US C-1 transit visa

C-Visa, Transit

Foreign nationals who wish to enter the United States are often required to get a visa, either a non-immigrant visa for brief stays or an immigrant visa for permanent residency. Transit (C) visas are non-immigrant visas for those going through the United States in immediate and continuous transit en route to another nation. Immediate and continuous transit is defined as a prompt departure of the traveler in the regular course of travel, assuming a predetermined route with no exorbitant stopover privileges. If the traveler desires stopover privileges for reasons other than transiting the United States, such as to see friends or engage in tourism, they must qualify for the type of visa necessary for that purpose.

Who the C-1 transit visa is for

The C-1 visa suits travellers whose only reason to enter the United States is to pass through it on the way somewhere else.

• Passengers connecting between international flights through a US airport who are not eligible for or choosing to use ESTA
• Travellers stopping briefly in the US en route to a final destination in another country
• Sea crew travelling to the US to meet and board the vessel they will work on (a C-1 is needed alongside the D crewmember visa, often issued as a combined C-1/D visa)

Eligibility and conditions

To qualify, applicants must satisfy a consular officer that their entry is genuinely for transit and that they intend to depart the United States.

• The purpose of entering the US is to transit onward to another country
• The transit is "immediate and continuous" — a prearranged itinerary with a prompt departure and no unreasonable layover
• The traveller can show onward travel arrangements and/or permission to enter the next country
• The visa does not permit sightseeing, visiting or business — those require a B-1/B-2 or other appropriate visa

How to apply

Applications are made directly to a US embassy or consulate; no US-based petition is required.

• Complete the online DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application and print the confirmation page
• Pay the $185 machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee
• Upload or bring a photo meeting US visa photo requirements
• Schedule and attend a visa interview (some applicants may be eligible for interview waiver)
• Bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, unless a country agreement exempts this
• Bring evidence of the transit purpose — onward tickets or itinerary, and for crew a letter from the employer or agent

The C-1/D combined visa for crew

A person travelling to the US to join a vessel needs a C-1 transit visa in addition to the D crewmember visa. When both are applied for together, and the applicant's country reciprocity schedule allows it, they may be issued as a single combined C-1/D visa at the consular officer's discretion.

Crew applicants should be ready to show they are transiting to meet a specific vessel, for example with a letter from the employer or the employer's agent.

Important limits

• A C-1 visa is only for transit — it cannot be used to enter the US as a visitor
• A visa allows travel to a US port of entry; a CBP officer decides whether to admit the traveller and for how long
• Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries connecting through the US may be able to use ESTA instead, but this does not cover crew joining a vessel
• Some nationalities must pay an additional visa issuance (reciprocity) fee based on their country's schedule

Other Visas For Transit

You may be allowed to transit to the United States if you possess a valid tourist (B) visa.

If you are a citizen of a member nation under the Visa Waiver Program, you are also allowed to transit to the United States.

• B1 visa - Business travelers
• B2 visa - Tourist travelers
• B1/B2 visa - Tourist travelers

Travel purposes that necessitate a Transit (C) Visa

• A foreign national with a brief stay in the United States whose sole motivation for entering the country is to transit.
• A passenger who embarks from a foreign port on a cruise ship or vessel bound for a nation other than the United States but who makes a port call in the United States without the purpose of landing in the United States.
• A crewmember going as a passenger to the United States to join a ship or aircraft for which you will provide operational services. You will also require a crewmember D visa, often provided in conjunction with a C-1/D visa. Discover more information about Crewmember visas.
• A diplomatic transit (C-2) visa is required for foreign nationals in immediate and continuous transit through the USA to or from the United Nations Headquarters District, under conditions of the Headquarters agreement with the United Nations. Within the United States, travel will be restricted to the neighborhood of New York City.

On a Transit (C) Visa, you are not permitted to travel for the following reasons:

• A visitor (B) visa is required for foreign nationals whose stopover in the United States is for a reason other than transit, such as visiting friends or sightseeing.
• A coasting officer who wishes to enter the United States must possess a tourist (B) visa. Coasting officers are temporarily engaged when an officer of a foreign ship is allowed home leave while the vessel is in USA ports, as long as the vessel does not remain in U.S. waters for more than 29 days. The coast officer may repeat the procedure with another vessel of the same foreign line.
• A crewmember aboard a private yacht departing from a foreign port and staying in U.S. waters for more than 29 days is needed to hold a visitor (B) visa.
• An officer or employee of a specified international organization assigned to the United States may transit through the United States on an International Organization (G-4) visa in immediate and continuous transit.

Required Documentation For C Visa

The following is the standard set of documentation you are required to submit when attending your interview at the U.S. Embassy for your C1 Transit Visa:

• Passport valid for travel to the US - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your stay in the US (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If yo
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Confirmation Page of Form DS-160
• If you have to pay an application fee before your interview, keep your receipt.
• Photo — When completing the online Form DS-160, you will add your photo. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo that meets the Photograph Requirement

C Visa Process

A consular official will evaluate whether you are eligible for a visa and, if so, which visa category is appropriate for your travel purpose during your visa interview. You must demonstrate that you meet the legal requirements of the United States in order to be granted the visa category for which you are applying.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit digital fingerprint scans that are clear of ink. Theyre normally taken during your interview, however it depends on where you are.

You will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you after the visa is accepted, and you may pay a visa issuance charge if applicable to your nationality. Examine the visa processing time to determine when your passport and visa will be ready for pick-up or delivery by a courier.

How to Make an Application

Complete The Form Online

Submit your details online which will then be reviewed before we get in touch to confirm any additional details. We will also require for you to provide a digital photograph to be used for processing.

Make an appointment for an interview

While interviews are not compulsory for applicants, consular personnel have the authority to require an interview with any applicant, regardless of age. We will advise you accordingly on how and where to book your appointment.

The following are some instances where expedited transit visa appointments may be considered:

If you wish to seek an accelerated appointment, you must describe the emergency or urgency of your condition and or the reasons you want the appointment immediately.

• the death, severe sickness, or life-threatening injury of an immediate relative necessitating transit via the United States. Please provide the attending physician or funeral home's name, relationship, circumstance description, and contact information.
• urgent medical care for the applicant or their small kid requiring travel via the United States;

Is there any additional documentation?

Its possible that youll need to provide more documentation.

On the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply, review the guidelines for applying for a visa. Additional documentation may be required to determine your qualifications. Additional documents may, for example, include documentation demonstrating:

Your intent to leave the United States; Your ability to pay all costs while in the United States; and/or Your residence in your home country and intent to return there.

Proof of your onward travel plans and/or permission to enter another nation after leaving the United States may suffice as proof that you are only visiting for transit purposes. Evidence of your employment and/or family ties may also suffice to demonstrate that your visit to the United States is solely for transit and that you intend to return to your home country. If you are unable to fund all of your expenses while in the United States, you may be able to present proof that another individual will cover some or all of your expenses.

For detailed information on specific parts of the USA visa process, you can refer to the links on the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.

How long can I stay in US with a C visa?

Because this is not a tourist or business visa, you cannot stay longer than the time allotted on a Transit Visa for the United States. If you wish to visit the United States for vacation or business, you'll need a B1 or B2 visa.