Booking one way flight to USA

[Wandering Star]

I need to sail my new (old) boat back from Florida in May. In the past I've always booked return flights because for some unfathomable reason they're cheaper than one way. Rightly or wrongly I've always sailed away and then posted the second half of the visa waiver form back to the Immigration people.

For some reason, possibly to do with increasingly onerous security procedures, or possibly due to myself having a less "gung ho" attitude in my twilight years, I'm feeling a little apprehensive about using a return ticket and would prefer to book a one way flight and disclose the fact I'll be leaving the USA on my own boat a week later.

How will that place me with the Homeland Security /immigration people? Will they kick me out before I arrive? Can I still use the visa waiver scheme if I show my ships papers etc? Do I need a "proper" visa and if so, what type - I've looked at the USA visa application website but still can't decide which visa I need to apply for.

Any advice for least hassle entry (and exit by sea) glady received.

Cheers, Brian.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Fly to Mexico. Walk across the border. Seems to work.

 

[idpnd]

Fly to Mexico. Walk across the border. Seems to work.

Florida isnt clever for that scheme. Although Ive done it and can confirm it works.

If I were you I'd just get a return and evaporate, I promise you the sort of palaver you'd be getting yourself into with the moronic US boarder service would be obscene!!

 

[scej]

THat shouldnt be a problem. why don't you call homeland security in Miami and discuss it with them I found them to be very helpful when i had queries.

 

[bigwow]

Just try hacking into their government computers; they’ll fly you out there, one way all expenses paid.

 

[BrendanS]

There's a flaw to that. You have to do it badly and get caught!

 

[idpnd]

plus you might end up in Cuba

 

[Heckler]

Florida isnt clever for that scheme. Although Ive done it and can confirm it works.

If I were you I'd just get a return and evaporate, I promise you the sort of palaver you'd be getting yourself into with the moronic US boarder service would be obscene!!

Wouldnt do that, my mate played fast and loose like that in the 90s, they got him. Next time he went in they fined him $200 and said he must get a visa for next time, so it was a long day in London for him! V po faced officer put him in his place.
Stu

 

[VO5]

Flobbergob, please ignore all the flippant comments because the Homeland Security people are draconian, really obseesed squared.

What you must do is get a return ticket. Before you do this apply for a visa waiver online. Then when you have been given the go ahead which takes 20 mins then give your flight details etc.,

When you arrive in the USA explain to them you are on holiday. ...that your intention is to do some sailing on your boat in Florida, for sea trials. Show them the Ships papers. Show them your return ticket. Tell them you are looking forward to beautiful weather in their lovely country....blah blah...

Sail away on your boat. Get to Europe. Send them your exit stubs accompanied by a stamped letter from a notary explaining you have appeared in front of him or her in person. Send the letter Registered so it does not get LOST. Include in your letter that you decided to sail across the Atlantic instead of coasting along but you did not find who to notify...

Send it to the following address:~

ACS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road,
London KY40744
USA.

I stongly suggest you do not deviate from the above, otherwise all you will experience will be grief, grief and yet more grief.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[Richard Shead]

Virgin

Atlantic do crew deals (as in yacht crew), you will have to dig around for it, if you have no joy let me know.

To add you wont be able to do your waiver without a return or check in with a British Passport unless you have a US passport or return ticket. Unless this has changed very recently.

 

[pteron]

You are certainly not allowed to enter the US on a private boat without a visa - the visa waiver scheme does not apply. Are you allowed to exit on a private boat on the visa waiver scheme? If you get it wrong and they find out, they can be terribly difficult about future trips.

Wouldn't somewhere like noonsite be a better resource?

 

[VO5]

You are certainly not allowed to enter the US on a private boat without a visa - the visa waiver scheme does not apply. Are you allowed to exit on a private boat on the visa waiver scheme? If you get it wrong and they find out, they can be terribly difficult about future trips.

Wouldn't somewhere like noonsite be a better resource?

The problem is....the answer to the question of leaving the US on a private boat is that there is no answer anyone will give with certainty. Therefore the prudent thing to do is as I have explained in my previous post.

What is there to get it wrong (for an owner - not a crew member) ? Nothing.

I have explained it very clearly in my previous post on this thread.

 

[snowleopard]

It sounds simplistic but why not get an ordinary visa. It costs a bit and takes time but doesn't have the potential hassle of the waiver scheme.

As a separate issue, turning up with a one-way ticket is always going to be difficult. The standard method is to carry a letter fromthe boat's captain to say he will be carrying you out of the country. It should work eventually but they will put you through the mill.

The best way of avoiding trouble is a visa and a return ticket. The outbound clearance should complete the formalities.

 

[st599]

Under no circumstances:

Get a free flight from a paper
Take your Uni bag full of circuit diagrams on scraps of paper
Get pissed during an 8 hour stopover in Reykjavik
Turn up with no hotel booked and no knowledge of what you'll be doing other than a basketball ticket
Point out the bit on the search form that says your bag will neatly be re-packed

The innocence of youth was quickly degraded on that trip. Just rock up though, because Homeland Security treat everyone like a scumbag anyway.

 

[KellysEye]

Get a B1/B2 visa this allows you unlimited entry to the US by non-scheduled carrier. If you have a boat problem and need to return you (and crew) must have that. On arrival have a piece of paper with copy of the flight you arrived on, your depature date, where you are leaving from, boat name, skipper and crew names and passport numbers, preferably with the ship's stamp on it. They will also ask for your boat papers so have a copy and possibly insurance so copy that too.

 

[Spicemariner]

Have PM'd you.

 

[pteron]

The problem is....the answer to the question of leaving the US on a private boat is that there is no answer anyone will give with certainty. Therefore the prudent thing to do is as I have explained in my previous post.

What is there to get it wrong (for an owner - not a crew member) ? Nothing.

I have explained it very clearly in my previous post on this thread.

If they follow your procedure and the US immigration decide that leaving on a visa waiver is not allowed then they will forever have problems returning. US immigration are not known for their friendliness and tend not to be interested in people's claims that they didn't know what to do or that they decided to leave when they'd previously said they were cruising.

There will be a right way to do it.

 

[V1701]

Would anyone sell you a one way flight anyway? When I went back to South America I couldn't get anyone to sell me one so bought the cheapest return I could find and didn't show up for the return flight...

 

[prv]

Would anyone sell you a one way flight anyway?

I quite often need one-way flights to join or return from a voyage on Stavros. Can't say I've ever had trouble finding one. Last time I used it, Opodo was particularly good at booking what they call "Open Jaw" itineraries (fly out to point A, return from point B).

Pete

 

[VO5]

If they follow your procedure and the US immigration decide that leaving on a visa waiver is not allowed then they will forever have problems returning. US immigration are not known for their friendliness and tend not to be interested in people's claims that they didn't know what to do or that they decided to leave when they'd previously said they were cruising.

There will be a right way to do it.

Yes, the first priority is to get in. They are very fussy as to who they let in and who they don't. Then the second priority is not to have any hassle getting in or staying there for the 3 months allowed. Then to them the arrangement I have described in my previous post is perfectly acceptable as long as the voucher is sent back in good time.

I don't agree with your comment about US Immigration not being known for their friendliness. My experiences are quite the contrary. I have always found them polite and friendly.

Their concern is to stop people from pretending they are staying three months as a visitor and then remaining there. They try to assess if the visitor has any reason to tell a fib just to get in and stay there. They don't want scumbags getting in under false pretences and squatting there, lurking.

Let's put it another way round. If you can show, if requested that you have no interest in staying there because you have committments of a business or a profession or whatever outside the US that you need to return to, they will rapidly lose interest.

If, they feel that you have no roots outside and no committments or a business or a profession that needs your return and presence then their interest will become intense.

That also is why sometimes they will ask you what funds you have at your disposal.

I always reply that the legal limit of US $ you can carry is 10,000, then therefore to comply with US Law I carry $9,999= in cash per person, and I pull it out and show it to them plus my US Bank Account Chequebook and Card, and I say I hope not to spend all of it as I have to get back home to my profession, that I cannot abandon for more than a few weeks, much as I enjoy visiting their country.

When SWMBO travels with me she follows exactly the same procedure.

That's it !