Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Visas
C Visa - Direct Transit
Aliens in direct transit through the United States
do not need a visa or a passport to enter the US, so long as
they have ocumentation that establishes their identity, nationality
and their ability to enter into another country. These aliens
are therefore ermitted to enter the United States as nonimmigrant,
so long as they are “in immediate and continuous transit” through
the United States. Brief stopovers are sometimes permitted, however,
if an alien wishes to remain in the US for any length of time,
he should come into the country on a temporary visitor’s visa.
There are 4 different categories of aliens who are permitted entry
as aliens in transit.
General Transits
General transits are those who are merely passing through the United
States on their way to another country.
TWOV Transits
This category allows that the alien be in transit through the United
States without documentary requirements such as visas. This
category applies to airline passengers and crewmen seeking
to join their vessels in the US.
This category is unavailable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba,
Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Libya, and citizens of the former Yugoslavia (including
Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Macedonia).
Transits to UN Headquarters
This category applies to those who seek to travel to the UN headquarters
in New York City. Those included in this category are invitees,
members of the media who are accredited and representatives
of nongovernmental organizations.
The aliens in transit to the UN must stay within the 25 mile radius
of Columbus Circle, New York City, during their stay in the
US, and must possess documentation which shows them to be able
to enter a foreign country when the UN business is completed.
Foreign Government Officials
Foreign government officials and their immediate families, attendants
and personal employees are granted permission to pass through
the US in transit.
Authorized Period of Stay
The authorized period of stay for a transit nonimmigrant entrant
to the US is up to 29 days. These transit aliens must not be
inadmissible to the US. They must show that they are coming
to the US for the purpose of passing through, must show that they
have arranged transportation to reach their destination, that
they have enough funds to reach their destination outside of
the US and that they are permitted to enter their destination country.
A transit alien may not change status (except to that of an official
of a foreign government or an international organization).
They may not apply for extensions of stay, nor may they accept
employment.
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