While the United States of America has remained the dream of many Immigrant and foreign personnel, there are classes of persons who are required to pass through the US to reach their destinations. A transit visa is a visa that allows a traveller to pass through a country to reach another country that is their final destination. It’s intended for short stays and is not meant for tourism or long visits. For example, if you’re flying from one country to another and your flight stops in a third country, you might need a transit visa for that third country. Every foreign national who is not from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will likely need a visa to visit the United States—regardless of how long you intend to stay in the country. Foreigners who are ineligible for the VWP and are seeking to enter America to travel to a different country will also need a visa to do so—even if they are not leaving the airport. The US Transit C Visa will allow you to go through the United States to get to your final destination.
TYPES OF TRANSIT VISA TO THE US.
- US Transit C Visa (Basic Transit Visa)—For travellers from non-VWP eligible countries who need to pass through the United States
- C1/D Visa—This visa combines the C-Transit Visa with the D-Crewmember Visa. The D-Visa is for foreigners employed on commercial international/foreign ships/planes who are performing basic jobs essential to their day-to-day functioning and who will be in the US for not more than 29 days. To work on a ship/plane with a D-Visa, you may need a Transit Visa to come to the United States and work there on a D-Visa. In this case, you should apply for a combination C/D Transit Visa.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A US TRANSIT VISA
- To apply for the US transit visas you should submit the following documents:
- Completed DS-160 application form.
- Your passport should have at least one blank page to be able to affix a visa. It should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the United States unless you are from a country under the US Weaver program Then you will only need a passport that is valid during your period of stay in the United States.
- one photograph this should be in line with the requirement of the US government
- Proof of paid transit visa fee.
- Social media details.A list of the social media that you use, and the name
of your account in each, phone number, email and social media history of the five previous years. - Proof that you are allowed to enter the country of your final destination.
- Ticket or itinerary to your final destination.
- A letter which states the purpose of your visit to your final destination.
- Proof that you are financially able to cover your expenses during your transit.
- Evidence that you will return to your home or another country after your stay in the US. This could be a property deed, apartment lease, or other proof.
- If you are HIV positive, you will need a letter from your doctor explaining your medical state and the risks associated with your condition, as well as proof of medical health insurance.
- If you have been arrested before in the US, you need to submit a letter explaining the offence, the reasons for the arrest, and proof of whether you were convicted or not.
HOW TO APPLY
Travelers wishing to visit any foreign lands, passing through the US will have to follow the steps below:
- Decide when you need to travel
- Establish when you need to transit to the US and apply in time to meet your original itinerary.
- Figure out where to apply
- US Transit Visa applicants who are applying from abroad should apply through a US Embassy or Consulate—usually in their country of residence.
- Select your Transit Visa category
- US Transit C Visa (for foreigners seeking transit through the United States) or C-1/D (for crewmembers travelling for work).
- Assemble your application
- Fill out (in English) the online DS-160 form. Print out the confirmation page and bring it with you as part of your complete application (which will include all of your basic required and supplemental documents outlined above).
- Make your visa interview appointment
- Contact the US Consulate/Embassy (by email/phone) that you identified as your application destination and ask to schedule their next available appointment for your Transit Visa interview. Because it can take a while to get an appointment, you should do this as soon as possible.
- Attend your visa appointment
- Fulfill your in-person Transit Visa requirements at the US Embassy/Consulate during your Transit Visa interview. This is where you will be asked questions about your trip, have your fingerprints collected, and (depending on where you are applying) pay your visa fees.
- Receive a decision
- The Transit Visa processing time usually is immediately after the visa interview. If more time is needed to decide on your visa, you will be informed. Most likely, you will know whether your application was successful at the end of your visa appointment.
COST OF GETTING A US TRANSIT VISA.
Applicants for a US transit visa will pay The basic US Transit visa application fee of $160. However, they may be required to pay a visa issuance fee.
US TRANSIT VISA PROCESSING TIME
From the time you submit your application, expect to wait for a minimum of 5 working days to receive a response on your visa status. This is only an average time estimate, though, so if it takes longer, do not assume that your visa has been denied.
Since you only need the C1 visa at the US airport, you can give the information of what airport you will be in and on what date. If you submit a request and it is granted, the US Embassy could send the documents to that airport with the visa, and it will be waiting for you when you transit through the US.
US TRANSIT VISA VALIDITY PERIOD.
As of September 2024 this class of visa is only valid for a maximum period of 29 days. It only allows the holder for the layover, it does not permit other activities or longer stay than necessary to proceed with your onward travel.