US Transit Visa
 

My friend in Korea is what I think is poor information from the US embassy in Seoul.

She is going to be going to Canada on a student visa, and her flight connects in the US before departing to Canada the same day she arrives. They have told her, multiple times,through both phone calls and an email, that because Canada is 'close' to the US and she is staying in Canada for more than 90 days, that she would be denied by the immigration officer under the WVP.

They are insisting she get a US visa and after calling them, whomever she spoke with has frightened her enough that she is paying the expensive visa fee and applying for one.

What immigration website would I be able to show her that she wouldnt need a visa.

They are absolutely correct. She is not VWP eligible as she is not yet a resident in contiguous territory (the Student Permit for Canada is issued at POE) and hence is subject to the 90 day contiguous territory restriction.

She will require a class C1 transit visa (or a B1/B2 alternatively) to enable her to make this transit.

Thank you! That makes alot more sense then the vague answer from the embassy

The email response form the US embassy -

'a student in Canada needs a US visa'

Any chance she could change flights and get a direct flight Korea-Canada?

I was about to say the say thing...

There are plenty of nonstop flights from Seoul-ICN to Canada. Not to mention the dozens of daily nonstop flights from Tokyo to Canada.

Why waste money on a US transit visa?(must have one for transit, since OP's friend is not eligible for VWP purpose)