C - 1 Transit Visa Application Guide

A US Transit Visa allows you to enter the US and let for a short stay. It would help if you left the US when your ship or flight departs for your next destination. The US government issues C1 visas for the USA to allow for continuous and immediate transit within the country. You must stop in the USA if you want to transit immediately and continuously. A Transit Visa for the USA does not allow you to stay longer than the approved time. This visa is not for tourism or business. You will need the B1 and B2 visas to be able to travel to the US for business or tourism purposes.

What's included?

C-1 Transit Visa Overview
C-1 Transit Visa Requirements
C-1 Transit Visa Benefits
C-1 Transit Visa Drawbacks
C-1 Transit Visa Eligibility Information
How to Apply for a C-1 Transit Visa
Transit Visa Interview Information
Visa Waiver information

List of Countries in the Visa Waiver Program
Visa Eligibility Information
List of Required Documents
Information on Filing Fees
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
List of USCIS Offices Nationwide
Information on how to obtain the latest United States immigration forms
Directory of U.S. Embassies and Consulates

IMPORTANT: If you are a citizen of one of the 41 Visa Waiver Countries (list of countries), you may qualify to enter the United States for up to 90 days visa-free. Download the “Visa Waiver Program Application Guide” for more information on how to start your application immediately. Most applicants receive their online Visa Waiver Confirmation within 5 minutes.

Do I need a visa to transit through the USA?

Only the following situations will exempt you from US transit visa requirements:

General Information on Business Visas

Foreigners working for a foreign entity can visit the United States on a B-1 Business Visitor Visa. B-1 Business Visas are more advantageous than Visa Waivers for many reasons, including the right to apply for a Visa Extension and Adjustment of Status (Green Card) after entering the United States.

You can be a non-US citizen traveling to the final destination but only passing through the US.
You can be a non-US citizen, an official of the UN, and go to the UN Headquarters in New York City.
You can be a foreign official traveling through the US to their destination for work.
You cannot apply for a C transit visa if you don't belong to any of these categories.

What are the types of Transit Visas for the USA?

You can apply for these types to travel through the United States.

C1 Visa - General Transit Visa

The C1 visa is a transit visa for non-US citizens who pass through the US to make a stop on their way to their destination.

C2 Visa - U.N Headquarters Transit Visa

The C2 visa is a transit visa for non-US citizens traveling to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City or United Nations officials passing through the US to reach a final destination. This visa is only valid for those within the immediate vicinity of the U.N headquarters. Only those who have this visa are permitted to leave the U.N headquarters and any other location within its area.

C3 Visa - Foreign Government Transit Visa

The transit visa C3 is for foreign officials traveling through the US to visit their final destination. The travel must be for work or governmental purposes.

US Transit Visa Application

These steps are required to complete a US Transit Visa Application.

Fill out form DS160
Pay the US Transit visa application fees
Book your interview.
Book your interview.
Participate in the Transit visa interview
Fill out form DS160

Applying for DS-160 is the first step. Complete the required fields and submit the form online. A confirmation page and barcode number will be sent to you. These will be useful later in your documents file. Online, you can complete the DS160 form:

The $160 application fee is required for US Transit Visas. This amount must be paid, and the receipt should be kept as you may need it in the future. You might have to pay additional fees depending on where you live and which Embassy you apply from. The C-2 visa does not require visa issuance fees. This is due to the absence of reciprocity measures for this type of US transit visa.

Book your interview

Next, schedule your interview. It is essential to schedule your consultation for a visa as soon as possible. The US Embassy has a heavy workload, so it may take some time to prepare for your interview. It is better for travel arrangements if it is done sooner than later. You will receive an interview confirmation letter once you have scheduled your interview. This letter is essential for later.

Send the documents required for US Transit Visas.

Prepare a list of documents you will need for your US Transit visa interview. Including all documents, even those you don’t necessarily need, is best. The Embassy may refuse to issue your visa if your file is incomplete.

These documents are required to apply for the US Transit Visa

To be eligible to attach visas to your passport, you must have at least one blank page. It must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay unless you’re a national of one of these countries. You will need only a passport valid for your visit to the United States.

One photo, which must comply with US requirements.
Documentation proving payment of transit visa fee
Social media details. A list of social media you use and their names
Your account history in the previous five years, including phone number, email, and social media.
You must prove that you are permitted to enter the country you intend to go to.
A ticket or itinerary reaches your final destination.
A letter stating the purpose of your trip to your destination.
You can prove that you have the financial resources to pay for your travel expenses.
You can provide evidence that you intend to return home after your time in the US. This could include a property deed, apartment lease, or other evidence.
You will need proof of insurance and a letter from your doctor if you are HIV-positive.
You must submit a letter explaining your offense, the reason for the arrest, and proof of conviction if you have been previously arrested in the US.

Interview for a Transit visa

You should bring your completed document file to the interview. If your interview goes well, you will have a better chance of being granted a United States Transit Visa. Once granted a visa, you can travel through the US to your final destination.

US Transit Visa Processing Time

Expect to wait at least five working days when you submit your visa application to receive an answer on your status. The Embassy will inform you if you have been granted or denied a USA transit visa. It is an average time estimate, so don’t assume your visa has been rejected if it takes longer. The workload of the US Embassy where you are applying for a visa to the USA will determine the processing time. It will take longer if there are many applications. The American Transit Visa is processed faster than other visas because it is only valid for a short time. You will only need a C1 visa to enter the US. However, you can provide information about the airport and the date you will be at. If your request is approved, the US Embassy will send you the documents and the visa to the airport. It will then be available for you during your transit through the US.

What are the restrictions on the C1 Visa Visa?

The US transit visa is unique because it does not allow you to remain in the US. There are many restrictions on what you can do while you are in the US. The following are prohibited activities for a USA C1 visa:

Stay longer than the time allowed.
Study or travel to the USA.
Get employed in the USA
You can extend your C1 visa.
Change or adjust the status of your C1 visa.
Apply for a Green Card using a C1 visa.
You can only have one transit visa for dependents.
The US does not allow dependents to travel, work or study abroad.

The validity of the C visa is also short because transiting takes very little time. All American transit visas, whether C1 visa, C2, or C3 visa, are valid for 29 days or until your ticket expires. If you arrive in the US on September 1, you must depart on or before September 29th. If you have a flight to your destination on September 20th or later, you can leave the US on September 20th.

The C1 visa does not allow for dependent visas. All persons transiting to the US must have a visa for transit, even spouses. If a foreign official travels through the US with a family member, they must also have individual C visas.