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Posted By: ossumt one way ticket - 12/05/09 06:55 PM
I have a question ....I am coming back to San Pedro in January and I have no plans on coming back to the states ....Is it legal for me to just buy a one way ticket to Belize....When i went to Jamaica I bought a one way ticket and planed on staying until i was tired then move on but customs detained me and made me buy a ticket back to the states and give them a date I would be leaving ......Well any info would be great
Tony
Posted By: SnoopysMom Re: one way ticket - 12/05/09 07:01 PM
My experience is that the US Airlines require that you have a return trip within 30 days. I believe that as long as you have a reservation, they will accept that (as opposed to an actual purchased ticket). I was once required to purchase a change ticket because my return was > 30 days, which was quite expensive.

PS: I have found that the RT ticket prices are about the same as one way anyway and they have always worked with me on changing the return flights way past the 30 days.
Posted By: BrusselSprout Re: one way ticket - 12/05/09 07:17 PM
I've been here almost 2 years now, just got my residency and no one ever asked me for my plane tickets. I think the law is that you should have one. And if you look super shady, maybe they ask? But i doubt it. One way seems fine.

I've just found that one way is almost as expensive as round trip.
Posted By: SnoopysMom Re: one way ticket - 12/05/09 07:50 PM
My understanding is that the primary issue is on the US end... they won't allow you to board the plane until you demonstrate your return plans (in the case of Belize, it is 30 days max).

My friend who was flying on a one way to Mexico. They almost didn't allow him to board, but caved when he told them he was flying back on a private jet before 30 days.
Posted By: MisterB266 Re: one way ticket - 12/05/09 11:12 PM
First, most countries usually have some sort of regulation/rule/law that any visitor must have an onward ticket out of the country they are entering. Without an onward ticket, you COULD be refused entry. It helps if you carry proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself, and your appearance is such that you appear to have money to support yourself.

I've been around the world a few times, and only once on a 6 week visit to the UK was I ever asked about a return ticket. I've never been asked for one when entering Belize, or entering Mexico on my way to Belize.

The issue with the airlines, as I understand it, is that the airline has to pay the cost to get you back to your departure point IF you are refused entry. Therefore, it's the airline (and/or the travel agent) that tries to ensure you have a return ticket.

In Belize, the initial 30-day stamp can be easily renewed at any immigration office. This is one common way of beginning the process to obtain permanent residency, so (and I don't know if anyone has tried this) if anyone questions you, just say you are planning to get residency, and you have to stay in the country for 12 months continuously. I'm sure the Belizean officials understand this. After all, for the first 12 months, they still have the option every month of not renewing the 30 days.
Posted By: hansen Re: one way ticket - 12/06/09 12:15 AM
The One Way Ticket Trick::
--getting around the outrageous one-way ticket fares--
(i use American Airlines)

For the ticket TO Belize, select the low priced non-refundable ticket fare.
For the RETURNING ticket select the high priced yet refundable option.

As soon as you arrive in Belize, or I guess you can do it whenever you like, cancel the return flight. Do the opposite when you are ready to return to the US.
Posted By: ossumt Re: one way ticket - 12/06/09 01:06 AM
thank you for all for your input
Tony
Posted By: A C Re: one way ticket - 12/06/09 10:04 PM
Originally Posted by hansen
The One Way Ticket Trick::
--getting around the outrageous one-way ticket fares--
(i use American Airlines)

For the ticket TO Belize, select the low priced non-refundable ticket fare.
For the RETURNING ticket select the high priced yet refundable option.

As soon as you arrive in Belize, or I guess you can do it whenever you like, cancel the return flight. Do the opposite when you are ready to return to the US.


slick heh
Posted By: Amanda Syme Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 02:34 PM
Don't take any LEGAL advice from this board and its members - even if they are attorneys. Check with immigration. Indeed many folks are asked to produce their return tickets or onward tickets. Unless you have legal residency in this country you could be subject to deportation or refused a renewal of your visitor's visa and then you will be expected to leave - at your expense. The big bummer here is that if you are refused a renewal of your visa or you are deported for non-compliance you may not be able to return.
Posted By: wade the gringo Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 02:49 PM
I am looking into doing the following next year.... I met someone that did it last year.

I am legal in Belize, so i don't need to worry about immigration. As Amanda said , check it out yourself first..

I am in Belize so I am looking at purchasing a one way airline ticket to Miami then jumping on a 8 day cruise out of FLL.
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Sat Mar 20 Fort Lauderdale, FL 4:00pm
Sun Mar 21 At Sea
Mon Mar 22 At Sea
Tue Mar 23 Colon, Panama 7:00am 5:00pm
Wed Mar 24 Puerto Limon, Costa Rica 7:00am 3:00pm
Thu Mar 25 At Sea
Fri Mar 26 Belize City, Belize 7:00am 4:00pm
Sat Mar 27 At Sea
Sun Mar 28 Fort Lauderdale, FL

The plan is to jump off in Belize....I have my passport stamped for a full year. so I do not need to deal with imagrations...
Posted By: Amanda Syme Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 04:15 PM
Looks like a fun trip Wade.
Posted By: shuffles Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 07:22 PM
Wade, you should be sure to check with the cruise line. We wanted to do that a couple years ago, except we wanted to get on the cruise ship in Belize City. Princess absolutely refused and told us that we had to travel port to port if we were on the cruise. Because of the sophisticated security they have on those ships now, your not returning after a day of port in Belize City could sound alarms unless you OK it with the cruise line first.

Many times we have flown out of Cancun to the US then back from the US into BZE. This generally saves us about $400.00 on each ticket, and its always nice to spend a couple of days in Playa before getting to the US.
Posted By: MisterB266 Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 08:19 PM
Originally Posted by Amanda Syme
Don't take any LEGAL advice from this board and its members


Obviously, that is common sense, but to which post are you referring that prompted you to make your comment?

According to the Department of Immigration, it is NOT illegal to enter Belize with a one-way ticket, and it is the decision of the Immigration Officer on duty whether or not to allow a visitor to enter Belize.
Posted By: Amanda Syme Re: one way ticket - 12/07/09 10:27 PM
Do I have to be referring to a specific post when I make a comment or observation?
Posted By: MisterB266 Re: one way ticket - 12/09/09 04:34 PM
Hi Amanda,

You should direct your question to the people who run this board.

I had a quick look at the FAQ and found this, "The first post of a given topic establishes the subject by which all subsequent replies will be known. Once there's been a reply, the topic subject cannot be subsequently changed."

So if your post has nothing to do with the topic, then is it correct to say that you have not followed the accepted conduct of the board?

I would have thought it more intelligent to keep posts within the topic being discussed.

Hope this helps.
Posted By: Amanda Syme Re: one way ticket - 12/09/09 05:34 PM
Thanks for your diligent research and reporting - go to the head of the class.

Don't take any legal advice from the Rules of a message board.
Posted By: SFJeff Re: one way ticket - 12/09/09 05:48 PM
Ossumt,

If you plan on staying in Belize indefinitely, the easiest thing to do is simply buy a round trip ticket (fabricate the return date, it does not matter.) Then, simply stay in Belize and go about the monthly stamping process at Immigration here.

What's that....?

Oh, yes, of course, the $$$ for the return leg will have gone to waste, but trust that the longer you stay in Belize, that tix $$$ will soon be overshadowed by all the other ways in which $$$ seems to evaporate here in Belize!!!
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