Q: I just need to go through (transit) the U.S. to get to another country. I don’t even plan to leave the airport. Do I need a visa?
Citizens of Guyana transiting the U.S. en route to another foreign destination require a valid visa to do so. Even if such individuals only intend to be present in the U.S. for a few hours and do not plan to leave the airport, they still need a visa. Such individuals may apply for either a B-1/B-2 tourist visa, or a C-1 transit visa, depending on the nature of his/her travel.
Q: What is a transit visa?
If you are not eligible to transit the U.S under the Visa Waiver Program or on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, you will be required to apply for a transit C-1 visa before traveling. A transit visa is issued to foreigners proceeding in immediate and continuous transit through the U.S. en route to a foreign destination, and will only be issued when an officer is satisfied that the transit journey will not be interrupted. Transiting foreigners are not required to remain in the transit lounge at the airport. Once admitted to the U.S., they can visit friends, see a show, etc., so long as they continue their journey within the authorized period of stay. In issuing the visa the consular officer must be satisfied that the principal purpose of the trip is to transit the U.S.
Q: Can I apply for a B1/B2 tourist visa and use it to transit the U.S.?
Travelers who have a valid B1/B2 visa do not need a special transit visa to transit the United States. If you are already in possession of a tourist visa, you may use this visa both to visit the U.S. and for onward travel. Applicants without visas, whose sole purpose of coming to the U.S. is for transit, should apply for the C-1 transit visa.
Note: Travelers who intend to transit the United States with a visa of a category other than B1/B2 or C1 will in most cases not be admitted by U.S. immigration officials, and may be returned to their country of origin at their own expense.
Q: How do I apply for a C-1 transit visa?
You may apply for a transit visa in the same manner for which you would apply for the tourist visa by filling out an electronic application form on-line. The EVAF DS-156 can be accessed at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov using the link for the Electronic Visitor Visa Form or at http://evisaforms. state.gov.
On the day of your visa interview, along with the other required documents (i.e. evidence of your ties to Guyana), it may be helpful to bring documentation pertaining to your final destination. For example, if you are attending a conference in the Dominican Republic, you should bring your conference registration receipt. Applicants traveling to countries which require visas may want to have the visa for the destination country prior to applying for the U.S. transit visa.
***
“Ask the Consul” is a weekly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigration law and visa issues. If you have a general question about visa policy please email it to us at AskGeorge@state.gov. We select questions each week and publish the answers in Stabroek News and on our website at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/guyana /ask_con.html. For more information about visas please see http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov or http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/.
Other than the questions we select, we DO NOT respond to questions sent to Ask the Consul. Please contact the visa inquiries unit (email visageorge@state.gov or call 225-7965 between 12 pm – 4 pm Monday through Friday) if you have questions about a specific case.