USA (transfer) and criminal records

[lako42]

I know that you have to apply for a visa if you are wanting to visit usa if you have a criminal record, but do you have to get one if you are simply transfering to another flight to New Zealand without ever leaving the airport?

[amanda.1982]

Hi, As far as I am aware you dont need a visa if you are just transferring to another flight. However this is not the case if you are flying through san francisco as they make you clear immigration, they dont make you check in again but once you have through immigration they get you to collect your lugage and you take it to another area where they re load it for the next flight. you are then in the airport and are free to leave the airport if you wanted too.You then do the normal going through security for your next flight etc

[jno]

you might want to ask the airline exactly what is involved. They usually just hoover the plane and change crew. Air NZ used to just usher you into a lounge and then straight back onto the plane. But after 9/11 the Americans insisted passengers had to go through customs and immigration, pick up their luggage, then check in all over again.

Crazy, since now passengers were free to leave the airport and blow up downtown LA... some security measure!

Anyway, I don't know what the situatiion is now, or will be when you try to fly, so it's worth asking. It may vary between airlines.

[dzug]

Yes you do need a visa just to change planes.

The US abolished visa-free transit some years ago.

[auntiebertie]

USA has no concept of being 'in transit' like every other country - you have to clear immigration [picture taking and fingerprint taking], pick up your luggage, clear customs, then you check your luggage back in again [occasionally your airline will check it through to your final destination so you can skip this step if you are lucky]. You then go out into the arrivals hall, then go to the departures hall and queue up to go through their security - belts and shoes off......this whole process takes anywhere from an hour upwards.....

[Seafarer1966]

I flew from the UK to Brazil last year and got a cheap flight where I had to change at Washington Dulles Airport, USA.

Good grief never again. Those Homeland Security people treat non-Americans like cattle. I nearly missed boarding my connecting flight.

I'm flying to Brazil again this year but have booked a flight that connetcs through Lisbon, Portugal instead.

Be prepared to queue endlessly and have your hand luggage searched at least twice. The security police are all fat blokes armed with batons and handguns with bad attitudes. Sod America....I will never go there again.