Originally Posted by
Kat007
Apologize for maybe not using the correct board, but we are freaking out.
My friend is a HK citizen and is traveling to Canada via Seattle on Delta. We didn`t even think that citizens of civilized country, such as HK would need to get a visa to transit the US, but it looks like it might be a case (called Delta, didn`t get a clear answer).
1. Does my HK friend need US visa to transit the US to get to Canada?
2. The travel is planed in a couple of days, so I guess there is no way for him to get it?
3. What are the options if a) he bought it from DL directly; b) from a travel agent.
The USA does not really have the concept of "transit". You formally enter USA even if for only 60 minutes or what ever before you next flight out of USA. There is no
airside.
Without a valid visa your friend will be denied boarding. Does not matter which airline or how the ticket was purchased.
Any costs are your problem. To the airline you are a
now show
This link is to Timatic which all airlines use
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...aspx?i=TIMATIC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timatic
You can apply for a USA visa online if eligible.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
Last year mine took 15 minutes to be issued.
Many people avoid USA, if only connecting to another flight, for this reason.
Time to look for another flight into Canada to avoid USA