Immigration Question

[T-Rock26]

I know that in order for students (and their families) to be allowed to study at SMU, they must arrive in cayman with proof of a round trip airline ticket. However, my wife can't book any return flights more than 6 months in advance from the time we arrive. We were hoping to just stay on the island until the end of basic sciences, and not go home unless we absolutely needed to. Does anyone know if it would matter if we booked a round trip ticket, and then just "missed" our return flight?
As long as my visa is still good, they can't make me leave the island just because of a return flight can they?
I have contacted Immigration directly, but haven't recieved an answer yet, so I thought I'd ask here.
Thanks :)

[jackets5]

i came to cayman, left and came, never having a round trip ticket and no one bothered me. I have not been stopped by customs once or asked to show a return ticked. Just bring your acceptance letter, they really dont seem to bother students at all down there. Just be nice, ask how they are doing etc.

[WSUCougar]

I know that in order for students (and their families) to be allowed to study at SMU, they must arrive in cayman with proof of a round trip airline ticket. However, my wife can't book any return flights more than 6 months in advance from the time we arrive. We were hoping to just stay on the island until the end of basic sciences, and not go home unless we absolutely needed to. Does anyone know if it would matter if we booked a round trip ticket, and then just "missed" our return flight?
As long as my visa is still good, they can't make me leave the island just because of a return flight can they?
I have contacted Immigration directly, but haven't recieved an answer yet, so I thought I'd ask here.
Thanks :)

Unfortunately I have dealt personally with all this Immigration bizzznassss.... and it is a huge pain.... Don't even bother trying to e-mail or call the Cayman Island Immigration department because they will not respond. You have to personally go down to the main office downtown and talk to them in person. We first bought a round-trip ticket and it only cost $70 to then move the date to a later date, meaning when you leave the island. When we first came here, we also had planned to stay on the island the whole time, but..... I soon developed Island Fever and had to go back to the States for Christmas Break before I went completely insane...

You can deal with the visa's for your dependents when you get down here. At the airport they will be stamped with a temporary visitors stamp, which will give you plenty of time to get the dependent visas.

One other thing, the school Immigration told me that the dependent visa's cost $700CI per person. After picking my jaw off the floor from hearing that and slightly experiencing an incontinence episode.... I paid the fees and immediately tried to repress the memory of paying for it. When I left the island and came back I was striking up conversation with the Immigration Officer and was complaining to them that they charge too much for dependent visas. She acted like there's no way it could be expensive, so when I told the officer what I paid, she about had an incontinence episode herself. She then took me into her office and we called the "Head Visa's" official, which told me that the fee is actually only $200CI per dependent. So I ending up going to the Cayman Island Immigration Office the next morning and getting a fat $1000CI refund check, which is around $1,200 US.

Also..... when we came back after Christmas Break, we only bought one-way tickets and when the airport officials questioned me as to why I did that, I just explained that because I'm going to be on the island for a year because I go to school there, and then they just dropped it. It seems like Cayman Airways is the only airway that really cares if you have a return ticket or not..

Hope that helps

[DrCannoli]

What if your bringing your Girlfriend or Wife to Be for something like that which isn't considered your dependent?

[WSUCougar]

What if your bringing your Girlfriend or Wife to Be for something like that which isn't considered your dependent?

elope to vegas really quick and seal the deal..... :cool:

I'm pretty sure that you can't get dependent visas for girlfriends or fiances, you would have to file extensions, which don't last that long. So she'd have to fly back and forth. But other than that, I really don't know. Hopefully somebody with this experience knows the answer.

[camryllionareMD]

Be really careful about Cayman Airways and a one way ticket, they can force you to buy a round trip on the spot for beaucoup dollars.

[DrCannoli]

Im flying continental from NJ, if your a onepass member you dont have to pay to change the date...worst case get insurance its like 12 bucks

[Sebastien Guilbard]

Hello,

The point is that you are requested to have a return ticket. Normally, it should be fine, but if you are unlucky enough to find the one immigration officer that had a bad night, got mistreated by his/her wife/husband/kids, you might be in trouble.
I would suggest you buy a return ticket that you can change for a minimal fee. Normally, it is never more than 100$ unless you change for top time ( Xmas, etc...)
Plus, one way is usually expensive compare to round trip.
finally as WSUcougar Said, it is a super nice island, but an island. It is good for your mental health to get off every 4-6 months if you can.
Dependant fees are normally 200$ per person. Cougar, you got a refund check from Immigration, that is a performance, Congrats!!!!

If you need more info, email mluke@smu.ky, he knows about immigration.

Have a good evening,

[WSUCougar]

Dependant fees are normally 200$ per person. Cougar, you got a refund check from Immigration, that is a performance, Congrats!!!!

yeah... it only cost me missing some of my classes while I stood in line at the dang Immigration Office downtown for hours. :evil:

[UFTim]

yeah... it only cost me missing some of my classes while I stood in line at the dang Immigration Office downtown for hours. :evil:

Yeah, that's never fun. It's great to hear that loud "STAMP". Music to your ears...

[T-Rock26]

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. If anyone has more advice to offer, I'll be glad to get it.

[DrCannoli]

Would I need a visa if I use my European Passport over my American Passport?

[MadameMedecin]

What's a good place to get the background check for immigration? I can go to my state police barracks but it will take a long time to get the inquiry back. Can anyone suggest a fast and reliable background check service? :confused:

[camryllionareMD]

If ur from the US, personally go down to the local court house and pay like $10 for your background check, and have it in 5 minutes. At least that's how it was for me.

[azulpanther]

if from NYC you would have to go to police head quarters downtown, pay a fee and it;ll come in the mail 2 weeks later

[butterflymd]

Are you referring to Centre Street. I have no idea where the NYPD headquarters is in NY. Shame on me? I have yet to do my background check but have FBI clearance because of my job. Would that suffice? Hopefully it will.

[gschneid]

I don't think FBI security clearance is the same as a background check. I just went to my city courthouse and had the clerk type up a letter saying I had no prior or outstanding felonies.

[kryptik]

You can also go to a private background check company, there are a lot of them and you usually get the result instantly.

[butterflymd]

Part of FBI clearance is a criminal background check.

[gschneid]

I realize that but it is probably not a substitute in the eyes of the immigration dept.

[butterflymd]

I see thanks for the information. In that case I will be headed to the police station to get a new one. Thanks again G.