Did I screw up?

[tcgateway99 0]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Oh...uh...let's not rely on what we see on "The Terminal" ok?

[kzielu 1,149]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

Does she have US visa ? If not, she will not be even allowed to board the flight.

[baron555 934]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

Unless she has a visa to enter the US, she will be detained and returned to Russia. ATL would be considered her POE, regardless of where her next flight is to.

[spn1025 38]

mmm.. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_4383.html

transit visa? As long as she never leaves the terminal, what's the problem?

[canadian_wife 1,822]

mmm.. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_4383.html

transit visa? As long as she never leaves the terminal, what's the problem?

Nthing, but the OP does not indicate that a transit visa has even been considered. He assume she could come to the US without one

OP - transit visa is what you need

good luck

[baron555 934]

mmm.. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_4383.html

transit visa? As long as she never leaves the terminal, what's the problem?

You mean, "As long as she doesn't leave the International Terminal and Atlanta Int'l has transit visas to be had, then she's fine.....but.....this could really blow up and cause future problems.

[Dave&Roza 748]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

1) You don't tell us where she is from, 2) are you applying or have you applied for any visa to the US for her, 3) You did post this in the RUB forum. With all that all I can say is she will need a transit visa to go thru the US or have a layover in ATL, and she most likely will need a visa to go to Jamaica.

If she is from a FSU country, she will need some sort of transit visa to change planes in the EU too.

Good luck,

Dave

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

There is no "international territory" that was a movie. Every square inch of the ATL terminal is US territory and subject to US rules. As the law is applied now, airlines are held responsible and fined heavily for allowing anyone to board a flight without proper visas to enter the US...just so there is never a case as you saw in the movie. If she needs a transit visa and does nto have one, they will not allow her to board the flight. Period.

You do not say you already bought the tickets, if you did not buy them yet...don't. If you did, then check on the necessary transit visa and if it cannot be obtained or costs too much, then just take the hit and change the flight. That will be cheaper, easier and faster. Make sure she has the necessary visas (if any) for Jamaica.

[Alfia & John 10]

Yes, this would definitely be called a screw-up. Same situation applies if you ride the train from Russia to Europe passing through Belarus. Even if you never step foot off the train, you still must have a transit visa to cross through Belarus. When I was on a train from Moscow to Vitebsk, Belarus, they stopped the train at the border, checked all the passports them proceeded into Belarus.

[BatmanUSA 105]

when I flew from Atlanta to Moscow, I had the change planes in Paris...

I did not have a transit visa.. I only has my US Passport and an entry Visa into Russia..

When I got off the plane in Paris, I had to walk to another terminal for my flight to Moscow... I showed them my passport and Russian visa, they didnt ask for anything else and I had no problems...

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I believe an American flying through Paris is different than a RUB flying through the US.

For one, I do not believe an American requires a visa to transit through Paris

good luck

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I believe an American flying through Paris is different than a RUB flying through the US.

For one, I do not believe an American requires a visa to transit through Paris

good luck

An American does not need a visa or anything else to stay in France up to 90 days, so transiting is no big deal. Comparing that and a Russian's experiences or visa needs is like comparing applies and oranges.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

when I flew from Atlanta to Moscow, I had the change planes in Paris...

I did not have a transit visa.. I only has my US Passport and an entry Visa into Russia..

When I got off the plane in Paris, I had to walk to another terminal for my flight to Moscow... I showed them my passport and Russian visa, they didnt ask for anything else and I had no problems...

The US has reciprocal VWP with France and other EU countries. Not at all related to the OPs question. In fact, Russia is one of the very few countries in Europe where you do need a visa and they do it mostly for revenue. Ukraine did away with visitor visas for Americans in 2005.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Gary and Alla

[Turboguy 6]

Well, I hope you have not bought your tickets or if you did that they can be canceled. I can tell you with absolute certainty that she can not transit through the USA. Transit visas and transit sections of international airports in the US were all done away with a little bit after the September 11th attack as a way to beef up security.

There are direct flights to most destinations in the Caribbean through a number of European airports but it might be easier to have her book the flight there. US travel agents and web sites tend to pull up connections through a US airport. If you can find the flights and there are a lot of them US travel agents can book the tickets but it is hard for them to find them. You would be ok with flying her through Frankfurt and or Paris (or Cuba on Aeroflot) but be careful about connections through London. London connections require change of airports and she would need a transit visa there which can be done but Paris and Frankfurt require nothing.

Sorry for the bad news. I almost made that mistake myself and some of the info you can get can be confusing.