A foreign national who wants to enter the United States often needs to first get a visa, either an immigrant visa for long-term residency or a nonimmigrant visa for short-term travel. With very few exceptions, transit (C) visas are nonimmigrant visas for people who are passing through the United States immediately and continuously on their way to another country. Immediate and continuous transit is defined as a reasonably quick departure of the traveller in the ordinary course of travel as the circumstances allow and assumes a predetermined route without any irrational layover benefits. The traveller must be eligible for the type of visa needed for that purpose if they want layover privileges for reasons other than transiting through the United States, such visiting friends or going sightseeing.

How to Apply

To apply for a visa, you must go through a number of stages. Depending on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply, these stages may not be followed in the same order or in the same way. Please refer to the instructions posted on the website of the embassy or consulate where you plan to apply.

Finish the Online Visa Application Form – which is the online Non-immigrant Visa application, Form-DS160 along with a photo.

Schedule an interview, it is generally required if you are between age 14-79. If you are 8 and below or 80 and above an interview is not generally required.

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the nation where you reside will often require you to make an appointment for your visa interview. You can arrange your interview at any embassy or consulate of the United States, but keep in mind that getting a visa outside of your country of residency might be challenging.

Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you must pay it before to your interview. If your nationality requires it, you may also pay a visa issue fee after your visa is approved. A fees of around $160.

Gather required Documentation

• Passport
• Non-immigrant Visa application, Form-DS160 confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt
• Photo

It’s possible that more paperwork will be needed.

Visit the website of the embassy or consulate where you plan to apply and review the guidelines for how to apply for a visa. It might be necessary to seek more paperwork to determine your eligibility. Additional documentation may be required, for instance, if evidence exists that:

Your intention to leave the United States and the fact that your entry into the country was only for transit purposes; your financial capacity to cover all expenses while you’re here; and/or your residence in your native country and your intention to return there.

Additional Details

We cannot assure you that a visa will be granted. Make no final travel arrangements or purchases of tickets until you receive a visa.

A visa is valid until the expiration date unless it is cancelled or revoked. A valid U.S. visa therefore remains valid even though it is in an old passport. Do not remove a valid visa from a passport that has expired if it is present. For travel and entry into the United States, you may utilize both the valid visa in your expired passport and the new, valid passport.