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When I am asked about one thing I hate about traveling, I have a straight answer: the check points and immigration gates. Well, I hate the authorities in general. I have this constant subconscious guilt that I might have done a crime without even knowing it (I must’ve been a fugitive in my previous life). I am the kind of person who feels awkward leaving a store without buying anything and gets extremely nervous passing the door fearing the alarm would beep on me. Although I am innocent and I have nothing on me, I suddenly have no clue what to do with my hands. Put them in my pockets? but that’d be too suspicious. Acting like I'm receiving a call or text? That’s an obvious sign of trying to avoid something. But then again, what the heck am I avoiding, huh??
This is just another minor anxiety attack I have whenever I go to a mall (if anxiety attacks are some kind of cardio, I would’ve been slim by now) … …
Back to the immigration gate subject, where ever I go, I always have my full documents with me (apart from that in 2011 when I got detained in Detroit airport for not having a US transit visa, but that’s another story). As someone who holds a not-so-powerfull passport, I am used to going for an extra length to get all traveling documents that I need to enter a new country: like undergo a thorough background check, financial audit, biometric scan, S.A.T. test, cervical exam, and whatnot. I always have all the required documents with me. I put everything nicely in my black anti-theft travel neck wallet, snuggled comfortably beneath my shirt. Although my documents were always complete, I have always got called to move aside on EVERY immigration gates and or check in points. The officers would ask me to undo my hair and remove my eyeglasses then they’d compare my look with my passport photo. I always ended up telling the officers that I am getting prettier and prettier every day since I took that photo and there’s nothing I can do. Of course, this sassy narcissistic behavior was not always appreciated by the customs officers.
That is to say, immigration gates and borders make my tummy churn, police cars make me jump, and alarms make me uncomfortable. It was yesterday that I got a terrible message from a friend saying that another friend was about to board the plane from Jakarta, Indonesia to Quebec City to join her husband but unfortunately she was denied boarding. #GASP!!!
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"Everyone, calm the fig down, I got this"... No, this was not the time I could say that phrase and be everyone's hero.
The reason she was denied boarding was because she only had a one-way ticket, and yes there are regulations about having one-way plane ticket for visitor visa holders. Anyway, before you say anything, it’s a long-complicated story and as you may all know; it is never easy dealing with the customs; especially if you don’t have the required papers.
When we were trying to figure out options she might have, I was told that if you are traveling with a tourist visa but you aren’t sure for how long you are going stay for or where will be your next destination, you can simply rent an onward ticket (and try to keep calm and don’t get batshit hysterical while doing this) and use it as your travel proof to board your flight (or even apply for a visa).
Apparently, there is this service where you can pay for 10$ or less to get yourself a rented onward ticket. This is very practical and budget-friendly for those savvy travelers who have indecisive limit for how long they are going to stay in a country (within their visit permit duration, of course, I hope).
Is this even legal? it seems so. Does it works? it does, like magic! I did a simple research on this kind of service and found some good reviews about it. This, this, and this, are some ticket rental service providers, go check it out for yourself.
I personally have not used the service tho, I have not yet needed it. But I surely keep this information in mind, just in case :)
To be honest, I can think 101 ways people might use this service for the wrong purposes tho.
Anyway, she managed to get her way through all that troubles and arrived today in sunny QC. Hooray!! Once she raises from the dead jetlag, I will ask her in details what happened.