ch3

Has anyone maybe entered the US without having a return flight? Is it possible? I have a feeling the officers at the borders won't like the idea.

I am planning a west coast tour from Vancouver to LA. I've been living and in Vancouver for 3 years on a working visa, which I will give away before I depart, so they will know I won't be returning to Canada. At the end of my trip I will be flying back to Europe for good. Ideally I won't be booking the flight, up until I'm approaching LA, so I am not in a rush.

I'll definitely try to find more info from the embassy or something, but any input would on the issue will be appreciated.

thank you
georgios

stephenjubb

https://ask.metafilter.com/38604/Can-...-oneway-ticket
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...5075115AAGD9qV

in brief yes, giving up your visa in canada demonstrates you are not returning to canada and with no outbound flight they may not think you are going to leave.

also if you do get into problems it can make it harder gettting into the us in the future.

I suggest get a return ticket and contact the embasy as well.

do this and you should have no hassle.

Rowan

There might be some factors that influence or otherwise of entry.

The OP doesn't reveal his/her country of origin, but it may be a party to an agreement with the US in regard to entry visas for tourists (ETSA) that can be obtained on the internet. It won't guarantee entry, but gets one strand of red tape out of the way.

I really can't see why an air ticket to exit the US can't be arranged beforehand. Tourist visas to the US last only 90 days anyway, and you're likely to pick up a cheap fare that far out anyway.

The way I see it you need to be quite careful. It seems that once you leave Canada, you wouldn't be allowed back in if the US denies you entry, and you could end up literally in no-man's land, and there isn't much of it between the respective border buildings.

My advice is to get into the US immigration website, see if you qualify on the basis of country of origin for an ETSA visa... and book that exit ticket out of LAX.

unterhausen

His location says Athens, so I am assuming he will return to Greece

chasm54

Don't know if my experience is relevant, but a couple of years ago I did a long tour in Eastern Canada and New England, starting and finishing in (and flying into and out of) Toronto. I rolled up to the US/Canada border at Van Buren, Maine and presented my passport. They asked me a few questions, I told them I was riding across New England and would be re-entering Canada, they didn't ask to see my air ticket, filled out the relevant form, gave me it to surrender at the next border and bade me good day. They clearly thought I was eccentric (maybe they put it down to my being a Brit), but were good-humoured and there was no difficulty at all. Similarly at the Peace Bridge crossing back into Canada, not a hitch, no raised eyebrow, no request to see my air ticket in allowing me back in.

Rowan

If that's the case, lack of an exit ticket might raise some undesirable attention because the poor economy and high unemployment in Greece may be considered as a reason to attempt to remain permanently in the US.

Machka 

You may assume this, but these days customs and immigration does not make that assumption.


To the OP:

The best would be to have a flight booked out of the US (back to Greece or wherever), but what might also help would be to have an address in Greece that you can call home (preferably a house you own, or a long-term rental agreement), and a job to go back to with documentation that you are employed there. It would also be a good idea to have bank account information to show that you can pay for your time in the US.


If you were flying from Europe to the US for a <90 day tour, then back to Europe again, it would be fairly straightforward. But because you're from Europe, and have lived and worked in Canada on a temporary visa for a while, that complicates things because chances are you won't have house in Greece or a job to return to. And that will increase the chances of you being pulled aside and questioned.

fietsbob

Why not ride the pacific coast bike route, its not requiring flying anywhere .
take the Victoria Ferry across the JdF straights..


you can buy the airfare ticket to Athens & depart LAX.

North to south is the standard way as previling winds will be at your back..

already dozens of Canadians on the route.. & I talked to one Swede, here, friday..

check on a Tourist Visa for the US, while in BC. buy the Plane ticket ahead and have it with you.
book it for the end of the tourist visa period,
get one that, for an extra fee, you can change departure day.

axolotl

ESTA is a requirement for citizens of countries allowed to participate in the visa-waiver program (which includes Greece), and who are arriving in the US by air or sea. It is not used for those who are entering the US at a land border, or by ferry from BC.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...o-u.s.-by-land

ch3

hey
thanks for all the input.

That's correct, I will be flying back to Athens, where I do have a home, but not a job.
Greece is indeed part of the visa-waiver program and I do have a valid ESTA for the next couple of years, from a couple of flights to the US.

I should definitely ask the embassy to be sure I won't have any surprises. Buying the flight out in advance, sound like the reasonable thing to do.

Rowan

Irrespective of what that website says, I had my ETSA in my hand and it was valid when I did a land crossing at the beginning of last November. It's useful for demonstrating that the holder has entered and departed the US within the constraints of the 90-day limit on previous occasions...

imi

One problem with the VIsa Waiver Program is that you waive your right to an appeal or review if you are denied entry.

200miler

OP-

I would strongly recommend that you take some time and pay a visit to the U.S Consulate office in Vancouver. You can explain your situation with, and ask your questions of, a Consulate officer. Most importantly you will get back clear and correct information.

Anything you get from one of these forums is strictly someone's opinion.

And this one is mine.....!
YMMV
-dg

hamster

8 CFR 217.2(c)(2)

"Any Visa Waiver Pilot Program applicant arriving at a land border port-of-entry must provide evidence to the immigration officer of financial solvency and a domicile abroad to which the applicant intends to return. An applicant arriving at a land-border port-of-entry will be charged a fee as prescribed in § 103.7(b)(1) of this chapter for issuance of Form I-94W, Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Form. A round-trip transportation ticket is not required of applicants at land border ports-of-entry."

Basically, you're admitted at the discretion of the border patrol agent. If "domicile abroad" is a house in Greece where you haven't lived for 3 years, the odds of getting through on a VWP sound like a coin toss to me, and the safer course of action may be to get a visitor visa from the U.S. consulate before trying to cross. You still need to document financial solvency, etc. and to explain to the consul why you don't want to buy the ticket up front.

ch3

that makes sense
I'll try to get to the U.S Consulate office some time soon and I will post the outcome here.

thanks a lot

Boudicca

It's all up to the customs person. I arrived in Canada by bus once, without a ticket out, and the customs guy asked very aggressively how much money I had. I showed him a wallet of credit cards and he seemed happy.

If you have the money, how about buying a fully refundable ticket to somewhere in Europe? Once you know when you will be flying back you cash in that ticket and buy a cheap one.

ch3

So I went to the embassy here in Vancouver and the officer said that a return flight is not a must. With a Greek E-Passport and since I already have an ESTA and visited the US several times, I should be fine. But then of course he said the more information I have with me, the easier it will be. Most likely I will get the flight before hand to be safe. And also in the worst case scenario that something goes wrong, I will be able to go back to Canada for a few days on a special exemption VISA, to short my things out and then fly back to europe.