Ask the Consul: Transit Visas

05.FEB.10

I just need to go through (transit) the U.S. to get to another country. I don’t even plan to leave the airport. Do I need a visa?

Citizens of the Eastern Caribbean transiting the United States en route to another destination require a valid U.S. visa to do so. Even if such individuals only intend to be present in the U.S. for a few hours and do not plan to leave the airport, they still need a visa. Such individuals may apply for either a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or a C-1 transit visa, depending on the nature of their travel.{{more}}

What is a transit visa?

If you are not eligible to transit the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, you will be required to apply for a transit B-1/B-2 visitor visa or C-1 transit visa before traveling. A transit visa is issued to foreigners proceeding in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to a foreign destination, and will only be issued when an officer is satisfied that the transit journey will not be interrupted. Transiting foreigners are not required to remain in the transit lounge at the airport. Once admitted to the United States, they can visit friends, see a show, etc., so long as they continue their journey within the authorized period of stay. In issuing the visa the consular officer must be satisfied that the principal purpose of the trip is to transit the U.S. and the applicant will still be required to show strong and significant ties to their home country of residence.

Can I apply for a B-1/B-2 tourist visa and use it to transit the U.S.?

Travelers who have a valid B1/B2 may transit the United States on that visa. A C-1 transit visa is not required. If you are already in possession of a tourist visa, you may use this visa both to visit the U.S. and for onward travel. Applicants without visas, whose sole purpose of coming to the United States is for transit, should apply for the C-1 transit visa.

Note: Travelers who intend to transit the United States with a visa of a category other than B-1/B-2 or C-1 will in most cases not be admitted by U.S. immigration officials, and may be returned to their country of origin at their own expense.

How do I apply for a C-1 transit visa?

The process of applying for a transit visa is the same as applying for a B-1/B-2 tourist visa. All applicants applying for tourist visas need to bring their current and previous passports issued in the past ten years; DS-156: Printout of DS-156 and printed barcode; a 5cm x 5cm/2in x 2in color photo with a white background taken within the last six months; proof of employment or enrollment in school, and bank documents showing account balances. Male applicants of all nationalities aged 16 to 45 must also bring a completed DS-157 application form. Any applicant with prior arrests or criminal records must provide a copy of the court and/or arrest record and copy of relevant Laws/Statutes (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon) and an English translation of those documents. In the event that there was no trial, an applicant must bring a letter in English that explains the circumstances of the arrest.

On the day of the visa interview, in addition to the required documents, it may be helpful to bring documentation pertaining to the purpose of your travel and final destination. For example, if attending a conference, please bring copy of your registration. If possible, applicants transiting through the U.S. may wish to obtain the destination country’s visa (if required) prior to applying for the U.S. transit visa.

All applicants must prepare for the interviews and bring documentation to indicate their reasons for visiting the United States and their ties to the Eastern Caribbean. Applicants applying for other visas, such as student or crewmember visas, should come prepared with all required documents to demonstrate their purpose of travel. A list of specific required documents for all visa categories can be found at the Embassy website http://barbados.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html.

Additional information on this topic and other Consular and travel matters can be found at our website at http://barbados.usembassy.gov.