Expert: Vicky Stirling - 10/20/2008

Question
Hi, We (I am 55 and hubby 62) are travelling to South Arica in March for an intitial year's voluntary work - but with a view to staying on for a few years.
We have to have a return ticket before we can book our visa, but all the competative sites will only allow for 3 - or occasionally 6 month return dates.
KLM say that the cost for an open or 12 month ticket is over £1700. Whereas I can get a 3 month return for around £500.
As we will be totally self funded, this has been a bit of a shock to us. Do you know of any way we can book return/open tx at a more realistic price?
thank you

Answer
I think if you make sure its a ticket that can be changed so make sure its NOT a non refundable no change ticket. When you are in south Africa just change your return date. All tickets are valid for 1 year. (but check this when buying it)

you can also extend your visa when you are in south africa or just go out of the country and back in again.

Ask the company you are doing the voluntry work with what sort of visa you should get but I would think you would want to be on a tourist visa which is usually 3 months then you can keep extending it.

sorry i am not 100% sure but hope this helps

all best
vicky