One Way Ticket for Crew Member

[tolly]

I am planning to sail home my Prout 50 Quasar catamaran from Florida to Sweden this summer. Then I read in Noonsite about a crewmember for a boat being refused to enter a country (not US as far as I know) with a oneway ticket, regardless of the reason.
Does anyone know what the rules are in US for a sailing crew arriving by plane, planning to leave by boat?
Rolf

[daddle]

Probably something unreasonable and everchanging. It the USA. Generally buy a full fare ticket that is fully refundable.

[bstreep]

A one way ticket is generally indicative of someone not wishing to leave... I would get documentation together, write a letter of explanation, and visit a local US Embassy. A one-way ticket WILL get a LOT of scrutiny when traveling.

Or, as above, buy a refundable round trip.

[zydecotoad]

When flying to Bermuda to crew on a return to the USA, I had a letter from the captain/owner telling customs why I was there, what boat, name of captain. Bermuda is used to this, US customs might need more investigation.

I suggest visiting a Embassy and writing to customs.

[daddle]

BTW, that full fare refundable ticket only needs to be onward, usually, so it could be to the Bahamas or some cheap leg elsewhere...

[Bash]

You will not be able to enter the country on a visa waver without a return ticket. However, you should not have problems with most regular visas. You will be able to find out when you apply for a visa which particular one suits your agenda.

Keep in mind that US immigration is fluid, at best. Every time someone tries to enter the country with plastic explosives in his skivvies, the rules change. I've returned to the USA twice already in 2010, and both times the procedures have been different.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by tolly

.
Does anyone know what the rules are in US for a sailing crew arriving by plane, planning to leave by boat?
Rolf

Hi Rolf,

I have done it a number of times.

For NON USA people (like me) it is reallllllly important to understand the USA has particular security problems. They try hard to help out with the Visa Waiver program but thats ONLY for the nicely packaged tourist.
Boat crews and people going to the USA to backpack around, or buy a boat or crew on a boat etc its like the square peg.

There is one brilliant and easy way if you are from a quality country like Europe, Australia, NZ, Canada etc and thats to get a 5 year multiple entry visa.
Then you can flit in and out of the USA when ever, whereever you like!!
I still carry proof of funds and docs of where I am going, crew letters etc.

Then when rolling up to any door into the USA its like: "Hello! Welcome!"

Every globe trotting, lets wander the world, type dude... (us!) should get a long Multiple entry visa every time they get a new passport.

Funnily enough the USA visa also works in many other countries! Why? Because anytime an Immigration official in any other country sees the Multiple Entry USA visa they think you are not a security risk and that opens doors


Mark

[Zanshin]

The one-way ticket is not primarily a US-Immigration issue. It is an airline issue. Air carriers are bound to immediately return any passengers that are not accepted for entry into the country; at their cost. Thus they are generally the ones enforcing the return-ticket rule.
the point might me moot, as I have yet to see a 1-way fare to the USA which is cheaper than the same flight 2-way. I've often bought round-trip tickets and then never used the return leg.