Expert: Roberto Gomes - 4/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Roberto - I have looked through all 630 of your answers and 3 of them supply answers to an extent. (Amy 8/12/2005 is closest, Michele 9/2/2007, and Josua 9/2/2006).
My wife and I are South African citizens wishing to visit México, again, and if we travel Delta Airlines with a layover in Atlanta, (not leaving the airport international lounge), we require a Visa. On the USA immigration site there are several mentioned. WHICH SPECIFIC VISA (NAME OF VISA/VISA FORM NUMBER, DO WE REQUIRE ?
Thanks in advance, Don, Cape Town, South Africa.

ANSWER: Dear Don,

On August 2, 2003 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) suspended both the US Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and International-to-International (ITI) programs until further notice. All aliens travelling to or through the United
States must be in possession of a valid visa.

So you'll need to have a normal tourist visa (B2) or a transit visa (C1), which allows to transit the U.S.A. to a third country as long as
this trip is 29 days or less and then enter again to transit, as long as this trip also takes 29 days or less.

My reccomendation? Get a B2 visa.

Best Regards,
R. Gomes

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again Roberto - thank you so much for your speedy reply, which prompts another question. If, as you recommend, we apply for and are granted, a B2 visa, would that allow us to arrive at Atlanta, disembark and spend time in the USA before resuming our trip on to México ?
Regards, Don

Answer
Dear Don,

Yes, a visa will allow you to enter the US and stay for a period that will be determined by the Immigration officer, responsible for processing your entry.

Please note that you'll need to produce evidence that you do not intend to stay in the US, otherwise the officer may deny your entry.
Hotel reservations (both in the US and Mexico), sufficient monetary funds and airline tickets with your whole itinerary must be at hand.

Hope this clarifies your concerns.
Please rate this answer.

Best regards and best of luck,
R. Gomes