Visitor visa holder flying to Canada on 1 way ticket. Any problems? (and other related questions)

[chronochromie]

Hello,

My husband and I will fly to Canada early next year with the intention of filing an inland application as soon as we arrive. We've already booked 1 way tickets from Vietnam - Canada, but now I'm worried that'll be an issue. Anyone have experience with this? Also:

• My husband is about nervous about being turned away at the airport. Does he have any reason to be? (He's already been to Canada once, didn't overstay.)
• Any recent info about wait times for open work permits?

Thanks!

Stacey

 

[scylla]

Hello,

My husband and I will fly to Canada early next year with the intention of filing an inland application as soon as we arrive. We've already booked 1 way tickets from Vietnam - Canada, but now I'm worried that'll be an issue. Anyone have experience with this? Also:

• My husband is about nervous about being turned away at the airport. Does he have any reason to be? (He's already been to Canada once, didn't overstay.)
• Any recent info about wait times for open work permits?

Thanks!

Stacey

Yes, there's definitely a chance the airline will turn him away. You won't know until you get there. Airlines expect visitors to have two way tickets since they don't wnat to be responsible for covering the costs of a return flight in the event a temporary visitor is refused entry. It's a dice roll on whether he'll be allowed to board or not.

Unfortunately open work permit wait times are quite long right now. Plan on 8+ months.

 

[chronochromie]

Yes, there's definitely a chance the airline will turn him away. You won't know until you get there. Airlines expect visitors to have two way tickets since they don't wnat to be responsible for covering the costs of a return flight in the event a temporary visitor is refused entry. It's a dice roll on whether he'll be allowed to board or not.

Unfortunately open work permit wait times are quite long right now. Plan on 8+ months.

Hmmmm. That makes sense about the one-way ticket. I can't get a refund but I can just book another one-way back. Or bite the bullet and just eat the loss to buy a separate round-trip for him.

 

[scylla]

Hmmmm. That makes sense about the one-way ticket. I can't get a refund but I can just book another one-way back. Or bite the bullet and just eat the loss to buy a separate round-trip for him.

One thing you can do is see what happens at the airport. If they don't want to let him board, buy a one way return flight on the spot. Generally a very expensive way to go but that seems to have worked for others who ran into issues.

Of course it's also possible he may have no issues boarding. It's really impossible to say.

 

[chronochromie]

One thing you can do is see what happens at the airport. If they don't want to let him board, buy a one way return flight on the spot. Generally a very expensive way to go but that seems to have worked for others who ran into issues.

Of course it's also possible he may have no issues boarding. It's really impossible to say.

I think it's better safe than sorry. I'm going to call Air Canada to see if two 1 way tickets would be sufficient, or maybe they can change his to a round-trip.

Thanks so much for your response, it was really helpful!

 

[armoured]

I think it's better safe than sorry. I'm going to call Air Canada to see if two 1 way tickets would be sufficient, or maybe they can change his to a round-trip.

I have found (and discussions with contacts/friends have all been same) that for years now, airlines have not asked about this, and basically same with border officials (minor exceptions about some internal schengen politics). But again, I cannot say this will be the same for everyone. With easy availability of oneway tickets online and the disappearance (mostly) of the one-way premium, it's just different now.

One point: if the spouse has a USA visa or visa waiver country (or whatever the USA calls it), fairly likely airlines will be okay with "he's travelling later to/through USA." For USA airlines understand many will travel by land and that tickets available online at any time.

Again, usual caveats apply.

 

[chronochromie]

I have found (and discussions with contacts/friends have all been same) that for years now, airlines have not asked about this, and basically same with border officials (minor exceptions about some internal schengen politics). But again, I cannot say this will be the same for everyone. With easy availability of oneway tickets online and the disappearance (mostly) of the one-way premium, it's just different now.

One point: if the spouse has a USA visa or visa waiver country (or whatever the USA calls it), fairly likely airlines will be okay with "he's travelling later to/through USA." For USA airlines understand many will travel by land and that tickets available online at any time.

Again, usual caveats apply.

I think we may just book a refundable one way from Canada back to Vietnam to make sure we have our bases covered. Thanks for taking the time to share, I appreciate it!