plane ticket question

[ThE_MOonDoGGie]

I got accepted to AUC for August 2007 and will be attending. I'm from Queens, New York.

My question is in order to get temporary residence on the island I am required to show them a round trip ticket. However, what if I don’t intend on going home for a while, maybe explore the island or islands during the break, so I would be more inclined to buying a one way ticket, which is much cheaper (from $566 round to $253 one way).

So my question is do I have to buy a round trip even though I have no intention of going home for a while. I wish to buy the ticket soon, it’s cheaper that way (im beginning to penny pinch now cause I have no intention of eating ***** noodles daily):)

[Macgyver1]

Some customs officers will make u prove your return ticket, others will only ask. Its really a toss up. I would suggest getting a round trip, cause you will want to come home after 1st at least. Theres really not much to the island to explore that a week before classes couldn't cover. Hopefully by the end of 1st, your temp. permit will be back in or maybe you'll wait till 2nd or 3rd it all depends.

[hemanshi]

When i was coming on the island for the first time, they made me do that too but I found out that even if u get a return ticket from the St Maarten to like puerto rico or any surrounding islands, u should be good. They just want u to show them proof that u will get off the island after the first sem so it does'nt really matter where u go..

[DrFire99]

I got accepted to AUC for August 2007 and will be attending. I'm from Queens, New York.

My question is in order to get temporary residence on the island I am required to show them a round trip ticket. However, what if I don’t intend on going home for a while, maybe explore the island or islands during the break, so I would be more inclined to buying a one way ticket, which is much cheaper (from $566 round to $253 one way).

So my question is do I have to buy a round trip even though I have no intention of going home for a while. I wish to buy the ticket soon, it’s cheaper that way (im beginning to penny pinch now cause I have no intention of eating ***** noodles daily):)

Hey moondoggie
I'm from Queens as well.
I agree with macgyver, some customs officers are not as strict as others. The first time I flew down I had to show a return ticket, the second time I just showed my temporary residence permit. My friend on the other hand didn't show anything either time.

I would just buy a return ticket, and if you decide to stay on the island for the first break, then you can just change the return date to a later semester (if you buy through AA, there's an AA office on the island).

[slevit1]

MEAS requires that you have a return ticket for your temporary residency permit. You can always change the date later when you know when you want to go home. I just picked the Saturday after finals, but I don't know if I'll wind up going home the day finals end or staying a little longer to move into an apartment.

[medic1691]

We are not returning to the US until were done so we bought tickets to Anguilla, they only cost about $90 at it worked great. You can book them on-line at Winair.com. I made them for exactly 90 days after we arrived and all was well!

[preintermed]

You can get something called and "open return" . I am not sure what it is, but look into it. It allows you to return whenever.
I don't know about you guys tickets but changing the dates after you book them cost $70.
I am booked to come down on Aug. 24th and leave Dec. 16th. I am flying with spirit airlines, which is really cheap. Has anyone heard of them?

[TexSxm]

Be careful... Depending on who you get when you check in at the airport, if they begin to check into it they will require you to buy a return ticket right then if you can't show a student Visa. It all depends on the luck of the draw, both state side and once you get on the Island. It is always better to be safe than sorry!

[DrShikima]

Be careful... Depending on who you get when you check in at the airport, if they begin to check into it they will require you to buy a return ticket right then if you can't show a student Visa. It all depends on the luck of the draw, both state side and once you get on the Island. It is always better to be safe than sorry!

Or you can say your staying at one of the resorts for 7 days and they won't blink an eye because they'll assume your a tourist.

[ChanceCount]

Buy a refundable ticket to Puerto Rico and once on the island, get a refund.

I never picked up my student visa the entire 5 semesters and I never had a problem.

[DrShikima]

Buy a refundable ticket to Puerto Rico and once on the island, get a refund.

I never picked up my student visa the entire 5 semesters and I never had a problem.

It's true. The visa is a joke and is never checked. If you are caught, just tell the locals you'll bribe them with some of their own illegal drugs and they're going to let you go.

[ThE_MOonDoGGie]

Thanks everyone for your response. Based on everyone’s experience I believe that the round ticket is the way to go, less stress which is always a good thing (I guess I’ll go home) or get a ticket to Puerto Rico, it’s all good.

Is it true that some people have to wait for 2nd or 3rd semester to get a temporary permit.

Also I have another question, if I leave around Dec. 15, class starts at Jan 3 2008, therefore when is the best time to go apartment hunting. This is one of the reasons I don’t want to go home because I know I have to go searching, then I have to move my stuff, pay for internet connection, things I don’t want to be doing during my 2nd semester.

So my question is how did you guys deal with going home after your first semester, then coming back for apartment hunting during such a short break.

Next question that isn’t even correlated, I sent in my enrollment fee which was already cashed in, when can I start applying for loans, financial aid etc. Will a package be sent pertaining to how I will pay for everything? ie) loan application etc.
I heard Salle Mae and Stafford loans, but do I sign up with them independently or do I wait.
And finally, what has a lower interest rate Salle Mae or Stafford (I’m clueless about these things)

[stateofequilibrium]

It's true. The visa is a joke and is never checked. If you are caught, just tell the locals you'll bribe them with some of their own illegal drugs and they're going to let you go.

Never had a visa while I was down there.

[DrShikima]

Never had a visa while I was down there.

You illegal alien. Your the reason we need to build a fence!

[PimpDaddyB]

I spoke to Sarah in admissions and she told me I had to have a return ticket. I mentioned that I had a ticket to another island for a later date and she said it had to be to the U.S. Any advice since we have to send a copy to MEAS?

[ChanceCount]

I spoke to Sarah in admissions and she told me I had to have a return ticket. I mentioned that I had a ticket to another island for a later date and she said it had to be to the U.S. Any advice since we have to send a copy to MEAS?

Puerto Rico.

[DrShikima]

Puerto Rico.

Yup, cheap.

[medic1691]

Our tickets were to Anguilla worked perfect, no one in admissions or the airport said a thing. And were 2nd semester and still waiting on permits...they lost some of our stuff! Wow what a shock!