Nonimmigrant C-1 — Transit Verified 2026-04-19USA Transit Visa (C-1 — Transit Through the US)
For Indian travellers transiting the US en route to a third country. $185. Usually Indians just use B-1/B-2 visa for transit — US has no separate airside-transit option.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the United States visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Interview wait times vary significantly by…
Stay Duration
Up to 29 days
Starting Fee
$185
Apply At
6 VFS centres
Your whole United States Transit Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong United States file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹5,999 fee covers for a United States file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every United States visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1Complete DS-160 online and print the confirmation page with barcode BEFORE booking appointments. One DS-160 per person, including children.
- 2Pay MRV fee online via usvisascheduling.com. Keep the receipt number — required to schedule appointments.
- 3Book TWO appointments: (1) Visa Application Centre (VAC) for biometrics; (2) Consulate for interview. VAC must be at least 2 business days before Consulate interview.
- 4Passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond your intended US stay (unless reciprocal agreement — India has none, so 6-month rule applies).
- 5Social media declaration is MANDATORY on DS-160 for all handles used in the last 5 years. Expanded vetting applies to A-3, C-3 (domestic worker), G-5, H-1B, H-3, H-4 dependents, F, M, J, K, Q, R, S, T, U categories — set social media accounts to 'public' for these.
- 6Presidential Proclamation 10998 (effective 1 Jan 2026) suspends/limits visa issuance to nationals of 39 specified countries — Indian applicants are NOT on this list but check the current travel.state.gov notice.
- 7US visas are stamped (physical sticker) in the passport — unlike UK/Australia digital visas.
- 8Applicants with medical devices must bring a hard-copy letter from a medical professional certifying the need — otherwise entry to the Consular Section may be refused.
- 9Dress smart/professional for the interview. Arrive 15 minutes early. Bring ONLY necessary documents — no bags, no laptops, no bottled water.
- 10The US has NO airside-transit option — even a 2-hour airport connection requires a valid US visa. Plan ahead.
- 11If you already hold B-1/B-2, you can use it for transit — no need to apply for separate C-1.
Who Can Apply
- Indian travellers with immediate continuous transit through US to a third country
- Crew members of ships/aircraft (C-1/D combined is common)
- Travellers with confirmed onward tickets within 29 days
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to United States / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 Business/Tourist visa | $185 |
| F-1 / M-1 Student visa | $185 |
| J-1 Exchange Visitor | $185 |
| H/L/O/P/Q Work visas | $205 |
| R-1 Religious Worker visa | $205 |
| C/D Transit/Crewmember visa | $185 |
| I Journalist/Media | $185 |
| K-1 Fiancé(e) | $265 |
| E Treaty Trader/Investor | $315 |
All US nonimmigrant visa (MRV) fees are set in USD by the Department of State and paid online in India via usvisascheduling.com. The INR amount depends on exchange rate on payment day. Additional costs: SEVIS fee for F/M/J visas (paid to ICE separately), VFS document delivery charges, photograph, and any USCIS petition fees (for work visas — usually paid by employer). MRV fees are non-refundable regardless of interview outcome. Note: most Indian travellers use their B-1/B-2 visa for transit rather than a separate C-1. A valid B-1/B-2 covers transit at no extra cost.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What United States actually requires — and what it does not.
For a US B1/B2 the consulate does not want your flight or hotel bookings at all — the interview decides it.
0 of 4 are compulsory for United States
Flight reservation
Do not book flights before the interview. The consular officer will not ask for a ticket, and the decision is made in a conversation of a few minutes.
Where people slip: Buying tickets to prove intent. It proves nothing to a US officer and is the most expensive mistake in this whole category.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
No hotel booking is required for the DS-160 or the interview. Where you are staying may be asked verbally; nothing written is collected.
Where people slip: Carrying a folder of bookings to the interview. Officers rarely open documents — 214(b) turns on your answers and your ties.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not a visa requirement. Worth having regardless: US medical costs are the highest in the world, and one hospital night can exceed the cost of the trip.
Where people slip: Assuming an Indian health policy covers you in the United States. Almost none do.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
Have a clear spoken answer to "why this trip, and when do you return". That is what the interview tests, not a printout.
Where people slip: A rehearsed itinerary that contradicts your own answers about your job, your family or your funds.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your United States file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Core
5 items- Valid passport (6+ months beyond transit)Required
- DS-160 confirmationRequired
- $185 MRV fee receiptRequired
- Confirmed onward ticket within 29 daysRequired
- Valid visa/entry document for onward destinationRequired
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
4 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Check if you already have B-1/B-2
If yes — no need for separate C-1. Your B-1/B-2 covers transit.
- 02
Complete DS-160
Select C-1 Transit if applying fresh.
- 03
Pay $185 + schedule appointments
Standard consular flow.
- 04
Consulate interview
Brief — focus on onward destination and transit purpose.
Download official forms
Each link opens the official United States page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
DS-160 — Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
Mandatory online form for ALL US nonimmigrant visa applicants. Complete, submit, and print the confirmation page (with barcode) BEFORE booking your appointment.
US Embassy India — Official Visa Information
Official information on US visa services in India — covers all categories, updates, and notices.
USTravelDocs India — Appointment Scheduling & Fees
Where Indian applicants pay MRV fee, schedule VAC (biometrics) + Consulate (interview) appointments, and track passport return.
SEVIS Fee Payment (I-901) — for F/M/J visas
Required for student and exchange visa applicants BEFORE the visa interview. Keep the receipt.
USCIS — Petition-based Work Visa Information
For H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc — the employer files I-129 petition with USCIS first; approval notice (I-797) is required at visa interview.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for USA Transit Visa (C-1 — Transit Through the US) is a 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
No — your B-1/B-2 covers transit. C-1 is only for people who specifically want a cheaper transit-only visa (same $185 fee in practice, so most just get B-1/B-2).
Only if you have a visa that permits US entry (B-1/B-2, etc.). C-1 transit is for immediate continuous transit — not for visiting.
No. Unlike the UK (DATV), Canada (Transit Without Visa), and others, the US requires a full visa for ANY transit through its airports.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your United States USA Transit Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
4 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+Do I actually need a United States transit visa?
Often not — and we will tell you so rather than file something you do not need. It depends on your nationality, the airport, whether you stay strictly airside, whether you change terminals, and whether your bags are checked through. Change of terminal or an overnight connection usually tips it into needing one. Send us your itinerary and ticket and we will read the actual routing; this is one of the few questions with a clean yes or no answer once someone looks properly.
+How long does a United States USA Transit Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. United States currently states Interview wait times vary significantly by city and season — check current wait times at travel.state.gov. Visa issuance typically takes 3-7 working days after interview if approved. Administrative processing (221(g)) can add weeks to months for certain cases. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the United States visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The United States government fee (currently $185) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my United States USA Transit Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (United States currently states Interview wait times vary significantly by city and season — check current wait times at travel.state.gov. Visa issuance typically takes 3-7 working days after interview if approved. Administrative processing (221(g)) can add weeks to months for certain cases.). Government and visa-centre fees ($185 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A United States USA Transit Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same United States rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other United States Visa Types
USA Tourist Visa (B-2 — Tourism / Visit Family)
Non-immigrant visa for Indian citizens visiting the US for tourism, leisure, medical, or to see family/friends. Typically 10-year multiple-entry. $185.
View guideUSA Business Visa (B-1 — Business Visitor)
Non-immigrant visa for Indian professionals doing business activities in the US — meetings, conferences, negotiations, consulting. $185. Usually combined B-1/B-2.
View guideUSA Student Visa (F-1 — Academic Student)
Full-time study visa for Indian students at US universities/colleges. Requires I-20 from SEVP-certified school + SEVIS fee + funds evidence. $185 visa fee.
View guideUSA Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1)
For participants in State-Department-approved exchange programs — research scholars, interns, trainees, au pairs, summer work travel, physicians. Sponsor-driven.
View guideUSA H-1B Work Visa (Speciality Occupation)
Petition-based work visa for Indian professionals with US job offers in specialty occupations requiring bachelor's+. Annual lottery, 65,000 cap + 20,000 US master's. $205.
View guideUSA L-1 Intra-Company Transfer Visa
For Indian managers/executives (L-1A) or specialised-knowledge employees (L-1B) transferring to a US branch/subsidiary of their employer. No annual cap. $205.
View guideUSA O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
For individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or film. Petition-based, no cap. Stringent standards.
View guideUSA P Visa (Athletes, Entertainers, Artists)
For internationally recognised athletes, entertainers, artists, or performers entering the US for specific events/competitions. P-1, P-2, P-3 sub-categories.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global United States website and Embassy of United States. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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