travel via the U S

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Subject: travel via the U S
  Does someone know the procedure that they have if you transit via the US when travelling out? Eg: if your flight from Toronto to Singapore is via USA, you are just passing through will they make you fill out I94 for just tansitting via the USA? Also when you fly back and you land in the US before flying back into Toronto do you again fill out an I94 for transitting?


[03-02-2007,12:09]
[**.97.130.222]
Dee
(in reply to: travel via the U S)
Dee,

You will ALWAYS need a visa for the US, UNLESS you hold a passport issued by a "visa waiver" country.

You will have to apply ahead of time.
If you are the same Dee that landed as a PR not too long ago, and was illegal in the US at some point in the past, then you are under the 10-year re-entry bar and may not be issed a US visa at all.

I recommend trying to get a direct flight.

PS - I hope you are doing well in Canada! :)

[03-02-2007,20:21]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden
travel via the U S (in reply to: travel via the U S)
Uniden - yes it is the same Dee, you have a good memory! I am doing good in Canada, thank you. I already have a U S tourist visa valid, and at some point I was out of status for a bit in the US but that was pending the appeal for our case, and we left within 5 weeks of the denial of the appeal.

So are you saying that we cannot even transit via the US? The U S flights are much cheaper so I wanted to use them for travel....no one even took our I94 when we left and I have not surrendered it - so cant I just try and use the B1/B2 for transit purpose?

[03-02-2007,23:56]
[**.97.130.222]
Dee
(in reply to: travel via the U S)
Dee,

Of course I remember you! :)
Good to hear you are all well in Canada! I am hopeful you also found a solution for your son and the school issue.

Anyway, according to the US Department of State, since August 2003, people who would otherwise be required to obtain a visa to travel to the US, also need a visa for US transit. This does not affect U.S. citizens or citizens from visa waiver countries.

Read here for details:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1248.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1249.html


On the same issue, and specifically for you Dee, please note that even a single second not in legal status in the US, renders the visa in your passport invalid. This is all theoretically speaking and based on the US Immigration and Naturalization Act. So your B1/B2 visa is definitely NOT valid right now, please do not assume that.

..but on the other hand.. INS extended the student visa for Mohammed Atta, one of the 9/11 terrorists, 6 months after his death.. So back then, US immigration system was not well aware of what was really going on in real life. Maybe they are better today. Maybe they know about your invalid visa, maybe they don´t.
Fact is, and I only say that because I don´t want you to get into bigger trouble, you may indeed get a cheaper flight transiting throught the US, but be denied entry into the US due to the above, and the money you have saved buying cheaper tickets will quickly be forgotten when you will be returned to Canada, and you will have to buy the more expensive tickets for reaching your destination.

Honestly, I wish there was a way to check the validity of your US B1/B2 visa BEFORE you purchase your tickets, just to be on the safe side and for your own peace of mind. The only way I know is by visiting a US embassy/consulate, but if you do that they will ask you many, many, many questions and you will likely end up with an invalid visa in your passport anyway..

I am giving you only the facts. You are the ultimate decision maker.

Best luck, my friend!

Uniden

[04-02-2007,02:45]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden
(in reply to: travel via the U S)
Dee,

..There is one more way to try the validity of your US tourist visa, and I believe we talked about it in an earlier posting:
Try to cross into the USA by car one day. Toronto is very close to the US. If you succeed, then later you will also be able to transit without being afraid.

Good Luck! :)

Uniden

[04-02-2007,02:51]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden
travel via the U S (in reply to: travel via the U S)
Yes...we´ll try it out sometime.

As for my son he got into two classes at school in the first semester when we landed, and is into his second semester doing his full classes. Hopefully he will be able to complete his graduation by summer and go the university without losing any time - the applications have alredy been sent. Let´s see!

Thanks for all your feedback on various issues, Uniden that really helps.

[04-02-2007,11:03]
[**.97.130.222]
Dee
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