Has anyone had any experience of flying into the US on an open-dated RTW ticket, and using the Visa Waiver programme (I-94W) ? We normally travel on Visa Waiver, but since we will not have onward tickets dated within 90 days (as they will be opendated) and the leg into the US will be our first, we could theoretically be in the US for a year.

Anyone have any experience, before we spend $200 applying for B2 visas.

ta
Stewart

you don't need obligatory a confirmed return flights - but you may provide other (written/printed) reasonable proof that you will leave the country not later than 90 days after immigration.

I very seldom (but it happens) have been asked to show my return ticket at immigration (but always how long that I intend to stay: in your case I would than answer: we will leave not later than ...) - but always at check-in for the transatlantic flight from the airline (and for them an open ticket should be just as fine as any fully exchangeable full price return ticket.

Such proof could be, as an example, printed hotel reservations outside the USA, etc.

From a practical standpoint, 999 times out of 1000 you will not have a problem with an open ticket. However, there is always the 1 ........ officer who decides to enforce the letter of the law rather than the spirit.

A lot will depend on the transporting carrier. Some will NOT board you on a flight to the US without a verifiable return/onward ticket if traveling under the VWP. I suggest you check with the carrier first and make sure that they are ok with it, as they will be the ones fined if you are denied entry.

Finally, an easy end-around of this regulation is to book an award itinerary (unticketed) back to your home country for some date within 90 days of entry. Carry a copy of this itin with you, show it to the officer only if specifically requested and cancel it once you have been granted entry.