Do I need a transit visa if I am getting a connecting flight on my way to Mexico?
Going from Europe to Mexico, getting a connecting flight in Atlanta. Do I need a transit visa? What else do I need? My nationality is Irish
Air Travel - 2 Answers
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1 :
as long as you don't leave the airport in Atlanta you do not need a transit visa.
2 :
Jack's answer is not correct. All passengers who are entering the US for any purpose -- even for transit to a third country -- are required to meet entry requirements into this country. The US does not have sterile international facilities for transit passengers -- these persons must go through US Customs and Immigration just as any other passenger would. Since you don't mention your citizenship, though, it's impossible for anyone to specifically tell you whether you need a transit visa for this trip or not. If you are a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (a list of which can be found at the first link below), then you may enter the country without a visa so long as you have a valid passport and you go through all of the listed procedures. This includes paying the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee before you show up at the airport -- if this fee is not paid before you leave, then you will be denied boarding. If you are not a citizen of a visa waiver country, but you hold a passport for any other country which requires a visa to enter the US, then you will be required, at the very least, to obtain a C-1 transit visa, as described in the second link below. This visa will meet the legal requirements for you to make the transfer, but keep in mind that you will need to contact a US Embassy or Consulate prior to your trip in order to obtain the visa in advance -- the US does not issue them at the point of entry. Also note that there is a substantial cost to apply for one of these visas. If you need a visa to enter the US and cannot obtain one in time, you need to contact your airline to see whether there is a way you can change your routing such that there is no transfer in the US, or postpone your trip until such a time as you can obtain the visa -- the airline will deny you boarding onto your original flight if you cannot establish the legal right to enter the US when you check in. EDIT: As is noted in the first link provided, persons holding Irish passports may enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program. Therefore, while you do not specifically need a transit visa for the US in order to make this trip, you will need to make sure that you go through all of the procedures for entry under the Visa Waiver program, including obtaining an ESTA before you depart, so that you will have no problems when you get to the airport.
Title : Do I need a transit visa if I am getting a connecting flight on my way to Mexico
Description : Do I need a transit visa if I am getting a connecting flight on my way to Mexico? Going from Europe to Mexico, getting a connecting flight ...