Do You Need A Visa For A Connecting Flight In The Usa
If you’re visiting the United States from another country, most flights will involve a connection in the U.S. This means you’ll have to clear customs and immigration before catching a connecting flight in the U.S. If you plan on staying for less than 90 days, or don’t want to apply for an ESTA, you need a valid visa in order to board your connecting flight. The following article will outline how to get a visa for a connecting flight with ease.
If you are planning a trip to North America, you may be wondering if you need a visa. After all, it’s hard to tell from some of the advertisements of budget airlines that they aren’t offering cheap flights to the United States or Canada. Not all businesses in nations outside the United States are authorized to issue visas – and even fewer are authorized to issue visas at their check-in counter. The same goes for connecting flights in the United States.
Do You Need A Visa For A Connecting Flight In The Usa
Visa applications for United States citizens are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Please check to see if you need a visa to enter the United States by using the Department of Homeland Security’s country information page. If you need to apply for a visa, the Department of State recommends submitting your application as early as possible and there is some specific information you need to know before visiting their Visa Waiver Program page.
ESTA is required for transit in the U.S.
Those travelers without visa are required for ESTA when visiting the U.S., and it is also required when transit/transfer in the country. By filling out necessary information for travel and apply to U.S. CBP (U.S. Customers and Border Protection), ESTA online pre-immigration check is proceed. When transit in few hours in the U.S. not leaving the airport or certain areas, immigration examination by immigration officer would not be required. However, you must apply ESTA even for the short time transit since it is considered as “entry to the U.S.” An immigration check by ESTA also has important role to prevent suspicious parties traveling via U.S. to other countries. In the past, the U.S. had severe damage by terrorist attacks from other countries, and experienced tragedies losing a large number of victims. Based on the lessons of these tragedies from the past, the U.S. government established ESTA as a part of security measures to reinforce the immigration. All foreign travelers visiting some countries by transit in the U.S. must apply for ESTA in advance along with visa/permit to stay at your final destination.
Remember to apply for ESTA for accompanying preschool children and infants too
The standards for application of ESTA remain unchanged even for cases of transit.
ESTA is required regardless of age, so remember to apply for all members of your traveling party transiting in the U.S. Even preschool children and infants are required to have ESTA. Since it may take about three days, or 72 hours, until you receive notice of the screening result after applying for ESTA, apply for it early if you have plans to travel to the U.S. or to transfer in the U.S.
If you have not received ESTA in advance, you may be rejected to enter the U.S. or to board your flight. Particularly when planning to travel as a family or in a group, we recommend checking flight numbers, destinations, and airports where you transit before hand.
Differences between transit, transfer, and stopover (layover)
Travelers entering the U.S. to transfer do so in three main cases: transit, transfer, and stopover (layover). While these might be familiar terms to frequent international travelers, not many people clearly understand the differences among them. The differences in the meaning of these three terms, and specific points to note, are described below.
| Transit | Transit is used to refer to a stop en route. It refers mainly to a flight landing at an airport along the way to refill fuel and food supplies before departing again for the final destination, in the same aircraft. In most cases of transit on international flights, the plane remains in the airport for one to two hours, and those cases are either passengers wait inside the aircraft or move to a transit room in the airport. During transit, the aircraft’s interior will be cleaned, so if you leave the aircraft be sure to move any of your belongings stowed around your feet or in the seat pockets into the overhead compartments. Also, be sure to keep your passport and valuables on your person at all times when leaving your seat, even while staying inside the aircraft. Airport staff will distribute transit cards to passengers when transiting. Although transit takes only a short time, be careful not to lose this card. |
| Transfer | Transfer refers to changing flights. It differs from transit mainly with regard to whether or not the passenger takes the same aircraft to the final destination. Although in many cases the word “transit” is used to refer to the act of transferring flights as well, strictly speaking these two terms have different meanings. Depending on factors of the transit time period and the airport’s structure, you may need to move inside the airport or change terminals during the transfer. Also, in some cases you may need to have a new boarding pass issued at the airport or where you transfer. Ascertain information on transfer or transit in advance, and check thoroughly the airline when you receive your boarding pass at the time of departure. |
| Stopover (layover) | Stopover refers mainly to a stay of 24 hours or longer en route to the destination. Although it is said that “stopover” is British English and “layover” is American English, the term “stopover” is used in the U.S. too. Although stopover also may be used to refer to a stay of less than 24 hours or a stay that involves a change of dates from one day to the next, normally it refers to a stay of 24 hours or longer. |
What Are the Types of Transit Visa for USA?
What Are the Types of Transit visa for U.S.?
Here are the types of “Transit Visas” that you might apply for if you want to transit through the U.S. on the way to the final destination. Among those, C-1 visa is the most common visa to be applied in general.
C1 Visa – General Transit Visa
C-1 visa is the transit visa for non-U.S. citizens passing through the U.S. on a layover on their way to their final destination.
C2 Visa – United Nations (U.N.) Headquarters Transit Visa
C-2 visa is the transit visa for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United Nations (U.N.) Headquarters in New York City or United Nations officials transiting through the U.S. to go to a final destination.
You can apply for the C-2 visa only when a request or petition by the U.N. or other foreign missions has been submitted to the nearest U.S. Embassy.
C3 Visa – Foreign Government Transit Visa
C-3 visa is the transit visa for foreign government officials traveling through the U.S. on a layover on their way to their final destination only. The purpose of the travel must be for governmental or work-related activities.
The Flow of US Transit Visa Application
U.S. Transit Visa Application Process
Follow these steps to submit a full application for a U.S. transit visa：
- File pre-screening form “DS-160” online
- Make payment for the U.S. transit visa application fee
- Schedule your interview at U.S. Embassy/Consulate General
- Submit the required documents for U.S. transit visas before the interview
- Attend your transit visa interview with a consular officer at Embassy/Consulate General
Transit Visa Application
1. File pre-screening form “DS-160” online
Submission of form “DS-160” is required for transit visa application to check eligibility. “DS-160” is an online application form and subjected to all those who apply for non-immigrant visa at U.S. Embassy/Consulate General.
Including infants and pre-school children are required for “DS-160”, therefore parent(s) or representative of the family must apply for all members if planning for long stay in the U.S. as a family.
2. Make payment for the U.S. Transit Visa application fee
After “DS-160” is filed, make payment of $160 online as a transit visa application fee. Make sure to print out the receipt shown on the screen and save it since you will need it later. Visa issuance fees are for C-1 visa (General transit visa), C-3 visa (Foreign government transit visa), but C-2 visa (U.N. headquarters transit visa) is not included. There might be other fees depending on your location and the Embassy you are applying form.
3. Schedule your interview at U.S. Embassy/Consulate General
Schedule your interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General after completing the payment. There might be no interviews at the Embassy depending on location and country you are applying form, therefore contact them in advance.
4. Submit the required documents for U.S. Transit Visas before the interview
Following documents are required to submit when applying for U.S. transit visas:
- Receipt of completed DS-160 application form
- Valid passport (It should be valid for more than 6 months from your planned returning date from the U.S.)
- Digital data of identification photograph taken in 6 months (White back ground, no glasses)
- Proof of paid transit visa application fee
- Social media details (A list of the social media that you use, and the name of your account etc.,)
- Ticket or proof that you are allowed to enter the country of your final destination
- Details of visit to your final destination (Main purpose of the visit, staying address etc.,)
- Proof that you are financially able to cover your expenses
- Evidence that you will return to your home or another country after your stay in the U.S.
- A health certificate from your doctor explaining your medical state as well as proof of no contagious infection or infections disease specified by the U.S. government
- Proof of medical heath insurance (Insurance card)
