Experience With Transit Through Us?

[stranded_in_paradise]

I'm a US citizen currently living and working in Bermuda, and I'm trying to arrange for a Thai friend to visit me here.

Bermuda does not require a visa for a Thai citizen, but my friend would be switching planes at JFK airport in NYC (from Thai Airways to American Airlines), which would require that she transfer between the terminals at JFK.

As I understand it, the US once allowed people from countries that would otherwise require a visa to transfer planes without a visa if just passing through the US, but this was suspended a few years back.

Has anyone had experience with a friend from Thailand transferring at a US airport in route to another country since the transfer privilege was suspended? I'm confused from various US government websites whether she now needs to get a US visa before traveling through or whether she can apply at the airport in NYC. (Her time between planes would be about 3 hours, and I'm not sure this would be sufficient time).

I'd appreciate any information someone can provide who's familiar with this situation.

[lopburi3]

From my 5 minutes with Google she will need to apply for a US non immigrant visa just like any other visitor but entry class with be C1 for transit. She will need tickets, bank account/job information, and have an interview as any other visa applicant. The Seoul Embassy website has specific instructions for there so suspect Bangkok would be similar but possibility stricter depending on the fraud rate. If she would normally be able to obtain a US visa it should not be that much of a problem but need a month or two to be sure of interview in time. If visa in doubt you might want to investigate other routes. This web site can give you general requirements for transit countries. Webpage

[stranded_in_paradise]

Thanks for the response.

I've been checking various websites for awhile now, and get conflicting information. Some sites state that the application for the visa must generally be made at the designated port of entry, others that it can be done in advance.

[bkkharry]

Thanks for the response.

I've been checking various websites for awhile now, and get conflicting information.  Some sites state that the application for the visa must generally be made at the designated port of entry, others that it can be done in advance.

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She would have to apply in Thailand for her visa, no visa on arrival in US for Thai citizens.

[stranded_in_paradise]

Thanks ... probably kills that idea then.

[bkkharry]

If she can get from Europe to Bermuda with out going through the US, have her fly from Bangkok to Europe onward to Bermuda. That way she avoids the visa issue with the US. Might be a little more expesive but do able.

Edited June 22, 2005 by bkkharry

[ProThaiExpat]

My daughter flies Sydney-BKK-Europe-Florida route preferably rather that via west coast of U.S. I don't know why but my guess it is shorter.

I would work backward from Bermuda to BKK on Expedia.com or other ticket web site and see how they route you as well as BKK to Dubai and then Bermuda.

[seanwg]

Its easier to just fly her via london. I brought my wife to Bermuda via London in December... its only a few hours longer. When she is here for a number of months and has some ties here, you can get her a visa. My wife got hers last week.

[stranded_in_paradise]

We were hoping to take advantage of the direct flight between BKK and NYC on Thai Airways, and then fly her to Bermuda on American, both for a cheaper total cost and so that I could meet her in NYC and we could fly together from there to Bermuda.

I suppose the London route (or some other non-US transfer point) will be our only opportunity. Although I think this is likely to add quite a bit of money to the total cost, and I'm not really sure she'd be comfortable transferring by herself in a foreign country.

Thanks for the info.

[stranded_in_paradise]

By the way .... I'm curious how your wife has adapted to Bermuda. I know there are various pockets of ethnic groups here, and I see some Thai people on the island occasionally. I think some work at Flanagan's. But overall, I would think it would be a difficult place for a Thai woman to move to compared to New York or London.

Although I presume she'll be happy with the weather here when the real heat starts in a few weeks.