Types of Visa Classes

Transit without Visa Program; Transit: C; Crew: D or C-1/D

• Description
• Qualifications
• Application Items

Description

Transit without Visa Program The Transit without Visa Program (TWOV) has been suspended. All passengers transiting through the United States must have a valid U.S. visa.

Transit: C

If you will be on a flight or a ship that stops at a U.S. port of entry en route to your final destination, you will need to apply for a C visa. It is helpful if you can present an onward itinerary beyond the United States. In general, you should obtain any required visa for your onward destination before applying for your U.S. visa.

Crew: D or C-1/D

A D visa is used by individuals serving in any capacity on board a vessel or aircraft. Crew members of a flight or sea vessel that will be transiting through the United States or its waters generally use a combination transit/crew visa (C-1/D). However, in some cases individuals may only require the D visa.

Crew members who work aboard vessels within the Outer Continental Shelf, a modified B-1 visa may be issued in lieu of a crew visa.

Crew members who will be entering the United States during time off between flights or cruises should also obtain a B-1/B-2 visa to use during these personal/vacation days.

Qualifications

C, D or C-1/D applicants must demonstrate to a consular officer and/or to DHS that they qualify for a U.S. visa according to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 214(b) of the INA presumes that every C, D or C-1/D applicant is an intending immigrant; thus, they must overcome this legal presumption by demonstrating that:

1. The purpose of their trip is to enter the United States solely for transit or crew purposes;
2. They have made clear their true intentions in traveling to the United States;
3. They do not intend to be paid by a U.S. source while in the United States, unless they have been granted DHS approval for a temporary work visa;
4. They plan to stay for a specific, limited period;
5. They have evidence of funds to cover all expenses while in the United States;
6. They have evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and
7. They have a residence outside the United States as well as other binding ties that will ensure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

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Application Items

All required documents for any non-immigrant visa plus any supporting documents you choose.

Though supporting documents may assist you in your interview, consular officers rely primarily on the interview to determine your eligibility for a visa. In other words, supporting documents are voluntary and of secondary importance.

Caution: Use only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in a permanent visa ineligibility. If confidentiality is of concern, the applicant should bring the documents to the Embassy / Consulate in a sealed envelope. The Embassy / Consulate will not make this information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of the information.

List of documents most frequently presented:

• Current proof of salary and/or income (original pay slips or most recent original J, EA, B or other tax forms)
• Letter from employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed with the company; the period of authorized trip; and the purpose of your U.S. trip;
• Real estate lease or deeds;
• Bank savings account books or other evidence of liquid assets that indicate the balance in your accounts and account activity;
• Where appropriate, an itinerary and/or other information about your planned trip (this can be tentative);
• For crew: letter from company headquarters and/or seamen's book.

Please do not fax, e-mail or mail supporting documents to the Embassy / Consulate as we do not have the resources to track them. Instead, send the document directly to the applicant for presentation to the consular officer during the interview.