US entry issue if travelling one-way flight

[AlfieMoon]

Can’t remember if it was here or somewhere else that I saw it mentioned - that basically if you don’t have a return flight home booked then you will have a problem getting entry into the US. 

I had kinda dismissed it when I read it originally but have just looked into it a bit more now and suggestions DO seem to be that if you’re travelling on an ESTA then you will need a return flight booked. 
 

I only had a flight to Boston booked and was going to see how far we go and sort it out over there. 
 

Based on what I’ve said above, I’ve now booked a return ‘Flex’ ticket that can be cancelled if need be. 
 

So, just a word of warning if anyone only has one-way flights booked and no return flight. 

[runningtings]

I mean you can get the ESTA, it only requires a US address so you can just use where you are staying the first night. I guess the issue might be at Border Control.

[AlfieMoon]

16 minutes ago, runningtings said:

I mean you can get the ESTA, it only requires a US address so you can just use where you are staying the first night. I guess the issue might be at Border Control.

Yeah, that’s what I meant.  
 

Nothjng to suggest that you won’t get ESTA but the challenge is at border control and/or airlines demanding proof of travel home being booked. 

[runningtings]

Makes sense 👍

[MartinTartan]

I applied for my ESTA on Monday and got it approved within the hour, and I don't have a return flight yet but agree this would be an issue when entering the country.

Also I didn't provide any social media details as it is optional (at the moment).

[AlfieMoon]

Just found the official terms related to the ESTA conditions if anyone had been thinking of chancing it at the border controls:

 https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en&focusedTopic=About ESTA and The Visa Waiver Program&answerToDisplay=Who is eligible to submit an application%3F

[DoonTheSlope]

5 hours ago, MartinTartan said:

I applied for my ESTA on Monday and got it approved within the hour, and I don't have a return flight yet but agree this would be an issue when entering the country.

Also I didn't provide any social media details as it is optional (at the moment).

What did they ask you in regards to travel to previous countries?

[adamntg]

11 hours ago, DoonTheSlope said:

What did they ask you in regards to travel to previous countries?

They ask if you’ve been to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba and a few others.  

[Redz]

19 hours ago, AlfieMoon said:

Can’t remember if it was here or somewhere else that I saw it mentioned - that basically if you don’t have a return flight home booked then you will have a problem getting entry into the US. 

I had kinda dismissed it when I read it originally but have just looked into it a bit more now and suggestions DO seem to be that if you’re travelling on an ESTA then you will need a return flight booked. 
 

I only had a flight to Boston booked and was going to see how far we go and sort it out over there. 
 

Based on what I’ve said above, I’ve now booked a return ‘Flex’ ticket that can be cancelled if need be. 
 

So, just a word of warning if anyone only has one-way flights booked and no return flight. 

That seems a bit unfair as we wont know the when or where we'll be returning 

I have a few friends who have booked 1 way for now

[elbucko]

Just book a cheap flixbus from boston or new york to a canadian city for proof of exit

[AlfieMoon]

42 minutes ago, elbucko said:

Just book a cheap flixbus from boston or new york to a canadian city for proof of exit

The point below the one I highlighted in the screenshot rules out what you’re suggesting. 

[adamntg]

1 hour ago, elbucko said:

Just book a cheap flixbus from boston or new york to a canadian city for proof of exit

It says that travel to a contiguous country isn’t accepted.  

[adamntg]

… unless you’re resident there.  They’d want to see a ticket out of Canada in that case.   That’s what it looked like to me. 

[SY Cove]

Myself and the wife looking at going to Cuba after Miami, I have to go to London for visa in March as I work in Iraq so I hope they don't ask for proof of flights at the visa appointment.......

🙃

[AlfieMoon]

22 minutes ago, SY Cove said:

Myself and the wife looking at going to Cuba after Miami, I have to go to London for visa in March as I work in Iraq so I hope they don't ask for proof of flights at the visa appointment.......

🙃

How are you getting to Cuba?  From Canada? 

[adamntg]

6 minutes ago, AlfieMoon said:

How are you getting to Cuba?  From Canada? 

From Afghanistan, via Venezuela. 

[SY Cove]

It's an hour and 20 minute flight from Miami, checks google for further travel details... 

U.S. to Cuba travel policy

Flying to Cuba from or through the U.S. for tourism is not allowed. There are 13 permitted reasons for travel: Family visits. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations.

Oh well, that's that idea fcuked

Glad I didn't book flights home from Havana 

😆

 

[AlfieMoon]

14 minutes ago, SY Cove said:

It's an hour and 20 minute flight from Miami, checks google for further travel details... 

U.S. to Cuba travel policy

Flying to Cuba from or through the U.S. for tourism is not allowed. There are 13 permitted reasons for travel: Family visits. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations.

Oh well, that's that idea fcuked

Glad I didn't book flights home from Havana 

😆

 

I went out with a lassie about 15 years ago who was hoping to hop over to Cuba from Florida as well. I had to similarly break the bad news that it doesn’t quite work like that. 😆

Glad to have been of service. 👍

[SY Cove]

Ha ha, cheers pal, I'll have to tell the wife now, she'll be fuming, ha ha

[Redz]

Must be 100's possibly 1000's of folk with one way flights right now - I cannot see how they police this

When I've completed an ESTA (Including this time) I don't remember it asking for a return date?

I can only ever recall anyone being asked by homeland security on entry about how long they plan to stay - 'Until Scotland are out' should suffice - Never have I known anyone being asked for evidence of their return / onward flight

File under scaremongering shyte for me......

*FWIW we're not planning to stay beyond the group stages and have LHR-EWR-MIA-LHR already in place 

[AlfieMoon]

31 minutes ago, Redz said:

Must be 100's possibly 1000's of folk with one way flights right now - I cannot see how they police this

When I've completed an ESTA (Including this time) I don't remember it asking for a return date?

I can only ever recall anyone being asked by homeland security on entry about how long they plan to stay - 'Until Scotland are out' should suffice - Never have I known anyone being asked for evidence of their return / onward flight

File under scaremongering shyte for me......

*FWIW we're not planning to stay beyond the group stages and have LHR-EWR-MIA-LHR already in place 

I don’t know anything for certain but just passing on risks that are highlighted by people on various internet forums - not specific to the WC. I would hope that the context of a WC would be taken into account but who knows. 
 

With regards to being asked by homeland security - that’s after the airline has let you fly in the first place. The airline can deny you. 
 

I’m guessing that your recollections of only basic questions from homeland security are all times that you visited the US on a return booking? 
 

If anyone knows someone who entered with only a 1-way flight then that would be the interesting bit to hear. 
 

 

[Skyline Drifter]

44 minutes ago, Redz said:

Must be 100's possibly 1000's of folk with one way flights right now - I cannot see how they police this

When I've completed an ESTA (Including this time) I don't remember it asking for a return date?

I can only ever recall anyone being asked by homeland security on entry about how long they plan to stay - 'Until Scotland are out' should suffice - Never have I known anyone being asked for evidence of their return / onward flight

File under scaremongering shyte for me......

*FWIW we're not planning to stay beyond the group stages and have LHR-EWR-MIA-LHR already in place 

Technically it's a condition of entering on an ESTA that you have a return or onward flight booked. It doesn't ask you for a date on the actual ESTA application because the ESTA is a two year valid relaxed visa. It's not specific to an individual trip.

I've only been to the USA twice, one of which was over 20 years ago but certainly in 2023 (which was under Biden) Immigration quizzed me on the date of my return flight before stamping my passport and allowing entry. I wasn't asked for evidence of it per se but was certainly questioned on it. 

[Redz]

8 minutes ago, AlfieMoon said:

I don’t know anything for certain but just passing on risks that are highlighted by people on various internet forums - not specific to the WC. I would hope that the context of a WC would be taken into account but who knows. 
 

With regards to being asked by homeland security - that’s after the airline has let you fly in the first place. The airline can deny you. 
 

I’m guessing that your recollections of only basic questions from homeland security are all times that you visited the US on a return booking? 
 

If anyone knows someone who entered with only a 1-way flight then that would be the interesting bit to hear. 
 

 

For sure, I understand that - My point was simply my own view 👍

I'm around 28/29 US states in, over the years - A number of which have been one way flights initially

I don't think Homeland Security have any visibility (From the ESTA) of a return date / flight - Hence the questioning at that point 🤷‍♂️

Not once have we been denied boarding

[Redz]

6 minutes ago, Skyline Drifter said:

Technically it's a condition of entering on an ESTA that you have a return or onward flight booked. It doesn't ask you for a date on the actual ESTA application because the ESTA is a two year valid relaxed visa. It's not specific to an individual trip.

I've only been to the USA twice, one of which was over 20 years ago but certainly in 2023 (which was under Biden) Immigration quizzed me on the date of my return flight before stamping my passport and allowing entry. I wasn't asked for evidence of it per se but was certainly questioned on it. 

Sure, my own experiences don't relate to what's being covered, though

Personally, I suspect 'Until Scotland are out' will be fine

Not that I'm prepared to underwrite any losses, though - Given the current nutjob in charge......

 

 

[AlfieMoon]

24 minutes ago, Redz said:

For sure, I understand that - My point was simply my own view 👍

I'm around 28/29 US states in, over the years - A number of which have been one way flights initially

I don't think Homeland Security have any visibility (From the ESTA) of a return date / flight - Hence the questioning at that point 🤷‍♂️

Not once have we been denied boarding

Good to hear. 👍

Pretty sure you are correct that there is no mention or need for proof of return flight as part of ESTA application/approval. It’s just that the terms of that ESTA then (officially anyway) state about needing a return booked.  
 

I personally wouldn’t want to run the risk so booked a cancellable ticket to cover my anyway, but would hope that nobody would run into any problems given the nature of the tournament, etc.