Job Discussion Forums

lovetowander · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Australia temp..

Hi all,
My friend and I are travelling into Europe soon, starting in Spain.
She is looking at doing her ESL course in Prague and is concerned about coming in on a one way ticket. As we are going to just mainly travel for a year or two, we don't want a return ticket, but some bright spark at a travel agency has put the fear of god into her and she is worried she will fly over and get sent back if she doens't have a return ticket.
Who is it we talk to that can clarify that for her. She has plenty of money to support herself. I can't see why it would be a problem
I have a UK passport, I'm hoping that isn't a problem either, to country hop and travel. Any advise would be great thanks! Smile

Cheers

sweeney66 · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 147 Location: "home"

A one way ticket sets off a red flag with immigration officers,even if you are willing to tolerate a big hassle while proving that you're solvent, you can be detained for further questioning. It's happened twice to me, and one time took twelve hours. Better to buy a return ticket and throw the other half away, IMO.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

If your friend is not an EU member citizen, she can legally only be inside the Schengen zone for 90 days. Then, legally, she must be outside the zone for 90 days before returning.

With your UK passport, you will have no problems, but your friend does indeed incur a risk trying to country-hop in Europe for longer than 90 days.

Google Schengen zone for a list of countries - but it's now comprehensively 'Europe.'

lovetowander · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Australia temp..

Thanks for the info.
So how to all these young backpackers move around for a year or so without any problems?
Surely there must be a way around it.
We rang the british embassy to check on the rules and they said as long as she has a ticket leaving the Uk , which in this case is Spain, she is ok with a one way ticket.

lovetowander · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Australia temp..

Just incase I dont find a way around this. If you are in Europe, where is the easiest and cheapest place to hop too for 90 days lol and then back!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

All those backpacking days for non-EU citizens are probably over. These new Schengen laws began to be enforced in January 2008.

Croatia is a nice place to spend 90 days, though. For example.

bretth71 · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Location: USA/Texas

I am in a similar situation. I will be going to France to study this month, and obviously cannot buy a flight far enough in the future so I was going to buy a one way ticket. I have my student visa though and have to get my carte de sejour (student resident card) upon arrival. Do you think I'll get any major hassles as far as one way flight or should it be no problem?
Thanks,
Brett

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It sho0ldn't be a problem, since you've got the student visa. You've got a clear and obvious reason not to have a round trip ticket.

Canehdian · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject:

I just discovered what bretth71 mentioned, about: obviously, cannot buy a flight far enough in the future. I tried the safe route of using a travel agent (trusting their judgement more than my own for travel!), and was told that airlines only post scheduals 9 months in advance, tops. Is it like that everywhere? When I asked her to try booking an open-ended ticket for 12 monthes in the future, the computer-itinerary could only show the date August 2008 instead of 2009. I hadn't realized it was basically impossible to book a 12 month return flight. In the end, my return ticket is schedualed for 9 monthes in the future, and I'll just have to change the dates when it's possible to do that. I emailed the embassy, asking if it will be a problem to have a ticket that doesn't match my length of stay on the visa application, and they just said as long as I can explain the problem, it's fine. The important thing is to have a return flight. So, is this a typical ticket situation? Has anybody had entry problems because of this?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Who do you expect to examine your ticket in the Czech Rep? It's not going to happen with the border police at the airport, unless you look suspicious or have a dodgy passport or something else egregious.

Remember, Prague's international airport processes 12-14 MILLION tourists yearly - unless you stand out for some reason, it's highly unlikely that you're going to be asked anything upon entry.

When you go to file for legal residency/working permits, then you will be able to explain your ticket, in case you're asked. You've got a perfectly logical reason for your ticket details, and I'm sure you'll have no problems on account of it.

The Czech Rep may have a few vestiges of 'police state' mentality left, but they almost NEVER apply to innocent newbies and tourists coming in.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

In fact, I entered with a one-way ticket in March, using just my US passport. No questions. Have done several times in the past.

Yes, I have permanent residency documents for the Czech Rep, but no one was interested.