Single ticket for family visa

[Trevor1809]

I would like my step son to come to the UK on a single ticket then get him a single ticket when he returns a few weeks later. The reason being is my wife will be returning with him for her holiday and if he comes on a return then she will want to return on the same airline.

I suppose I could price up her ticket before he son comes over then get him a return ticket with the same airline. It will certainly be cheaper than 2 singles but if he does come on a single ticket will that be a problem with immigration?

[MaprangHolmes]

There should not be any problem arriving in the UK on a single ticket as there is not any requirement to have a return ticket when applying for a visa in fact they advise not buying one until the visa is issued your problem will be with the airlines as they may well be very reluctant to let your step son fly on a single ticket.

[billphillips]

Yep, no problem entering the UK on a one way ticket BUT leaving Bkk is another story. Check with the airline that they will allow passengers to travel to the UK on a one way and get it in writing.

[theoldgit]

No problem at the application stage as, as has been pointed out, the advice is not to purchase a non refundable ticket until the visa has been issued, but I suspect that wasn't really your question.

There is no actual requirement to have a return ticket when flying to the UK, there is a requirement to be able to demonstrate that you have the means available, and the intention, to leave the UK at the conclusion of the trip and clearly a return ticket is a reasonable way of doing that, though possession of a return ticket doesn't mean that the holder will actually use it.

Some Border Force Officers will ask for sight of a ticket and some don't, my good lady has been asked for a ticket about 50% of the time. I know a number of Border Force Officers, some tell me that they will routinely ask whilst others say they make a judgement on the day.

Certainly possession of a return ticket makes it easier for the officer and may reduce further questioning, but it isn't a requirement.

[MaprangHolmes]

Your main problem you will face, is finding an airline that will fly you out of BKK on a one way ticket as you another person has said if you do find an airline willing to fly you on a one way ticket make sure that they put that in writing for you.

Best of luck and have a good journey.

[billphillips]

The problem that you will possibly come up against is that some of the airlines won't let you check in with a one way ticket. Some do, some don't. Check and have it confirmed before you go.

[bigyin]

If you have a valid visa then the airline should not refuse to let you check in. I have come back to Thailand on a one way ticket quite a few times and they look for my visa in my passport. Once they see that they are happy. That was with Emirates. No visa then it is a problem.

[7by7]

As theoldgit says, there is no requirement under the immigration rules for a UK visitor to have a return or onward ticket.

However, they may be asked by UK immigration to produce such a ticket or show that they have the means available to them, from their own or a third party's resources, with which to purchase one. If unable to do either then they may be refused entry.

How often visitors are asked this, I can't say. My sister in law recently arrived in the UK as a visitor and carried a print out of her e ticket just in case; she wasn't asked for it.

There may be a possible problem with some airlines refusing to carry a visitor without a return ticket because they are subject to a large fine if they knowingly carry a passenger who does not meet the entry requirements for their destination and that passenger is refused entry.

However, airlines should be aware that the UK does not require a return or onward ticket; although some of their check in staff may not be. If you do have a problem, ask to speak to a supervisor who should know the rules, or be able to check them.

In addition; that the passenger holds a valid visa, and has therefore satisfied an ECO that they meet the requirements for same, including that they will leave the UK when or before their visa expires, means that even were that passenger refused entry to the UK for some reason the airline would not be fined. Their responsibility ends with checking that a valid visa, if required, is held.

Edited April 5, 2015 by 7by7

[MaprangHolmes]

 

As theoldgit says, there is no requirement under the immigration rules for a UK visitor to have a return or onward ticket.

However, they may be asked by UK immigration to produce such a ticket or show that they have the means available to them, from their own or a third party's resources, with which to purchase one. If unable to do either then they may be refused entry.

How often visitors are asked this, I can't say. My sister in law recently arrived in the UK as a visitor and carried a print out of her e ticket just in case; she wasn't asked for it.

There may be a possible problem with some airlines refusing to carry a visitor without a return ticket because they are subject to a large fine if they knowingly carry a passenger who does not meet the entry requirements for their destination and that passenger is refused entry.

However, airlines should be aware that the UK does not require a return or onward ticket; although some of their check in staff may not be. If you do have a problem, ask to speak to a supervisor who should know the rules, or be able to check them.

In addition; that the passenger holds a valid visa, and has therefore satisfied an ECO that they meet the requirements for same, including that they will leave the UK when or before their visa expires, means that even were that passenger refused entry to the UK for some reason the airline would not be fined. Their responsibility ends with checking that a valid visa, if required, is held.

 

Airlines should be away of the requirements but I have had problems with emirates with traveling on a one way ticket and know of many other people who have had the same problem hence why would always say get it in writing that traveling on a one way ticket is OK so you can show it at check in if you encounter any problems,

[Tony M]

 

As theoldgit says, there is no requirement under the immigration rules for a UK visitor to have a return or onward ticket.

However, they may be asked by UK immigration to produce such a ticket or show that they have the means available to them, from their own or a third party's resources, with which to purchase one. If unable to do either then they may be refused entry.

How often visitors are asked this, I can't say. My sister in law recently arrived in the UK as a visitor and carried a print out of her e ticket just in case; she wasn't asked for it.

There may be a possible problem with some airlines refusing to carry a visitor without a return ticket because they are subject to a large fine if they knowingly carry a passenger who does not meet the entry requirements for their destination and that passenger is refused entry.

However, airlines should be aware that the UK does not require a return or onward ticket; although some of their check in staff may not be. If you do have a problem, ask to speak to a supervisor who should know the rules, or be able to check them.

In addition; that the passenger holds a valid visa, and has therefore satisfied an ECO that they meet the requirements for same, including that they will leave the UK when or before their visa expires, means that even were that passenger refused entry to the UK for some reason the airline would not be fined. Their responsibility ends with checking that a valid visa, if required, is held.

 

Airlines should be away of the requirements but I have had problems with emirates with traveling on a one way ticket and know of many other people who have had the same problem hence why would always say get it in writing that traveling on a one way ticket is OK so you can show it at check in if you encounter any problems,

I'm not sure what you mean by getting it in writing. Getting what in writing ?

Airlines are not concerned about you getting refused entry to the UK if you have a valid visa, as there is no "fine" to the airline under those circumstances. What they are concerned with is the fact that they are legally obliged to take you back to where you came from, at their cost, because you don't have a return ticket. So, it is often possible, if you are having this "discussion" with an airline, to ask to sign an indemnity, which states that you travel at your own risk, and that you will pay your own fare home if refused entry to the UK. The airline then has a right to take legal action if you don't pay up.

Depsite the law saying that an airline is responsible for the cost of carrying a passenger back to their point of origin, or elsewhere, if they are refused entry to the UK, I have seen many discussions between airline representatives and refused passengers where the passenger is being pressured into paying for their ticket home after arriving in the UK on a one-way ticket.

[Mister Fixit]

I asked this very same question on this forum a while back and got the very same answers.

I did call Emirates, and got two totally opposing views, both made by equally confused young men in Dubai, by the sounds of it.

When it's getting nearer the time, I'll actually go to their office and bang the table until I get an answer.

However, I saw recently that Air India are doing flights from Bangkok to Birmingham via Delhi for 31, 500. Better price than Emirates, by far ...

Edited April 6, 2015 by Mister Fixit

[Tony M]

I asked this very same question on this forum a while back and got the very same answers.

I did call Emirates, and got two totally opposing views, both made by equally confused young men in Dubai, by the sounds of it.

When it's getting nearer the time, I'll actually go to their office and bang the table until I get an answer.

However, I saw recently that Air India are doing flights from Bangkok to Birmingham via Delhi for 31, 500. Better price than Emirates, by far ...

You might find a flight that makes transit stop ( with two different flight numbers) a problem, as a decision made for the flight Bangkok - Delhi might not be acceptable to whoever is on duty/in charge at Delhi for the Delhi - Birmingham sector. You might therefore find that, in Bangkok, they are reluctant to allow passage.

[Mister Fixit]

I asked this very same question on this forum a while back and got the very same answers.

I did call Emirates, and got two totally opposing views, both made by equally confused young men in Dubai, by the sounds of it.

When it's getting nearer the time, I'll actually go to their office and bang the table until I get an answer.

However, I saw recently that Air India are doing flights from Bangkok to Birmingham via Delhi for 31, 500. Better price than Emirates, by far ...

You might find a flight that makes transit stop ( with two different flight numbers) a problem, as a decision made for the flight Bangkok - Delhi might not be acceptable to whoever is on duty/in charge at Delhi for the Delhi - Birmingham sector. You might therefore find that, in Bangkok, they are reluctant to allow passage.

Good point, so one that will have to be ironed out at the company office and hopefully put in writing if necessary.

The other option is a one-hop flight, but they only go into London, and I would prefer Birmingham.

However, as my tw@t of a younger brother has refused to write me a sponsor letter due to a spat we had last time I was over, all plans have changed since I last posted and my son will now write one, and we'll probably just stay 14-16 days rather than a month.