Do I need a transit visa through America?

4 answers to questions

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It’s time to write a saga about the intricacies of obtaining a visa to the United States of America: everything came together here - the unreasonable quibbles of consular workers even with the most “durable” packages of documents, and the unexpected ease of obtaining the coveted stamp in a passport for the most emigrant-minded tourists. The peculiarity of applying for an American visa is the absence of a single list of documents, according to the principle “bring everything, and we’ll figure it out.” In general, the tourist’s goal is to convince the consulate that he cannot imagine life without his homeland, and no benefits of capitalism will undermine this filial love. The ghost bonus is a multiple-entry visa for a year by default and the possibility of obtaining a 3-year “multiple”.

A US visa is always required, even if you have a connecting flight and do not intend to get off the plane. The package of documents for a transit visa is no less than for a regular tourist visa.

Those planning to visit the States in the near future should take into account that the issuance of visas is limited (as of 2019).

Types of visas

US visas can be divided into two categories: non-immigrant for temporary stay and immigrant for permanent residence. The first has many subcategories and design nuances, the second has its own strict rules and requirements. The following types of nonimmigrant visas exist:

• for business and tourist trips B1/B2;
• workers H, L, O, P, Q, R;
• student M, F;
• transit and for crew members C1/D;
• for participants of J exchange programs;
• for housekeeping staff A3, G5, B1;
• for media workers and journalists I.

Business and tourist

The B1 visa is for business travelers, the B2 is for tourists and those seeking medical treatment. In practice, they often issue combined B1/B2, single and multiple entry for a period of up to 3 years.

Not only the documents, but also the applicant’s answers during the interview are of fundamental importance for the consul.

An approximate formula for success is confidence and clarity of testimony, healthy patriotism, plus a hefty package of papers confirming ties with the homeland, previous travel experience and the purpose of the upcoming trip (from certificates of income and property to business correspondence regarding the program).

Workers

You can work in the United States without immigrant status by applying for one of the non-immigrant visas for a maximum period of 2 years: H1 for highly skilled professionals, L for those who are temporarily transferred to American units, P for representatives of the entertainment industry and athletes, Q for participants in international cultural exchange programs , R for religious figures and O for those of extraordinary ability. The list of documents includes a Form I-129 petition approved by USCIS prior to filing the application. Confirmation of qualifications: resume, diplomas, letters of recommendation, etc. will also not be superfluous.

Student

The F visa is issued to students enrolled in private schools, colleges and universities in the United States, as well as those who intend to study English as part of various programs. The M visa is intended for persons entering the country for the purpose of non-academic or vocational study, while for those who plan to combine tourism with study in a shortened program (less than 18 hours per week), a B2 visa is sufficient. At the interview, you must have an approved Form I-20 from your graduating institution and proof of payment of SEVIS, a student fee in the amount of 180-200 USD. The maximum period of a student visa is 1 year. Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Transit and for crew members

Visa C is required for travelers traveling through the United States to other countries, D - for crew members of ships or aircraft served in the United States. The consul must provide tickets and visas from the destination countries or documents confirming work on the ship. The maximum period is 2 years.

For exchange program participants

Specialists in the field of culture, science and education - students, interns, school teachers and university professors, researchers and participants in Russian-American partnership dialogue programs - apply for a J visa for up to 3 years. To do this, you must provide the approved DS-2019 form and standard documents: old passports, certificates of property and income, correspondence about the exchange program, etc.

If the program is sponsored by the US government (indicated by the initial G in its number), you do not need to pay a visa fee. Otherwise, the SEVIS fee on Form I-901 is also required.

For home service personnel

Butlers, chauffeurs, maids, cooks and nannies receive visas depending on who their future employer is: a diplomat with an A1/A2 visa needs an A3 visa, an employee of an international organization with a G visa needs a G5, a US citizen or non-immigrant visa holder needs a B1 . The list of required documents includes a copy of the employer’s passport or visa, as well as a contract drawn up in accordance with all the rules and its signed copy. The maximum period is 3 years.

Applicants A3 and G5 are exempt from the fee, for B1 you need to pay the standard 160 USD.

For media workers and journalists

Visa I is issued to foreign reporters, editors, and film crews entering the United States for professional purposes, but B1 is sufficient for photographers who do not receive payment for activities in the country. The employer must provide a letter indicating the name, position, purpose and duration of the trip.

Visas are issued mainly for single-entry visas, valid for 3 months, but for long-term business trips - multiple annual ones.

Immigrant visas

Applying for an immigrant visa is an application to remain in the United States and subsequently become a citizen. Typically, the process is initiated by a family member, citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or by an employer who plans to hire the immigrant for one of the authorized positions. They are the ones who file the Form I-130 petition with Citizenship and Immigration Services. The applicant will have to undergo a medical examination and a standard interview. The USCIS fee for immigrants is 220 USD.

Visa Process

In order to obtain a transit visa to the USA, it is enough to follow the standard scheme. The process for obtaining a C-1 entry permit is standard and is very similar to the process for obtaining a similar tourist or student document. Here are a few simple steps:

1. Firstly, you need to choose exactly the type you need. Rethink your trip, check tickets, compare times. It might make sense to stay in the USA and see the local attractions, and then move on. In this case, it will be necessary to open type B-1, according to a slightly different scheme. If you have decided and are sure that you need to get a transit visa, then read on.
2. After the type is selected, and it is C-1, you need to pay the consular fee. This is the “cost of the document”. The processing fee for your transit visa application is $160 (the same cost for a B-1 visitor visa).
3. When the fee is paid, you can start working with the consulate. You should find the DS-160 form on the department’s website and fill it out electronically. This form is the main document for applicants for all types of non-immigration entry documents (including transit ones). Check yourself carefully when filling out - mistakes are very undesirable at this stage.
4. After filling out and submitting the application form, you must register for an interview. From the proposed date and time combinations, select the most suitable one. At the specified time, visit the consulate with all the necessary documents (more about them below).

Getting a transit visa to America is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing in this matter is to follow the letter of the law, not try to deceive the visa officer, and be calm and balanced.

Perhaps the most important step in obtaining a C-1 is the interview at the consulate. It is here that it will be decided whether to issue a visa for you or not.

A lot depends on the verdict of an institution employee, so you should carefully prepare for a meeting with him.

The main task of consulate workers is to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country. For this purpose, all applicants for any type of entry permit are checked. A transit visa is no exception.

Anyone wishing to discover type C-1 should strive to convince the consul that he is well-intentioned and has no desire to remain in the United States illegally. To do this, you should take supporting documents with you. These include:

• Financial certificates confirming your property and capital.
• Letters of recommendation or information from the place of work or study.
• Information about the route, time, travel plans.
• Tickets confirming that you will leave the United States (that is, you are actually passing through in transit).
• Visa of the country you are traveling to after the USA.
• Confirmation of payment for housing in this country.
• Any other paperwork officially required by the country you will be traveling to after the US.

Documents for a US visa

Required documents to obtain a tourist visa:

1. International passport
   An international passport with at least one blank page, valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip.
2. Photocopy of passport
   Old passport (or a copy thereof), if it has contained visas from the USA, Canada, Great Britain or Schengen countries in the last 5 years.
3. Photo
   Photo 5x5 cm, photo requirements see below (photos must be provided by all applicants, including children included in the parents’ passport)
4. Questionnaire
   completed at the office. website application in English on form DS-160 (men aged 16 to 45 years also need to fill out an application on form DS-157). The DS-160 Application Confirmation Page must be printed on a laser printer and contains applicant information encoded in a customized, legible barcode. If the code is not clearly printed, it will be difficult to find and identify information, which will result in the need to reschedule for an interview and submit documents.
5. Receipt
   Receipt for payment of consular fee
6. Certificate of employment
   Certificate of employment with the stated position and salary;
7. Bank account statement
   The statement must be recent and not older than 6 months;
8. Sponsorship letter
   In addition to the listed documents, students must receive a certificate from the educational institution and a copy of their student ID. For pensioners - a copy of the pension certificate. And also for all of them and those who are not working - an application for sponsorship, a certificate from the sponsor’s work, a copy of his internal passport and a document confirming the degree of relationship.
9. Additionally
   , Evidence that the tourist will leave the United States after the expiration of the period of stay (information about the presence of immediate relatives in the Russian Federation (spouse, children), documents confirming the presence of property in the Russian Federation, information about the goals and objectives of the trip (tourist voucher, hotel reservation ).
10. Minors
    Minors must provide a copy of their birth certificate. If children are traveling to the United States without parents or with one parent, they must provide notarized permission from both or one parent, respectively.

Documents can be drawn up in both English and Russian.

American laws do not define an official list of documents required to obtain a visa, so it is very important to provide the consulate with the most complete package of documentation confirming a strong financial situation, as well as family and business ties.

Don't forget to take out medical insurance in advance for the entire duration of your trip. Although you are not asked for your insurance policy when entering the country, it is at least unwise to travel without it.

It is better to collect documents with some excess: the more various certificates there are confirming the adequate level of income of travelers and their blood connection to the Motherland, the better.

In some cases, consular officers may check the visa applicant’s account on social networks.

US visa for seamen

If a person is part of an aircraft crew or works on a ship, then for a short-term crossing of the United States, it is also necessary to have a combined C1/D visa, which allows you to stay in the state for up to 29 days. If you are also planning a tourist visit to America or a guest visit, then you must also apply for a B1/B2 visa. When applying for two visa categories, one consular fee is paid.

Before applying for an American maritime visa, you must pay a consular fee of $160. When applying for a visa of this category, the package of documents will differ from the documents required to obtain a category C visa. For example, you will additionally need to provide a sailor’s passport, a valid contract or certificate of employment for the ship’s personnel, a list of crew members, etc. If all the necessary documents are collected, then the submission and consideration itself takes up to a week. But there may also be delays due to incorrect filling out of forms, incorrect submission of documents or possible workload of the embassy. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and not waste precious time, we advise you to turn to professionals who know the shortest path to a positive result.

Indeed, in addition to a correctly filled out application form, it is also necessary to convince the consular officer that the applicant is not planning illegal immigration, and the purpose of the trip is only transit or performing the duties of a crew member. Confirm that the salary is not paid by the US government, and provide a reliable travel plan until arrival at the final destination.

You can find out more details here: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ua_ru/ua-niv-typecandd.asp.

FAQ

Do I need a transit visa to travel to the USA?

Citizens of Ukraine need a transit visa to America.

How long can you stay in the USA on a transit visa?

The regulations state that you are permitted to transit immediately and without stopping through the United States. There are no specific deadlines. You must provide tickets confirming your intention to leave the United States. If the client wants to go sightseeing, then most likely he will not be allowed out, since this requires a tourist visa.

How much does a US transit visa cost?

Consular fee – 160 dollars.

How long does it take to obtain a US visa for sailors?

An American visa for sailors is issued in approximately 2-3 weeks: from collecting documents to receiving a visa. It all depends on how busy the embassy is.

How much does a US visa cost for sailors in Ukraine?

The visa fee for a seafarer is $160.

Registration of visas for children

Children under 14 years of age are not required to undergo an interview, but the application procedure depends on whether the parent has a valid US visa. If available, documents can be submitted through Pony Express: pay the consular fee, fill out Form DS-160 in the name of the child, create an account on the embassy website, carefully answer the questions in section 7, receive a letter confirming the submission of the application without an interview, print it and bring it to the company office. You must have with you a passport and photograph of the child, a photocopy of the parent’s visa, documents for the visa of the required category and their inventory.

Teenagers over 14 years of age must be accompanied by their parents for the interview.

If the parent does not have a visa and makes an appointment for the interview, the child should be listed as a dependent family member. But there is no need to bring him to the consul: it is enough to provide his passport and a printed page confirming the interview.

What you should pay attention to

There are two main points that you better not forget:

1. The process of obtaining such a visa is practically no different from obtaining a tourist visa to the United States. No one will make discounts or concessions: you must pay the consular fee, fill out a special form (in your case DS-160) and undergo a full interview with a consular officer.

   Completed online Form DS-160

2. You will not be able to go beyond the specific area of ​​the airport. If you want to take a walk around the United States, you need to apply for a visitor visa, otherwise you risk being detained by law enforcement officers.

Some immediately begin to say that a transit visa is useless, and it is much easier to obtain a full-fledged visa for tourist and business trips. On the one hand, this makes sense - this way you can not just sit in the airport building, but also take a walk, see the sights and chat with people.

On the other hand, you can look at the statistics and see that the refusal rate for a transit visa to fly through the United States is much lower than the refusal rate for the above types of visas.

Flight across the USA, view of Miami from the window

In addition, a transit visa is considered a fairly significant advantage when obtaining B-1/B-2 visas. This will not make things much easier for you, but the more such small advantages, the more likely it is that you will be issued a visa, and not a form describing the reasons for refusal.

Photo requirements

First rule: the photo must be taken within 6 months before applying. If your previous visa has expired and you need a new one, you will have to take photos again. The facial expression is neutral, the gaze is directed directly at the camera. The head should fit completely into the frame and occupy 50-70% of the photo area.

The photo itself is square, 5x5 cm in size, with a resolution from 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels. Background - white or close to white. Casual clothing: no uniform, hats (with the exception of those worn for religious reasons, and even then they do not hide the face), headphones or glasses. People who regularly wear hearing aids or similar devices are allowed to be photographed wearing them.

Fingerprinting for a US visa

Since 2003, the US Embassy in Moscow has scanned the fingerprints of all applicants between the ages of 14 and 79. Typically during an interview: digitally without using ink. For applicants who do not require an interview, an appointment will be made to visit the embassy or consulate for fingerprinting. To freely enter the territory, the applicant must present a consignment note from Pony Express and a valid passport.

If the applicant has cuts, calluses or other temporary damage to the fingertips, he will have to reschedule the procedure and report to the embassy when everything has healed.

However, since November 2008, some concessions have appeared regarding the universal scanning of “fingers”. Applicants who have already completed the 10-fingerprint procedure at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General in Russia may be exempt from the interview and fingerprinting process when applying for a subsequent visa if the following conditions are met:

• repeated application must be made no later than 11 months from the date of expiration of the previous visa;
• the applicant is applying for a visa of the same category as the expired visa;
• there is no Clearance Received mark on the previous visa;
• The visa application takes place in the applicant's country of residence and meets the requirements of United States immigration law.

Consular fee - $160

The consular fee for all non-immigrant visas, except work visas, is 160 USD. Work visa applicants will have to fork out 190 USD. The fee is paid in ruble equivalent before submitting documents to the consulate at Russian Post offices or using a bank card. It is charged in full from each applicant, including children included in the parents’ passport. If the transaction is successful, a receipt containing the identification code required to schedule an interview at the consulate will be sent to the email address provided by the payer.

Where to go for self-registration

There are a number of consulates in Russia where transit can be opened. They are located:

• in Moscow;
• St. Petersburg;
• Yekaterinburg;
• Vladivostok.

Registration through the diplomatic mission

To request the opening of a document, a tourist needs to submit to the consulate prepared documents confirming the need to obtain it.

To obtain a visa, you need to have round-trip tickets, collect a package of documents and undergo an interview.

They are:

1. Visa at destination.
2. Round trip tickets.
3. Confirmation of accommodation reservation.

After submitting the documents, you can begin registration. This procedure looks like this:

1. Full payment of the consular fee.
2. Filling out Form DS-160.
3. Preparation of a complete package of documents.
4. Register for an interview at the consulate and set its date by sending a letter with an individual code.
5. Interview with an officer from the consulate.
6. Making a verdict on the issuance of a document.

The applicant will learn the decision either during an individual conversation or within half an hour after it. In case of refusal to formalize transit, a letter is drawn up explaining the reasons for this.

Resolving visa issues online

After registering on the application service, the applicant must:

1. Fill out the application on the website.
2. Print it out.
3. Receive a receipt for the visa fee and complete the transaction.
4. Submit an application.

Official page of the US State Department.

Afterwards, you need to submit a request for a meeting with a visa officer by filling out the appropriate form on the website. Then you will receive an email containing:

• date and time of the interview;
• diplomatic mission address.

Filling out a visa application

The electronic form DS-160 is filled out in English directly at the office. US Embassy website. Such an application contains all the data entered by the applicant; this information will be encrypted in the barcode.

If there is no user activity, the form completion session will expire after 20 minutes. To avoid data loss, you should save the application file to your computer often. When submitting to the site, you need to upload not only the DS-160, but also a photo that meets all the requirements. After filling out the form, a page with a barcode will be generated, which must be printed and brought to the interview with the rest of the documents.

Application procedure

After paying the consular fee (no earlier than 2 business days) and filling out an electronic application on form DS-160, you must sign up for an interview on the embassy website. To register, you must provide the numbers of your international passport, document confirming payment of the consular fee, and a 10-character barcode from the DS-160 submission confirmation page.

Passports with visas are delivered to the address specified when registering or stored until required by Pony Express; the cost of its services is included in the consular fee. You can track the status online and by calling the call center. To obtain a passport, you will need the original of any identification document and a printed letter inviting you to an interview.

Embassy and Consulate

Business visa Received December 3, 2015

Fiancé visaReceived January 30, 2017

Tourist visa for 10 yearsReceived January 24, 2017

Tourist visa for 10 yearsReceived January 24, 2017

A transit visa to the USA takes about 2-3 weeks. This period, as a rule, includes the time spent waiting in line to submit documents and sending the passport with a visa by courier service after the interview. But to protect yourself, it is better to start collecting documents earlier. After all, you never know how long it may take to check documents at the embassy. You can quickly obtain a transit visa to the USA by contacting our company. We know how to increase the chances and save the client's time. Our employees will give comprehensive answers to all your questions.

A transit visa to the USA is issued for 10 years. This category of visa gives the right to stay in the country for up to 29 days. At the same time, a citizen of Ukraine with a transit visa can only stay unhindered at the airport or seaport from where a transit flight to another country is carried out. Visiting friends and sightseeing in the city is prohibited. For such purposes, you must apply for a tourist or visitor visa.

Visa processing time

As of July 2021, the waiting period for an interview for tourist visa applicants in Moscow and Yekaterinburg is 300 calendar days, in Vladivostok - 50 days. For student visas in Moscow you can receive an invitation in 2 calendar days, in Yekaterinburg - in 60 days, in Vladivostok - in a day. If the conversation with the consul goes well, the documents will be processed fairly quickly: from 3 business days. If you do not need to undergo an interview (for example, when re-entering), the visa is issued in 7-30 days.

A valid American visa may be in an expired passport: at the border you will need to show both the old passport with the visa and a new, valid one.

US visas in 2021

Currently, only the Moscow embassy and consulates in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok operate in Russia. The queues for interviews are gigantic: to get to the consul in the capital, a tourist needs to wait almost a year or hope for a miracle. So for those who are applying for a visa for the first time, it is better to think about traveling to neighboring countries - Latvia, Georgia or Lithuania. Holders of visas that expired less than 11 months ago can expect to receive a new one within a month.

The most common type of visas issued are “multiple” visas valid for up to 3 years for the purposes of tourism, business and study.

According to statistics, every 10th Russian is denied an American visa. At risk are young, single and childless boys and girls with modest salaries, student visa applicants who do not speak spoken English, residents of the Stavropol, Krasnodar territories, Dagestan and areas close to “hot spots”. Those who previously violated the deadlines for returning from the States, were denied a visa, or were traveling to visit relatives who immigrated from Russia to the United States are also in doubt. The lack of Schengen visas and the discrepancy between personal data and the answers at the interview will also alert the consul. And if document forgery is discovered, entry permission will never be seen.

Who does not need a transit visa

A document is not required if you are flying to another country via America, but do not make transfers there.

If a person is a member of the crew of a ship or aircraft operating flights with a transfer to the United States, then he will not need to register it, because in such cases, special offers are made that can be used for a long time.

To spend even a couple of hours in the USA, you must have a visa.

Also, the group of citizens who do not need a transit visa includes:

• citizens of states that have entered into special agreements with the United States regarding travel into the country without special permission;
• tourists with an open Schengen visa.

Where can you go with a valid US visa?

With a multiple-entry open visa to the United States, you can visit a number of other countries with a visa regime:

• Albania - no more than 90 days in a 180-day period, the visa must be used at least once to travel to the United States;
• Bermuda - no more than 90 days;
• Mariana Islands - at the time of entry to the islands, the visa must be valid for at least another 6 months;
• Marshall Islands - at the time of entry to the islands, the visa must be valid for at least another 6 months;
• Mexico - no more than 180 days;
• Turks and Caicos - the visa must be used at least once to travel to the United States;

Answers to some questions

• Is it possible to visit Canada if I have a US visa?

It is illegal to stay in Canada on a US visa. We recommend that you obtain a special visa to visit Canada.

• There is a visa in the old passport. What should I do?

Show both passports.

• A US visa type B1 and B2 is available for 3 years. Do I have the right to stay in the United States all this time?

It is best to adhere to the time specified in the questionnaire. Otherwise, problems may arise the next time you apply for a visa.

• Is it necessary to indicate my relative living in the USA in the application form if I do not communicate with him?

If a relative lives in America legally, there is no need to hide the data. Otherwise, your visa will be denied.

• Is it possible to get an idea about a person in 2-3 minutes during an interview?

A consular officer does not have much free time. Provide him with information in a concise, accessible form. Even before the interview begins, the documents undergo initial processing; the consul has enough information.

Embassy and Consulates of the United States of America in Russia

Embassy of the United States of America in Moscow

US Consulate General in Vladivostok

US Consulate General in Vladivostok

US Consulate General in Yekaterinburg

Express center in Moscow

Express center in Moscow

Express center for accepting documents for non-immigrant visas to the United States by bank transfer only for corporate clients

Express center in Moscow

Express center in Yekaterinburg

Express center in Vladivostok