open ended tickets

I will be arriving in STT with seven crew to be repatriated to Canada in January. Since I am not sure of our exact arrival date I was hoping to purchase "open, one way, tickets". This is not proving to be easy. Does anyone have suggestions on how to satisfy immigration rules for proof of exit while maintaining flexibility for travel due delays in arrival by sea?

Regards,

Thanks guys for the input. I'm pursuing the "seaman's Fare" route but not there yet. Last year I watched a $1000 US Airways ticket fade into uselessness as I sat offshore. The airline was unsympathetic. After several tries I managed a "refund/exchange" from customer service that was so restrictive that it expired unused.
Can't explain to the owner if that happens again, especially with six. Depending on the day, Border Services officers in the USVI can be tough. Better to have tickets in hand than trying to clear in as crew without exit plans if possible.

Just for anyone who is curious,

I've been online or on the phone with four major US carriers and one Canadian carrier with an American partner flying out of STT. No one I've spoken with ever heard tell of Seaman's Fares. Neither of these carriers has "open ended tickets" post 911.
Two offer "flex fares" where there are no penalties for changes. The increased fare was more than twice the "change fee" in one case.
My contact at US immigration says that arriving without prearranged exit plans can be tricky. For one thing, everyone needs at least six months left on their passport and two of my guys have only four months left! He also said if it appears "obvious" that the crew do not have a long term engagement with the boat that the agent can imposes stricter controls including refusal of entry until the tickets are presented.

Looks like I might have to buy tickets far enough out to be safe and keep feedings the mutts in the meantime. Think I'll buy some sandpaper and some more hot dogs just in case they have to stick around.

First off, let me say I missed not logging into this forum after the useful advise I received last spring before my delivery west from STT to St Augustine and into the ICW.

This forum is a great opportunity to tap into previous experiences and/or local knowledge.

My recent experiences have left me with the impression that overall, the reception for foreigners clearing into the United States is a much more formal affair and that the tolerance for any variation of the "formal policy" is minimal. This is perhaps warranted. I'm not to say. But from my personal perspective, I believe as a Canadian feel this most profoundly. I've visited the United States literally hundreds of times by car, air and sea. This used to be a routine affair. Driving across the border recently to shop we were asked to reply in writing the hotel we would be staying at. We were in Maine. I was confident I could find a room at my whim in New Hampshire. That was not enough.

Not having tickets in hand for the two Bahamanian crew members, both with valid passports and seaman's visa, when I arrived in the US in June did not suit the gentleman who had been scheduled to work that sweltering hot Sunday afternoon. In fact it nearly incited him. Despite my best attempt to be charming things just never felt warm. Rock's smartphone paid for itself that day.

I just want to do things right and make it smooth as possible.

Without getting screwed by an airline. No matter how bad they need the money.

I expect to be at sea (on a dry ship)or drinking Dark and Stormys at an alarming rate, in Bermuda at the seven day mark for fare changes and enroute from Halifax Nova Scotia before that. I suppose we could buy them over the Sat Phone but at my typing speed that will be expensive.

My father was a merchant seaman all his life. For most of my life he worked for a rich oil company. They just gave you a credit card and told you to be on time and never miss the ship or your $%#^ed.

I did in the interim get a response from ISS-GMT in Ft Laud. Have not opened it yet since I had electronics tech, marine electrician, and hydraulic guy aboard all day.

Hoping winter can hold off for another two weeks. I'll contact the agents for their feedback. Thanks.

This "Rock" is from Clarencetown and he too is a great guy. Would recommend him to anyone. Helped facilitate a repair on-island and then replaced a crew member that ran out of time. Mostly a sportfisherman but still time to come over from the dark-side.