeks, no problem stamping you for 3 months instead of 6. If you had turned up staying 2 weeks with flights booked, then they stamped you for 1 week only - that would make zero sense, which is what the OP somehow thinks might happen. No common sense.

 

'Here' is not in the US. OP seems to think everyone lives in the US.

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Thank you everyone!  I will update you all in a week.

 

PS - The new ignore function is AWESOME. :) 

K1 Visa Application:                                                                                                                                                        Timeline for AOS
129-F Delivered: Lewiston, TX 10/29/2015                                                                                                                 AOS paperwork (including EAD & AP) sent via Express Mail: 10/1/2016
NOA1 eNotification: 11/3/2015 (Sent to CSC - yay!)                                                                                                 AOS paperwork received by USCIS: 10/3/2016
NOA1 Hard Copy: 11/8/2015 | NOA2 eNotification: : 11/30/2015 | NOA2 Hard Copy: 12/4/2015                   NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 10/5/16, ~11pm Central time, one notice for each application
NVC Received: 12/10/2015 | NVC Case Assigned: 12/11/2015                                                                             Check Cashed: 10/6/16
Mailed to Embassy: 12/16/2015 (Status shows as Ready)                                                                                     NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 10/11/16
Received hardcopy Letter from NVC: 12/19/2015                                                                                                     Biometrics Letter Received: 10/28/16
Embassy Received Packet: 12/21/2015                                                                                                                      Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/9/16 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day)
Email from Embassy for Beneficiary Email: 12/24/2015                                                                                          EAD approved on: 11/16/16 (early in the day) / AP approved on: 11/16/16 (late in the day)
Replied to Embassy: 12/24/2015                                                                                                                                  AP produced+mailed on:11/18/16 | AP letters (2) received on: 11/18/16
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 3: 12/28/15                                                                                                 EAD card produced+mailed on: 11/22/16 | EAD card received on: 11/25/16
Replied to Embassy: 12/28/15 (at night)                                                                                                                     Social Security card application date: 11/28/16 | LOST IN THE MAIL
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 4: 12/29/15 (in the morning)                                                                    Social Security card received on: 12/27/16 (Ordered a new one at the office on 12/19/16)
Interview Date: Jan 13th @ 12:30pm - Approved!                                                                                                      Interview Waiver! (6 months and 2 weeks past the first NOA1)
CEAC status changed to admin processing: 1/14/16                                                                                                Card Ordered notice (text and online): 4/19/17
CEAC status changed to issued: 1/19/16                                                                                                                     I-485 Approval notice (text and online): 4/20/17
US travel docs website shows "out for delivery": 1/20/16                                                                                          Card Produced + WILL Mail notice 4/27/17
Called by courier regarding delivery attempt: 1/21/16                                                                                                Card Mailed notice: 5/2/2017
Passport in hand:1/22/16 (he went to their office to pick it up) | Arrival date into the US: 3/09/16                    Green Card Received: 5/5/2017 
Married: 06/04/2016
Timeline for ROC
ROC paperwork sent via Express Mail: 1/24/2019
ROC paperwork received by USCIS: 1/28/2019
NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 2/4/19
Check Cashed: 2/6/19
NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 2/11/19
Biometrics Letter Received: 9/20/19 (Did not need biometrics)

Biometrics Letter Received: 10/25/19 (Biometrics Request)

Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/5/19 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day) 

Biometrics Review Completed: 11/6/19 (Processing I-751) - Online notice

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28 minutes ago, ElDiablo said:

That is a completely different scenario. You were staying for 1-2 weeks, no problem stamping you for 3 months instead of 6. If you had turned up staying 2 weeks with flights booked, then they stamped you for 1 week only - that would make zero sense, which is what the OP somehow thinks might happen. No common sense.

 

'Here' is not in the US. OP seems to think everyone lives in the US.

You’re missing the point, I presume deliberately. Your argument is why stamp for 60 not 80 days, same principle as 3 or 6 months - or anything really seeing as you are being let in anyway. Perhaps you missed some of the previous forum posts where people were stamped for one or two months expecting to stay 3 or 4 or 6.

 

Considering this is a US centered forum, observing US dates is perfectly acceptable. Do you also get annoyed if someone wishes you happy 4th of July on the forum because you are “there”?  

 

Anyway, at least the OP has managed to find useful information despite posts apparently aimed to be argumentative for the sake of it, do enjoy the rest of your Sunday if it’s Sunday, and don’t get too offended if it’s already Monday where you are.

 

Edited by SusieQQQ
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On 5/12/2019 at 8:28 AM, AlinaB said:

People on this forum are so rude. The topic makes total sense- I will explain:

today I'm buying a ticket for them to return early August. So probably 80 days or so. We were told by the consulate that they would get 90 days max. (This apparently isn’t true, but let’s continue.) We were also told that stay date is at the discretion of CBD. So they could come in, say they are leaving in early August but get a stamp that tells them to leave in early July and we would have to either a) change tickets or b) apply for a visa extension. Both of which are $$$ and I would prefer not to do. 

 

However, thanks to the advice of kind people, I’d rather buy the ticket and risk the extra fees, then risk them not being allowed entry. As I’ve stated - they have lives there and cannot stay in the US. This is not the land of milk and honey for everyone and would certainly not be for them. Thanks for the accusation though - Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours.

Folks may have different opinion than yours. but that doesn't makes them necessarily rude. 

 

That aside, CBP may ask a visitor about their return plans. The ds160 application asks for length of intended visit, your inlaws would have filled something out in that section. While plans change, it is better to have a set date of return on a B2 visa than not. A return ticket, while not required, shows a return plan, especially for someone with family and a business back home. 

I-751 journey

 

10/16/2017.......... ROC package mailed

10/18/2017.......... I-751 package received VSC

10/19/2017.......... I-797 NOA date

10/30/2017.......... Notice received in mail

10/30/2017.......... Check cashed

11/02/2017.......... Conditional GC expired

11/22/2017.......... Biometrics completed

  xx/xx/xxxx.......... waiting waiting waiting

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  • 2 weeks later...

Update! 

Its a good thing we bought the ticket. They were asked for it when boarding ANA  in Indonesia. However, CBP did not ask for it and didn’t really seem concerned about much during questioning. They got a 6mo stamp (but will still go home in 3) and we are so happy and relieved! 

 

Thanks for all the kind advice! 

K1 Visa Application:                                                                                                                                                        Timeline for AOS
129-F Delivered: Lewiston, TX 10/29/2015                                                                                                                 AOS paperwork (including EAD & AP) sent via Express Mail: 10/1/2016
NOA1 eNotification: 11/3/2015 (Sent to CSC - yay!)                                                                                                 AOS paperwork received by USCIS: 10/3/2016
NOA1 Hard Copy: 11/8/2015 | NOA2 eNotification: : 11/30/2015 | NOA2 Hard Copy: 12/4/2015                   NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 10/5/16, ~11pm Central time, one notice for each application
NVC Received: 12/10/2015 | NVC Case Assigned: 12/11/2015                                                                             Check Cashed: 10/6/16
Mailed to Embassy: 12/16/2015 (Status shows as Ready)                                                                                     NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 10/11/16
Received hardcopy Letter from NVC: 12/19/2015                                                                                                     Biometrics Letter Received: 10/28/16
Embassy Received Packet: 12/21/2015                                                                                                                      Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/9/16 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day)
Email from Embassy for Beneficiary Email: 12/24/2015                                                                                          EAD approved on: 11/16/16 (early in the day) / AP approved on: 11/16/16 (late in the day)
Replied to Embassy: 12/24/2015                                                                                                                                  AP produced+mailed on:11/18/16 | AP letters (2) received on: 11/18/16
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 3: 12/28/15                                                                                                 EAD card produced+mailed on: 11/22/16 | EAD card received on: 11/25/16
Replied to Embassy: 12/28/15 (at night)                                                                                                                     Social Security card application date: 11/28/16 | LOST IN THE MAIL
Email from Embassy Regarding Packet 4: 12/29/15 (in the morning)                                                                    Social Security card received on: 12/27/16 (Ordered a new one at the office on 12/19/16)
Interview Date: Jan 13th @ 12:30pm - Approved!                                                                                                      Interview Waiver! (6 months and 2 weeks past the first NOA1)
CEAC status changed to admin processing: 1/14/16                                                                                                Card Ordered notice (text and online): 4/19/17
CEAC status changed to issued: 1/19/16                                                                                                                     I-485 Approval notice (text and online): 4/20/17
US travel docs website shows "out for delivery": 1/20/16                                                                                          Card Produced + WILL Mail notice 4/27/17
Called by courier regarding delivery attempt: 1/21/16                                                                                                Card Mailed notice: 5/2/2017
Passport in hand:1/22/16 (he went to their office to pick it up) | Arrival date into the US: 3/09/16                    Green Card Received: 5/5/2017 
Married: 06/04/2016
Timeline for ROC
ROC paperwork sent via Express Mail: 1/24/2019
ROC paperwork received by USCIS: 1/28/2019
NOA1 E-notification Date (email and text): 2/4/19
Check Cashed: 2/6/19
NOA1 Hardcopy Date: 2/11/19
Biometrics Letter Received: 9/20/19 (Did not need biometrics)

Biometrics Letter Received: 10/25/19 (Biometrics Request)

Biometrics Scheduled for: 11/5/19 (Did not try a walk-in, went on scheduled day) 

Biometrics Review Completed: 11/6/19 (Processing I-751) - Online notice

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1 hour ago, AlinaB said:

Update! 

Its a good thing we bought the ticket. They were asked for it when boarding ANA  in Indonesia. However, CBP did not ask for it and didn’t really seem concerned about much during questioning. They got a 6mo stamp (but will still go home in 3) and we are so happy and relieved! 

 

Thanks for all the kind advice! 

Thanks for updating and glad to know it all worked out!

 

(also: CBP may not have asked about it, but they can see in their system that they have it.)

Edited by SusieQQQ
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