Correct VISA for Mexican citizen transitting through the US

[Sparrows_33 0]

Hi there,

I am an Australian citizen, currently living in Australia. My girflriend, a Mexcian citizen, is planning to travel here to visit me, requiring a stopover in the US. Based on what I have read, this would mean she needs to have a C class transit VISA.

Is this correct? Are there any other exceptions that might be applied to her, or other bits of information or general suggestions which anyone on this forum might be able to offer me on this topic?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Boiler 43,391]

B would work, or avoid the issue entirely.

[JFH 12,189]

Terminology is important here. Stopover is a voluntary break in a journey which covers at least one midnight. Transit is an involuntary stop which may or may not cross a midnight. (Airline employee speaking here).

If she is having a stopover (for example flying from Mexico to somewhere in the USA for a few days and then onwards to Australia) she will need a B visa. The C visa is for transit. Changing planes only.

Alternatively look for a carrier that does not route her through the USA.

[KierenHby 897]

Try a European or Middle East-based airline.. KLM\BA\Emirates.. from Mexico City that skips the US.

[newacct 688]

Terminology is important here. Stopover is a voluntary break in a journey which covers at least one midnight. Transit is an involuntary stop which may or may not cross a midnight. (Airline employee speaking here).

If she is having a stopover (for example flying from Mexico to somewhere in the USA for a few days and then onwards to Australia) she will need a B visa. The C visa is for transit. Changing planes only.

Alternatively look for a carrier that does not route her through the USA.

Not true. Staying overnight between flights (or even between multiple modes of transportation) definitely fits in the purpose of a transit visa.

[jan22 2,897]

Terminology is important here. Stopover is a voluntary break in a journey which covers at least one midnight. Transit is an involuntary stop which may or may not cross a midnight. (Airline employee speaking here).

If she is having a stopover (for example flying from Mexico to somewhere in the USA for a few days and then onwards to Australia) she will need a B visa. The C visa is for transit. Changing planes only.

Alternatively look for a carrier that does not route her through the USA.

Actually, the C1 reansit visa allows for much more than that -- with immigration officer authorization, you can be in the US for up to 30 days on a transit visa. You can, for example, fly into New York, drive across the US, and depart from LA. The requirements for qualifying for a C1, therefore, are the same as a B visa, so you might as well go for the B.

[Sparrows_33 0]

Thanks for the responses. To clarify, yes she will only be transitting through the states, literally stopping over to catch a flight through to Australia. So, based on what I'm reading here, it seems the c visa will cover it, but that the b visa is also available.

Which is the easier of the 2 to get? Or are they much the same? And will her nationality lead to any foreseeable difficulties in getting her visa approved?