That way, if I go on extended trips every 3 months but always return to Argentina and then 1 year later, I take my return flight – would this story and scenario be acceptable by the airline as well as immigration?

I certainly wouldn’t want the airline questioning it at the time of purchase.

I had a one-way ticket to Ecuador and no other tickets on a later date. The guy at the check-in counter in Argentina asked if I had another ticket — to another country, and most importantly, back to the USA — and I stupidly said no, unprepared for the question. Long story short, I ended up buying a $500, completely refundable ticket on the spot, and refunded it shortly after arriving in Ecuador. I think I was charged a $15 fee for the refund.

If I had just said, “Yes, I have a ticket back to the USA” but then told the guy I don’t have any proof of it available with me right now, I would have been fine. At most I would have had to argue a bit to tell him that yes, I’ve got it, but no, I don’t have any details of it available at all.

This was the only time I was ever stopped at an airport for flying internationally on a one-way ticket, and I blew it since I wasn’t mentally prepared. It ended up costing me about $15 and some of my time.

It can be nerve racking passing through immigration but you will more often than not be fine.

A word of advice, don’t try it if you are flying to Barbados, you may be able to get onto the plane, but immigration officials are pretty strict about this and you will have to buy an onward ticket if you get caught.