From Google AI:

An onward ticket (or proof of onward travel) is a booked flight out of a destination country, often required for one-way travelers to satisfy immigration and airlines. Temporary, legitimate, and verifiable, services like OnwardTicket, BestOnwardTicket, and OneWayFly rent these tickets for 48+ hours for roughly $12–$16, featuring a valid PNR.

Key Aspects of Onward Tickets:

- What is it? A legitimate, temporary reservation that shows when you will leave the country, preventing issues at check-in or customs.

- How it Works: You receive a PDF with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) code that can be verified on the airline's official website during the validity period (usually 48 hours to 14 days).

- Why Use It? It is faster and cheaper than buying a fully refundable, high-priced return flight just for compliance.

- Where to Get One: Services such as OnwardTicket, BestOnwardTicket, and OneWayFly provide this service specifically for visa applications or immigration control.

Alternative Methods: You can also purchase a real refundable ticket, a cheap bus/train ticket, or book a flight to a neighboring country to satisfy the requirement.

Important Considerations:

- Ensure the ticket remains active for at least 48 hours to pass through immigration without issue.

- The ticket is for documentation only; it is not a boarding pass.

@Todd ********

It is dividends, interest, and realized capital gains that would appear on a 1099 if not for the fact that they were paid from (and reinvested into) a retirement account. It is not unrealized capital gain from share price increase, nor current year contributions from earned income. But whether or not this constitutes "passive income" is the gist of the question.

@David **********

It is not really "locked" at all. I am over 60 so it is accessible to me any time that I choose to withdraw it. I have not needed to withdraw it as I still work and continue to have earned income, but my intention is to retire and move to Thailand and live off these investments. So I'm not really a pensioner yet, and I won't have Social Security for another 1.5 years. But my portfolio is already providing $80+k/yr in dividends, interest, and realized capital gains (not including unrealized capital appreciation from share price increases).

@Todd ********

It is income, just not taxable as it is reinvested in a tax-free account. It is not unrealized capital gains.