Transit

In general, travelers in transit through the United States require valid C-1 visas unless they are a national of a country which has an agreement with the United States allowing their citizens to travel to the United States without visas. B1/B2 visa holders do not have to apply for C-1 visa.

Applicants for transit visas must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

• The purpose of their trip is to transit through the United States
• That they have funds to cover expenses in the United States;
• That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit. There is no specific list of criteria that constitutes binding ties, and it is up to each applicant to explain those ties. Binding ties generally refer to family, social, economic, and other ties.