C-1 Transit Visa
For a foreign national passing through the United States in immediate and continuous transit to another country, with no purpose in the US beyond that transit (not for sightseeing, visiting friends, or other stopover activities).
- Duration
- Admission for a period not to exceed 29 days (8 CFR 214.2(c)(1)).
- Extensions
- Cannot extend or change status - C is on USCIS's list of classifications ineligible to file Form I-539 for extension of stay or change of status.
- Work
- None; a C-1 traveler may not work in the United States.
- Dual intent
- No
- Dependents
- Each family member traveling for the same transit purpose generally needs their own C-1 visa; family members traveling for a different purpose need the visa matching that purpose (e.g., a B visa).
- Path to a green card
- No path via C-1 status itself; single-intent category. A C-1 traveler who did NOT enter to join a crew is not barred from later adjustment of status under INA 245(c)(1) if independently eligible under another immigrant category. By contrast, a person admitted as C-1 specifically to join a crew (i.e., functioning as the transit half of a C-1/D combination) IS permanently barred from adjustment under INA 245(c)(1), regardless of any later change in nonimmigrant status.
- Processing time
- unverified - no fixed timeline published; interview appointment wait times vary by post, season, and category.
Who qualifies
- Traveler with a brief US layover whose only reason for entering is to continue on to another country
- Passenger on a cruise ship or other vessel proceeding to a country other than the US that makes a US port call with no intent to land
- A crewmember traveling to the US as a passenger specifically to join a ship or aircraft they will work on (also needs a D visa - usually issued as combination C-1/D)
Requirements
- Prearranged itinerary with a reasonably expeditious departure - no unreasonable layover
- No purpose in the US beyond transit; those wanting to visit friends or sightsee need a B visa instead
- Evidence of onward travel arrangements and/or permission to enter the next country
- Ability to cover all costs while in the US, or evidence someone else will
- Ties to home country / intent to depart
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the period of stay unless exempt by a country-specific agreement
How to apply
- 1
Complete Form DS-160 online and print the confirmation page
- 2
Pay the non-refundable application fee ($185) if required before the interview
- 3
Gather passport, photo, and application fee receipt
- 4
Schedule and attend a visa interview (may be required; case-by-case)
- 5
Provide fingerprints at the interview
- 6
Gather evidence of onward travel, ability to pay costs, and ties to home country if requested
- 7
Await any administrative processing; pay any applicable visa issuance fee once approved
Fees and forms
| MRV nonimmigrant visa application fee | $185 |
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- 2026-01-01: Presidential Proclamation 10998 entry suspension took effect for nationals of 39 countries. The official suspension notice exempts 'certain diplomatic and official visas'; whether this reaches an ordinary (non-official) C-1 transit traveler from an affected country, as opposed to only C-2/C-3 official transit, is unverified from the sourced pages.
Where it goes wrong
- Layovers for any purpose other than transit (visiting friends, sightseeing, shopping) require a B visa instead, not C-1
- Cannot extend stay or change to another status while in the US - must depart within 29 days
- If used to join a vessel/aircraft crew, the C-1 entry permanently bars later adjustment of status under INA 245(c)(1), unlike ordinary C-1 transit
Also in transit
Not sure this is the one? Describe your situation and the finder will name the options worth exploring. None of this is legal advice; eligibility turns on facts a page cannot see.