Staying at Ross for 16 months without going home. How?

[link626]

For those people who stay in Dominica for the whole 16 months without going home, how do you book your airline tickets and still conform to visa application standards?
I understand that you need a roundtrip ticket to get a visa, BUT most airlines don't let you book tickets 16 months in advance. this is esp true of American Airlines.

I remember MitchDC did it..... mitch?...... any help?

[spatel0434]

I have a friend that is staying the entire length without going back. As far as I know, here is what he did:

He bought a round trip ticket in order to get the visa. Once he got here (Dominica), he called AA and cancelled his return journey (and actually received a refund). Now, all he has to do is buy a one-way ticket back when he is done.

That's one possible way, but I'm sure there is probably other ways to do it.

[link626]

I have a friend that is staying the entire length without going back. As far as I know, here is what he did:

He bought a round trip ticket in order to get the visa. Once he got here (Dominica), he called AA and cancelled his return journey (and actually received a refund). Now, all he has to do is buy a one-way ticket back when he is done.

That's one possible way, but I'm sure there is probably other ways to do it.

crap. I just called AA, and the rep lied to me. I got the impression that I couldn't get a refund.

I will call again.... and if i'm able to get a refund for the return trip, my problems are solved.

[MitchDC]

I actually bought a one way ticket to San Juan and a round-trip (7-day turn around) ticket from San Juan when it was super cheap. Then I just didn't show up at the airport to go home that day. Also, I never flew AA, I always chose to fly Liat (cheaper, more availability since students have this FIXATION with anything that says AMERICAN on it, and better luggage allowance).

MitchDC

For those people who stay in Dominica for the whole 16 months without going home, how do you book your airline tickets and still conform to visa application standards?
I understand that you need a roundtrip ticket to get a visa, BUT most airlines don't let you book tickets 16 months in advance. this is esp true of American Airlines.

I remember MitchDC did it..... mitch?...... any help?

[link626]

yeah. I asked the embassy, and they said I can purchase a roundtrip from san juan to dominica to satisfy the visa requirement. woot!
This will work great for those who want to stay on the rock....

The AA starfile for Ross is utter crap. The "discount" :roll: applies only to a flight from your home to the rock and vice versa. You can't book funky flights like one-way tickets to SJ, and then roundtrip to Dom. Then the discount does not apply, and you have to pay an exorbitant cost.
it costs $1100 to fly from Los Angeles to Dominica on an open return ticket, and I'm booking over 2 months in advance too!! That's the rate you get from other internet websites. Sometimes you can get an even lower rate than this.

[Doc Holiday]

If you certain that you aren't leaving for the entire 16 months then don't bother gettting a visa at all. It's not like the Dominican police are going to come after you. They don't keep any real record of who comes in and out. The only time it might be a problem is if you stayed for a length of time changed your mind about staying and then left the island and came back. They might wise up to the dates on the passport stamps but it's not likely because no one can read those dates anyway. I know plenty of people who never got visas and did just fine here.

Another way around it is if you do decide to go on vacation just go to the immigration office on campus and get a letter stating that your visa application is in the process. They don't bother to check that it is in fact in the process and just give you a letter. That'll guarantee safe passage through customs.

[link626]

well it's too late now. I already purchased my semi-roundtrip ticket as MitchDC suggested. It only cost about half of what an open return ticket would cost. So I'm good.

The embassy rep said that I need to fly in on a roundtrip ticket, and I have that now. I'd rather play it safe....