Can I apply for a b1/b2 visa for transit?

[Elixz2 0]

I need to transit from my country to the US for a flight to a Middle Eastern country. Can I apply for a tourist visa for that purpose? Most likely I would be visiting the US for tourist purposes sometime in the future also but I don’t have any familial ties to the US who can give an invitation letter. 
Also what US address can I put on the application?
I am 22 years old, a student and have a public service job for almost 4 years plus over a year of training before that, so working for a total of almost 5 years.
Any information is appreciated.
 

[SalishSea 17,801]

5 minutes ago, Elixz2 said:

I need to transit from my country to the US for a flight to a Middle Eastern country. Can I apply for a tourist visa for that purpose? Most likely I would be visiting the US for tourist purposes sometime in the future also but I don’t have any familial ties to the US who can give an invitation letter. 
Also what US address can I put on the application?
I am 22 years old, a student and have a public service job for almost 4 years plus over a year of training before that, so working for a total of almost 5 years.
Any information is appreciated.
 

Anyone is free to apply for a B2.  There is no letter of invitation needed.  You don't need a US address.

 

Also- if it truly is just for transiting, that is a different type of visa (C visa).

[OldUser 6,607]

10 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Also- if it truly is just for transiting, that is a different type of visa (C visa).

+100

 

I wonder what's your route @Elixz2? 

 

Australia has direct flights to Dubai, South America also. Africa, Europe and Asia probably do not make sense travelling via USA. Are you in the Carribbean? Many Carribbean countries have visa free travel to the UK and there are direct flights from there to Middle Eastern countries. The point is, USA visas are not easy to get.

Edited January 3, 2023 by OldUser

[milimelo 4,475]

Which country are you traveling from and where to? 

[Elixz2 0]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

+100

 

I wonder what's your route @Elixz2? 

 

Australia has direct flights to Dubai, South America also. Africa, Europe and Asia probably do not make sense travelling via USA. Are you in the Carribbean? Many Carribbean countries have visa free travel to the UK and there are direct flights from there to Middle Eastern countries. The point is, USA visas are not easy to get.

My route is from Caribbean island to JFK to Dubai 

2 hours ago, milimelo said:

Which country are you traveling from and where to? 

Trinidad and Tobago 

[nastra30 2,284]

In the US (and wrt to international flights) regardless of whether you are transiting or not you'll have to go through customs and then recheck in (including luggage) with the transit flight/airline. Basically, you'll have to be admitted first and anyone can disappear after that; that's why it makes it hard.

[Boiler 45,445]

As far as I can tell C or B has the same requirements same cost so B would be the obvious choice.

[OldUser 6,607]

@Elixz2 I checked flights from Tobago to Dubai and it does look like majority of flights involve transit via USA. Despite your country's visa free access to EU countries and UK, it doesn't help you much. It does look like you would need a visa to transit via USA. It also looks like transit visa C-1 is not much different from B1/B2 in terms of efforts required from you. In this case, I'd just apply for B1/B2. It would give you more options, in case if you want to visit USA as a tourist on your way to final destination or on your way back.

[Boiler 45,445]

I thought there are direct flights to the UK

[speedster 26]

Why specifically do you need to get to the US? If you hold Trinidad and Tobago passport, you are visa free to Brazil, UK, and the Schengen zone. A quick search shows me that the cheapest flight is actually via the UK. Just do that.

[OldUser 6,607]

20 hours ago, speedster said:

Why specifically do you need to get to the US? If you hold Trinidad and Tobago passport, you are visa free to Brazil, UK, and the Schengen zone. A quick search shows me that the cheapest flight is actually via the UK. Just do that.

How did you search? Maybe share some ideas with the OP. I did Google Flights from Tobago to Dubai, it showed a lot of flights transiting via US. Maybe your suggestion would help picking a better itenary for OP to avoid US transit and save $$$$

Edited January 9, 2023 by OldUser

[top_secret 2,402]

Copa flies Trinidad and Tobago to Panama and can connect to Turkish Airlines there.   Both airlines are Star Alliance.  There is visa free transit in Panama and Istanbul.  You can buy tickets on https://www.turkishairlines.com/  searching ahead a few months with flexible dates you can find round trip for USD $2100 which probably isn't bad for visa free transit on that route.  My wife flew Turkish Airlines connecting to Copa three times on a Philippine passport.  It is a good option for "challenged passports".

[speedster 26]

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

How did you search? Maybe share some ideas with the OP. I did Google Flights from Tobago to Dubai, it showed a lot of flights transiting via US. Maybe your suggestion would help picking a better itenary for OP to avoid US transit and save $$$$

Many flights are transfer possible in the states, but I've used google flights and see a $1600 ticket round trip on British POS-London-DXB in May for example

[OldUser 6,607]

4 minutes ago, speedster said:

Many flights are transfer possible in the states, but I've used google flights and see a $1600 ticket round trip on British POS-London-DXB in May for example

Surely OP should take such flight to use his passport to change planes in Europe then. Saves a lot of effort and fees to get US visa.