What if the visa is denied? Some ticket bookings may be non-refundable especially for promo fares.

For most countries, visas are just a tourist tax and being denied is quite rare. For people though in developing countries going to certain 1st world countries, well then denials can and do happen if the consular officer isn't convinced they'll leave on time (or at all). In the later case one can always book a cancellable/refundable ticket that you have no intention of using except the visa issuance process. Really this doesn't even have to be to/from your home country, just to show you're entering and leaving the country where you need the visa for. You'd be surprised how many airlines outside of N. America and Europe have extremely generous refund policies, even on lower fare class tickets. Mileage tickets are usually also fully cancellable with minimal to no penalties depending on your frequent flyer status.

Does promo fares allow refunds?

What if the scenario is, an airline is selling promo fares for flights to a country that requires a visa? So he bought the ticket and then applied for the visa. But visa was denied and ticket cannot be refunded because it's a promo fare ticket?

Easy workaround:
Option 1 - book fully refundable fare and cancel afterwards.
Option 2 - find an airline which flies to the destination and has a policy of full refund within 24h. Book the flight before leaving for interview, cancel afterwards.

Generally even non refundable fares include clauses allowing refunds in the case off a visa denial

I think OP may be thinking something like finding a good fare in the MR forum or "good deals" threads, booking it immediately to lock in the fare, then having to enter a visa process that takes several days or weeks.

Denials are rare, but this does seem to leave the door open to getting stuck with an unusable ticket.

Also, I would assume that most people outside of FT aren't running around booking spare refundable tickets for this purpose. If you're taking a family of four somewhere that requires a visa, that could tie up quite a bit of credit during the process.

Some airlines let you cancel the flight if you don't get the visa. (e.g. LH going to Russia). It's specifically stated in the fare rules.

I think of these are people from third-world countries going to first. A visa isn't a sure thing. And I'm pretty sure promo fares don't allow refunds because a visa wasn't obtained.

I think the minority is people on FT who do mileage-runs to places that need visas (Saudi Arabia comes to mind). You don't have much time to book it, but then realize the visa takes forever (and you may not get it).

But yea, I don't understand why you need a ticket. Can't anyone just buy a refundable ticket, and cancel the return?

Yes, I'm from a third world country. And visa to first world country denials are pretty common.

Though I have never been denied a visa, I just find it odd that embassies list tickets as primary requirements in obtaining a visa when one is not sure of being granted one.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...y-maker-2.html

I will back this up. From where I'm from (Philippines), the denial percentage for a US tourist/business visa is 30%. (Source.)

Why? Because apparently US consuls are trained to assume that me, Mr. Visa Applicant, will overstay and immigrate illegally unless "they can demonstrate that their familial, social, professional, and economic ties to the Philippines are compelling enough for them to return after a temporary stay in the US."

It's not exactly a welcoming policy - we're presumed guilty, and have to prove we're innocent.

30% is not that bad - country where my brother lives has denial rate of >60% exactly for that reason you've outlined - 7 people from 10 with tourist visas in last decade did not return back and stayed illegally.

If the visa applicant has the intention of not returning to his country and will choose to live illegally in the country where he is applying the visa for, then I don't think a return ticket will persuade him not to overstay.

I really think this ticket requirement for visa application should be removed.

The same policy is applied by almost all developed countries (e.g. UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, Italy, Canada, Sweden etc.).

It's not necessarily the fear of overstaying in and of itself. It's more they don't want you to get there and not be able to afford to leave, hence the requirement of the proof of a ticket out of the country.

And I've had to provide proof of return ticket for visas for African countries.