Transit USA: Stopover with visa or ESTA?

Many travelers who are merely stopping over in the US – for example, on their way to Canada, Mexico, or South America – are unaware that they need a US visa or ESTA authorization to do so.

Even if your main destination is not the United States of America, a short transit stay of

• a few minutes,
• a few hours or
• longer

defacto means entry into the USA.

There is no pure transit area at US airports that can be crossed without officially entering the United States. Every traveler who transfers on American soil must formally enter the United States and later leave again. It is therefore important to comply with US entry requirements even if you are only transiting through the country.

Transit passengers must have a valid travel authorization. The good news is that most European citizens do not need a complicated US visa. The decision is usually between two options:

1. visa-free travel with ESTA or
2. a suitable US visa.

If you are not fully prepared or do not have a travel authorization, you may be denied entry and, in the worst case, have to return home from the US transit counter.

Basically, all individuals who do not have a US passport need either a US visa or a valid ESTA entry permit for entry into the USA, even for transits of a few minutes or hours. The following residence permits can be considered in principle:

ESTA

ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is available to most Europeans and many other nationalities. To transit through the US, travelers simply need to have a valid ESTA authorization. This ESTA authorization can be applied for online in a few minutes.

Persons who do not (or no longer) qualify for the ESTA procedure (e.g. due to their nationality or travel to certain countries) must inevitably apply for a US visa for transit through the United States.

C visa

If you come are from a country or have a passport from a country that is not eligible for the ESTA procedure (e.g. Turkey or Ukraine) or if you are unable to obtain an ESTA entry permit for any other reason, you will definitely need a US visa.

The appropriate visa for a stopover in the US is the so-called C-1 visa “Noncitizen in Transit.” To obtain this visa, you must submit a visa application and attend an interview at the US consulate in your home country. Passengers traveling by ship to a destination outside the US whose ship calls at a US port without docking there also need a transit visa, often issued as a combination C-1/D visa (for crew members). We recommend that you submit your application in good time, i.e., at least 4 to 8 weeks before your planned trip.

The following requirements must be met:

• It is an immediate or continuing transit through the United States.
• You must be in possession of a regular ticket or airline ticket or proof of your destination.
• You have sufficient financial means for the transit journey.
• You have permission to enter another country after leaving the United States.

B-1 / B-2 visa

Persons who are excluded from the ESTA process and are traveling to the US for transit purposes, but who intend to travel to the US in the future, have the option of applying for a

• B-1 visa (Business),
• B-2 visa (Tourist) or
• a combination B-1 / B-2

instead of a C visa.

If the B visa is approved, you may enter the United States for transit, business, or tourism purposes for the duration of its validity. We therefore generally recommend the B-1 / B-2 option to our customers, as it offers more possibilities than the C visa.

Incidentally, the consular application fee is identical regardless of whether it is a C-1, B-1, B-2, or combined B-1 / B-2 visa. You can find the current visa fees on our costs page.

The B visa is also usually applied for during a personal interview at one of the relevant US consulates. Please allow around 6 to 8 weeks for processing.

Holder of a work visa (e.g. E, L or H)

People who, for example, have a E visa, H visa or L visa are allowed to enter the United States for work purposes. However, if you are planning to transit the US for purely personal reasons, such as to vacation in Mexico, you will need either a valid ESTA entry permit, a C visa or B visa.

In practice, travelers with a work visa were often not turned away in the past when they were merely transiting or passing through. However, there are also border officers who are very strict and, in the worst case, do not recognize transit with a work visa.

The biggest concern for many transit travelers is the unknown process of entering the US - especially at major airports. What happens after landing? Do I have to collect my luggage? How much time should I allow?

Step 1: Arrival and entry control (immigration)

Your first stop after getting off the plane is at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration checkpoint. This is where all international passengers are checked, regardless of whether the United States is their final destination or just a transit stop.

What is happening here?

• You will appear before a CBP officer: This person will check your passport and your travel authorization (ESTA or US visa).
• Biometric data: A digital photo of you will be taken and your fingerprints scanned.
• Typical questions: Be prepared to answer the following questions briefly, precisely and truthfully:
  What is your final destination?
  How long will you be in transit?
  What is the purpose of your trip?

Step 2: Baggage collection and customs

Many transit passengers ask themselves whether they have to collect their baggage. This is usually the case and you must collect your baggage from the conveyor belt, even if it has been checked through to your final destination. After immigration control, you go to the baggage claim area, take your suitcases and take them through customs. Here you make a customs declaration (usually digitally at a kiosk or verbally).

You may also be able to use CBP's International Remote Baggage Screening program. At participating airports and with certain airlines, your baggage may be forwarded directly to your connecting flight without you having to collect it.

However, this is not yet the standard. To be on the safe side, always plan on having to collect your luggage unless the ground staff explicitly instruct you otherwise.

Step 3: Re-check baggage and repeat security check (TSA)

Directly after the customs area you will find special baggage drop-off or transfer counters. Here you simply drop off your baggage that has already been labeled for the onward flight. It will then be automatically transported to your connecting flight.

You will then leave the arrivals area and proceed to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint like a normal passenger.

Here you will go through the usual checks (hand baggage scan, body scanner, etc.) before arriving at your departure gate for your onward flight.

How much time should I plan for the transit?

The time required can vary greatly, depending on

• the airport (e.g. large hubs such as JFK in New York, LAX in Los Angeles or ATL in Atlanta require more time),
• the time of day and
• the number of incoming flights.

Plan at least 2.5 to 3 hours as the absolute lower limit. To be on the safe side and avoid stress, it is recommended to allow 4 hours or more – especially if you are not familiar with the airport or if there are delays on arrival.

For a general overview of the procedures on arrival, please refer to the official CBP Guide for International Visitors.