C-1 Transit Visa: Passing Through the United States

Usually, yes. Many countries let passengers change planes in a sealed international zone without passing immigration. The United States does not. Every passenger arriving on an international flight goes through a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection, even for a two-hour connection. The US programs that once allowed transit without a visa were suspended in 2003.

You do not need a C-1 if you:

• Are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country and have an approved ESTA
• Already hold a valid B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which also covers transit
• Are a Canadian citizen, or otherwise visa-exempt
• Are a US lawful permanent resident

Everyone else who connects through a US airport or seaport on the way to another country needs a transit visa.

This page focuses on the C-1, the transit visa most travelers need. The consular officer decides which C category fits, based on the purpose of your trip and your itinerary, so describe your route fully on the DS-160 and at the interview.

A C-1 is for getting from one country to another through the United States. You can:

• Change planes, ships, or trains in the United States
• Stay briefly between connections, such as overnight in a hotel, when your route requires it
• Travel through the US to Canada, Mexico, or another country, if you hold any visa that country requires

You cannot:

• Use the stop for tourism, visiting family, or business meetings (you need a B-2 or B-1 visa for that)
• Work or study
• Stay longer than your transit requires, and never more than 29 days
• Extend your stay or change to another status inside the United States

At the interview and again at the US airport, be ready to show:

• A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned transit (some nationalities are exempt from the 6-month rule)
• Your Form DS-160 confirmation page and fee receipt
• A confirmed ticket or itinerary showing your arrival in the United States and your onward departure
• A visa or residence permit for your final destination, if that country requires one
• Evidence that you can pay for any overnight stay your route requires

If a delay forces you to stay longer than planned, speak to the airline and CBP right away. Do not simply stay past the date on your I-94 record, which you can check on the CBP I-94 website.

Transit is not only for flights. You may need a C-1 if you:

• Fly into the United States and then cross by land into Canada or Mexico
• Arrive on a cruise or ferry and leave the United States on another ship or flight
• Drive or take a bus through the United States between two other countries

In each case, you must hold whatever documents your destination requires. For example, a trip through the United States to Canada needs both a US transit (or visitor) visa and, if you need one, a Canadian visa or eTA.

If you are a crew member joining a ship or aircraft in the United States, you usually need a combined C-1/D visa rather than a plain C-1.

Because the cost and interview effort are similar, many frequent travelers apply for a B-1/B-2 visa instead. A visitor visa covers transit and also allows short visits, but the officer assesses it under the visitor visa rules, so apply for the visa that matches your real plans.

Yes, for some nationalities. Proclamation 10998, in effect since January 1, 2026, suspends all nonimmigrant visas for nationals of 19 fully restricted countries. That includes the C-1. Diplomatic and international organization travelers, such as those on C-2 and C-3 visas, are generally excepted.

The 20 partially restricted countries are limited mainly for immigrant visas and B, F, M, and J visas, so C-1 transit visas are not in the listed categories for them. Officers still review each application.

If you are from a fully restricted country, consider a route that does not pass through the United States.

• No proof of onward travel: you cannot show a confirmed ticket out of the United States and permission to enter your final destination.
• Doubt about your plans: the officer thinks you intend to stay in the United States rather than transit (section 214(b) of the immigration law).
• Past immigration violations: overstays, removals, or undisclosed earlier refusals.
• Security or administrative checks: your case may be held for 221(g) administrative processing, which can take weeks or months.

Book flexible tickets until the visa is issued. For earlier refusals or a criminal record, speak with a licensed immigration lawyer before applying. See visa denials and waivers.