Suspension
of Transit Without Visa
International to International
The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of
State have suspended the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and International-to-International
(ITI) programs fro people who would otherwise be required to
obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. Homeland Security and State
are taking several steps to accommodate travelers who may have
already purchased tickets, or who are currently on travel. These
are some frequently asked questions about the Homeland Security
order and the accommodations the Departments are allowing.
What
action was announced?
The
Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State
jointly issued an order that suspends the Transit Without Visa
(TWOV) and International-to-International (ITI) passenger programs.
Who
is affected by these actions?
This
action affects passengers who are traveling from one point outside
the U.S. with a stop for transit purposes with in the U.S. Under
the TWOV and ITI programs, such passengers were not required
to have a visa to enter the U.S. for transit purposes. As a
result of this action, however, such passengers will now be
required to have a U.S. visa, with certain exceptions (see below).
Are
these programs being eliminated entirely?
Thought
Homeland Security and State suspended the programs, over the
next 60 days they are soliciting input from airline and the
public to find possible way sot re-implement the programs on
an airline-by-airline basis, contingent upon implementation
of additional security measures.
When
does the action take affect?
This
action takes effect at 11:00am, August 2, 2003. (Note: All times
are U.S. EDT)
Why
is this action necessary?
Homeland
Security and State have received specific, credible intelligence,
including intelligence from the FBI and CIA, that certain terrorist
organizations, including Al-Qaeda, have identified the visa
and passport exemptions of the TWOV and ITI programs as a means
to gain access to aircraft en route to or from the United States,
to cause damage to infrastructure, injury, or loss of life in
the United States or on board aircraft en route to or from the
United States.
Will
there be exceptions to accommodate passengers whose travel may
be disrupted by this action?
Yes.
There will be three exceptions to accommodate travelers.
1.
TWOV or ITI passengers in flight at the time the regulation
goes into effect will be allowed to continue in transit and
depart the U.S. subject to inspection and an evaluation of risk.
2. Travelers who purchased their tickets as TWOV or ITI passengers
on or before July 24, 2003, scheduled to depart for transit
through the U.S. before 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, August 5, 2003,
need not obtain a visa to transit the U.S. For any flights scheduled
to depart after 12:01 a.m. August 5 that include a stop in the
U.S., however, these travelers must now either obtain a visa
or change their travel itinerary to exclude a stop in the U.S.
3. If a person has already traveled through the U.S. as a TWOV
or ITI passenger on the first leg of their trip and uses the
return portion of their round trip ticket before 11:00 a.m.,
August 9, 2003, they will be permitted to make a stop in the
U.S. without a visa on the return portion of their trip. They
will be processe3d by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
inspectors upon arrival in the United States. If they plan to
transit the U.S. after that date and time, however, they must
either obtain a visa or change their return itinerary to exclude
a stop in the U.S.
Will
I be able to obtain a U.S. visa in a country other than my home
country?
Yes.
U.S. Consulates have been informed of the suspension of these
programs, and they are prepared to receive applications for
visas from foreign national in countries other that the foreign
national’s home country.
How
quickly can I obtain a visa to transit the U.S.?
U.S.
Consulates are prepared to issue visas to qualified applicants
on an expedited basis, for people who are currently traveling
and would be required to reroute through a different country
in order to return home under the new rules.
I
am a citizen of a visa waiver country, so I normally do not
need a visa to enter the United States. Am I now required to
obtain a visa to transit the United States?
No.
If you do not require a visa to enter the U.S. you do not require
a visa to transit the U.S. See Visa Waiver Program
How
can I learn more about this program and their suspension?
Information
about the programs and their suspension can be obtained through
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s web page at
www.dhs.gov and the U.S. State Department’s web page at
www.travel.state.gov