Changing plane in the USA without USA Visa

Hi, my Polish fiance lives here with me in Mexico, we are planning to visit Poland for xmas, she doesnt have usa visa and i do have it, my question is if she needs a usa visa only for changing planes in the states (we want to take that way coz the tickets are cheaper than flying from here to Europe) i will apreciate your answer,

Greetings!

I'd say check with the Polish consulate in Mexico. Good luck to you both.
Nos vemos

poland.visahq.com/embassy/Mexico/

Technically not as you're not entering the US. The part of the Airport she will switch planes in is international territory, only when she leaves that, she will have to show her passport and a visa.

>^..^<

M-G (doesn't think there will be any prob if she shows her tickets and Mexican visa)

how about the US one instead since he's asking about US visa.. why did you get one?

Alas, America regards all passengers landing in the US as actually entering the country, thus a visa is required.

Most countries are sensible and allow people to stay airside without passing immigration and customs controls, but not the US!

I didn't have that when I was flying to Canada once via NY.

>^..^<

M-G (but that could be because I am from NL)

since 9/11 things only got crazier in the USA

It was in 2003.

>^..^<

M-G (but in case of doubt check indeed the US Embassy in Warsaw)

things have gotten worse over time.. americans didn't need a passport to enter USA until about a year ago or so..

Not true. Depends on whether the flight is a through flight or a via flight on the flight plan. Many airports use a separate gateway for those passengers as the only reason the airplane landed in those cases is a tech-stop, extra fuel due to strong winds, etc. etc. We treat our passengers exactly the same way we get treated in other places, whether in Narita, Singapore, Shanghai, or Cologne. Border control needs to be strenghtened and therefore I like the idea everyone uses a passport today. Those "new" 24/7 updating rules helped us catch this dirtbag:

washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/04/new-york-car-bomb-called-act-of-terror/

Ah, yes, of course. But changing flights will require clearance :)

lol.. that's funny and so not true.. but whatever..


actually, no... these "new" 24/7 rules were updated (to every 2h) after he almost got away..

they don't care if you switch flights or not... you could also don't make it to the next flight and stay in the usa illegal... before you get on an airplane from europe to the usa, they will check your usa visa/green card...