Do we need a visa transiting through the USA to Mexico

[Deleted member 6404]

Hi All,
Our party of 3 will be flying to Cancun in Aug, Bris to LA than on to Cancun on the same day , (yes long flight I know), Question, do we need a visa while in transit waiting for our flight to Cancun.
Cheers in advance
Johnnyk

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes. There is no such thing as 'just a transit passenger' when connecting through the USA to another country eg Mexico or Canada.

You will need to clear US Customs on arrival in LAX which is exactly the same procedure as if you were staying in the US for 2 weeks.

 

[TheBOSman]

Hi All,
Our party of 3 will be flying to Cancun in Aug, Bris to LA than on to Cancun on the same day , (yes long flight I know), Question, do we need a visa while in transit waiting for our flight to Cancun.
Cheers in advance
Johnnyk

Yes, you will need whatever permission your passport(s) require to enter the USA, as you will be entering the USA in order to switch to your flights to Cancun. If you have Australian passports, the Visa Waiver Program is likely your best bet, much cheaper and easier than a transit visa, although transit visas do exist for the USA. Transit visas still cost the same USD160 as a more traditional visitor visa though.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Get an ESTA. Problem solved.

 

[RooFlyer]

Get an ESTA. Problem solved.

And here's the link to get an ESTA on-line. Cost US$14. Make sure you answer all questions accurately and truthfully. If it asks for an address in the USA - just say in transit. Authorisation usually comes through immediately on-line but occasionally it takes a day and I can't remember if you get an e-mail or if you need to check back.

Its advisable to record the authorisation number (its a long one) and even print it out if you like, but you don't have to show or say the number when you enter the USA. The number will be recorded in the US immigration's computer to match with your passport details when you arrive, so make sure you use exactly the same names for the ESTA application as in your passport. This all assumes you are an Australian citizen or a country which participates in this program.

BTW, as you will be arriving in the USA and clearing US customs, you will also have to pick up your bags and clear customs. Then you walk on a bit more and drop off your bag again for its onwards journey to Cancun, again assuming its tagged all the way through. You will then be on the footpath outside the terminal. Welcome to the USA! Then you make your way back through security at the departure terminal (check which one this is - it may not be the same one as you arrived at) and head off to your gate or a lounge. You should allow at least 3 hours for the transit.

 

[andye]

Do make sure you use the correct US government website to get the ESTA. Google throws up a number of official-looking sites that will 'help' you to obtain one. Needless to say more than $14

 

[wandering_fred]

Though some are "lucky". As a result of paying taxes on their worldwide income (limited to the excess of about US$95K on EARNED income), they don't require a transit visa or ESTA.

There are days when I wonder about the benefits of that trade-off...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[juddles]

.... on to Cancun ..yes long flight I know...

may be a long flight but Mexico is excellent! Enjoy

 

[Deleted member 6404]

Thanks all, went with the official ESTA site, only cost $14 where the others were around $59. I have heard Cancun is more for the party types I'm beyond that now lol thank god. will be heading towards Belize,all inbetween places and ending in Costa Rica all by road, wish us luck.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Thanks all, went with the official ESTA site, only cost $14 where the others were around $59. I have heard Cancun is more for the party types I'm beyond that now lol thank god. will be heading towards Belize,all inbetween places and ending in Costa Rica all by road, wish us luck.

I'm fairly certain there is no such thing as "the others". All they do is take your information and fill out the official ETSA site anyhow - and charge you for the *convenience* - and perhaps more..

 

[Dr Ralph]

How'd you get on johnnyk ?

 

[RooFlyer]

I went to Cancun, but only to do day trip to the Mayan temples / city at chichenitza ( wrong spelling !!) . Great day trip. Beaches are worth a walk along and even this old geezer had a splash!

I did a Trip Report on my visit to Belize ( more Mayan temples

 

[Deleted member 6404]

How'd you get on johnnyk?

All good no no problem with the visa to Mexico,
but an interesting situation did happen exiting the country into Belize by bus at the border control they tried to extract an exit tax $25 US from me and my 2 other companions
When I explained and showed the boarder control the itinerary air ticket showing all taxes was paid, i was advised that that only applied if we existed via air and not by land, BS I even showed them the Mexican Gov site stating that if a UK code tax was paid on the air ticket, then no other fees or taxes was payable for immigration services, even after showing them this they still didn't care. cut a long story short there was a Mexican stand off I Won and in the end they stamped our passports and we left Mexico, the bus driver was amazed that we didn't pay, we had read in many forums of the scams at mexico boarders so were prepared with printed documentation to prove we were in the right. One other guy from Europe we spoke too also had the same problem, pulled out his mobile phone and demanded the officers name number and threatened to call his consulate, they let him go with out payment.
Bloody official boarder scammers. Hope this info helps others traveling there.