My girlfriend has been granted a second 6 month tourist visa and becoz we aren't sure when she/we aren't going back to Los....can she buy a one way ticket to uk. Any real examples appreciated

I had the same question myself as we didn't know how long we were going to stay in the uk once the visa was issued. On the VISA we put we were going on a 2 week holiday but ended up staying the full six months!

We got a six month open ticket so we could change the dates. When we both entered the uk we could produce a return ticket. After a week of being in the uk I just called the airline and changed the return flight dates.

In answer to your question it just depends on the guy behind the desk in the uk border control. If they are having a bad day it would be easy for them to say she has a one way so it's possible she might not return.

I would say it is not a good idea as it does not suggest a commitment to return.

The guy on the desk at Heathrow may well feel the same and deny entry.

In my opinion not worth the risk.

There is nothing in the UK immigration rules to say that visitors must have a return or onward ticket.

However, on arrival at a UK port of entry immigration may ask for such a ticket or evidence that she has the means with which to purchase one, either from her own resources or that of another person such as yourself.

Not for the UK, but for Aus my wife only had a one way ticket on a 6 month visa.

Was no issues, and if there is then you can speak to imm officers. Assumption you will be there to meet her at the airport.

Seems like a bit of a gamble. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

In principle nothing to stop her using a one way ticket but it is likely to lead to a bit more questioning. As long as she has a satisfactory explanation and can show means to pay for the return leg the delay may be minimal.

Not really worth the hassle and slight risk of refusal to enter. Unless things have changed Thai bought tickets may be a bit more expensive but are much easier to change flight dates.

All depends on what you said on the VAF.

If you have changed your minds as to duration of visit and hold no r/ t then there may be an accumulation of circumstancial evidence indicating some other purpose warranting the officer to examine in greater detail.

Is buying 2 singles better/cheaper than buying an open return ?

I would say a lot depends on what she put one he visa application, ie, if you are a low budget traveller, and with many airlines it can be very difficult to purchase economy tickets at short notice, if she said her intentions were to only stay a few weeks this may well cause the Immigration Officer at "port of entry" to be suspicious of her intentions and it may take a lot of explaining.

As already put it is well known fact that in most cases a two single tickets are a lot more expensive than a return, so why would any one do this, I can see only two reasons, not to disclose the intended date of return or they do not intend to return.

Not for the UK, but for Aus my wife only had a one way ticket on a 6 month visa.

Was no issues, and if there is then you can speak to imm officers. Assumption you will be there to meet her at the airport.

Shouldn't be an issue at inbound immigration in Aus or the UK but it CAN be an issue to even get on the plane from the Thai end. My fiancee was asked for proof of onward/return travel for a THAI flight from Bangkok to Sydney back in September. She had a flight coming back on Singapore Airlines.

The check-in lady, who was probably new even suggested that she may have problems at Aus immigration because her itinerary was not a straightforward return trip on the same airline. After hearing this story (I was waiting in Sydney for her at the time) I was actually angry at that check-in lady for making such a ridiculous suggestion - I mean, there is nothing that says anyone anywhere in the world needs to fly out of a country on the same airline, or even back to the same city. Absolutely ludicrous that she even made that suggestion, but I guess she wasn't well informed.

But as my example shows, I'd be much more wary of clueless Thai check-in agents than immigration at your destination as they presumably will be OK with sufficient funds or other means to show that the traveller will go back home. Only if the traveller looks like they're at the end of the road and don't have an outbound ticket either would not having one be a problem, as far as Aus/UK immigration are concerned.

There is nothing in the UK immigration rules to say that visitors must have a return or onward ticket.

However, on arrival at a UK port of entry immigration may ask for such a ticket or evidence that she has the means with which to purchase one, either from her own resources or that of another person such as yourself.

Don't you contradict yourself now?

If there is nothing about in UK immigration law, then where get the immigration officer the right to ask for the return ticket?

There is nothing in the UK immigration rules to say that visitors must have a return or onward ticket.

However, on arrival at a UK port of entry immigration may ask for such a ticket or evidence that she has the means with which to purchase one, either from her own resources or that of another person such as yourself.

Don't you contradict yourself now?

If there is nothing about in UK immigration law, then where get the immigration officer the right to ask for the return ticket?

No he doesn't contradict himself, because UK Immigration Law does state that a Border Force Officer must satisfy themselves that the passenger is likely to leave the UK at the conclusion of the planned visit, so whilst a return ticket isn't compulsory, as 7by7 rightly says, evidence that the passenger has the means to leave the UK is.

The Border Force Officer will also be aware that possession of a return ticket doesn't necessarily mean the passenger will leave the country.

There is nothing in the UK immigration rules to say that visitors must have a return or onward ticket.

However, on arrival at a UK port of entry immigration may ask for such a ticket or evidence that she has the means with which to purchase one, either from her own resources or that of another person such as yourself.

Don't you contradict yourself now?

If there is nothing about in UK immigration law, then where get the immigration officer the right to ask for the return ticket?

No he doesn't contradict himself, because UK Immigration Law does state that a Border Force Officer must satisfy themselves that the passenger is likely to leave the UK at the conclusion of the planned visit, so whilst a return ticket isn't compulsory, as 7by7 rightly says, evidence that the passenger has the means to leave the UK is.

The Border Force Officer will also be aware that possession of a return ticket doesn't necessarily mean the passenger will leave the country.

But he will be aware that the lack of a return ticket will most likely mean the intention of no return.

But he will be aware that the lack of a return ticket will most likely mean the intention of no return.

Not necessarily so, the officer doesn't always ask for sight of a return ticket, they will be aware that many people have flexible travel plans and prefer to purchase a ticket out of the UK, I know a number of people who purchase return tickets from the UK returning on the second leg. The officer will be aware that a return ticket doesn't mean the person is going to fly. The rules are that a person must be able to demonstrate they have the means to leave the UK.

So to put your point to bed, 7by7 was correct in his post, and to answer the original question, a return ticket isn't a must, the ability to demonstrate you have the means and the intention to leave the UK at the conclusion of the visit is.