At the end of my trip I have 7 hours to wait at the airport in Los Angeles, part of my connecting flight home from Fiji to London. Do I need to get a visa if i'm only there for a few hours and if I don't leave the airport? wasn't sure because I know the US are strict with security.
If you are from the U.K., you fall into the Visa Waiver Program.
"Citizens (VWP) countries are permitted to enter the United States for general business or tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days without a visa. The 27 countries currently in the VWP are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
So unless you're visiting 91 days, you don't need a visa. This would be different if you were from, say Brazil. Just bring your passport and make sure it's valid longer than your trip. So what happens:
You will have to fill out a customs form, and an 1-94. Then you will go through Immigrations and speak with an officer. The you will collect your baggage and present your customs form. Then you will have to re-check your bags at check in. Then clear security screenings and proceed to your gate. However... this seems a bit funny to me.
I think they might have a version of this for your international connecting flight. Being that LAX is huge, and I don't think they will want to fill up Immigrations and Customs. You still might have to fill out the documents, speak with an officer, and go through security again, and get to your gate. This would elevate you from collecting your bags, and re-checking them. The desk attendant in FIJI would know for sure if you have to pick them up or not, but I think you would be processed like anyone entering/leaving the US on a foreign passport.
I know you are leaving from FIJI, but if you had an international connecting flight in FIJI.. they do not process you. You would stand in line to go through security, and your bags would be check thru to your destination. THIS IS NOT HOW IT IS IN THE US THOUGH.
I did have to get one,
'International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travelers who wish to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization and then pay the fee using the following process...'
And I didnt think I had to pick up my bag again, if its a connecting flight surely I wouldn't need to?
I did have to get one,
'International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travelers who wish to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization and then pay the fee using the following process...'And I didnt think I had to pick up my bag again, if its a connecting flight surely I wouldn't need to?
The ESTA is NOT a visa.
oh right. well I think i've filled out the right thing anyway..should be fine. thanks.
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