Potential check-in/boarding problems with one-way ticket to USA?
My family and I are New Zealand (NZ) citizens and legal residents of Mexico. We are currently in NZ, and are due to return to Mexico via a one-way flight to the US (LAX) and driving to Mexico. We have B1/B2 visas for the US.
When we first moved to Mexico we travelled under ESTA and were required to have onward tickets from the US (this was required at the airport in NZ, it was not an issue when we arrived in the US).
If we try to check-in at Auckland Airport to the US are we going to run into this same requirement now that we have the B1/B2 visas? Will the airline allow us to board without an onward ticket?
Best Answer
You don't need an onward ticket to enter the US if you travel on a visa. It is only necessary if you are traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. You should have no problem with the airline, as Timatic (the database which airlines use to verify passenger travel documents) makes it clear that the return/onward ticket is only necessary when using VWP.
Visa required, except for Nationals of New Zealand with a biometric passport (with an electronic chip symbol on the cover) and an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). They must travel as a tourist, on business or in transit, for a maximum stay of 90 days. (SEE NOTE 60190)
NOTE 60190: Passengers must have a return/onward ticket.
When a country requires onward tickets of all travelers of a given nationality, even with a visitor visa, Timatic will show the following text: "Visitors not holding return/onward tickets may be refused entry." This is not present for this nationality/destination pair.
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Can you enter the US with a one way ticket?
3. Re: One way ticket to the USA? You would have to get a visa, the Visa Waiver Program REQUIRES you to have a ticket out of the US as part of it's conditions.What are the reasons for denied boarding?
Non-Discriminatory Reasons For Being Denied Boarding- Being intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs.
- Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member.
- Disrupting flight operations or engaging in unruly behavior.
- Having an offensive odor that is not caused by a disability or illness.
Why an airline might deny boarding to US visa holder?
If you are traveling on a tourist visa, the airline might stop you from boarding based on its suspicion that CBP will deny you entry because you don't intend to return to your home country or you intend to work in the United States.Can you travel internationally with a one way ticket?
They don't want to risk having to fly you back if there's an issue. You can travel internationally on one-way tickets many times and not get asked anything, then one day you can be denied boarding. The reality is that a lot depends on the airline's policies, where you are trying to fly, and if you are unlucky that day.A Basic Guide to Layovers
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