Originally Posted by graraps
So I go on the US embassy website to check transit visa requirements, but there is NOTHING on them. Therefore I have to call them only to be told, after being subjected to 387295961842 random recorded messages that were no help whatsoever (if you pressed you wanted visa info you were routed to a bloke describing what a machine readable passport looked like and some other equally useful bits of info),
that the US don't issue any transit visas, I'd have to apply for an "ordinary" one
I'm sorry that you got misinformation, but the US indeed has transit visas. They're called C-1 visas. Here are some links:
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwwsc092.shtml
http://faq.visapro.com/C1-Visa-FAQ3.asp#Q5
There's a catch. The application process for these visas is pretty much the same. The transit visa has the same cost as a regular B1/B2 (business/tourist) visa and both require an interview. B1/B2 visas are much more flexible, and assuming that you qualify for a 10 year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa, I'd go for that. I'm pretty sure that C-1's can be issued as multiple entry too. I'd expect the interview for a C-1 visa to be a little easier than the interview for a B1/B2 visa, but YMMV.
- notam