First of all, you need to determine which specific type of visa you need. When transiting through the USA, you can apply for a C-1 or B-2 visa.

Category C-1 Visa

If you are transiting and will not be leaving the airport.

When applying for a transit visa (type C-1), passengers must demonstrate:

— the purpose of your stay in the USA — exclusively transit, i.e., transferring from one plane to another;

— an airline ticket;

— sufficient funds to cover the transit trip;

— a document confirming permission to enter the country of final destination. For example, a visa, if required for entry.

When applying for a US transit visa, you must provide the following documents:

— electronic application form DS-160; a separate application must be submitted for a child, even if they are included in a parent's passport;

— a foreign passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended period of stay in the USA;

— 1 photograph measuring 5x5 cm;

— an interview appointment letter confirming that you have scheduled an interview.

For the interview at the US consulate, you may bring any documents that, in your opinion, support the information provided to the consular officer (bank statements, salary certificates, travel itinerary, etc.).

Category B-2 Visa

If you will be leaving the airport.

The set of documents differs slightly depending on the type of visa, but the procedure itself and the difficulty of obtaining them are absolutely equivalent.

Transit visas have almost the same requirements as regular visas, so it is advisable to apply directly for a B-2 category visa. As a rule, they are long-term and multiple-entry. This means that even if you are not planning a trip to the States in the near future, you can postpone it for later.

The cost of a C-1 or B-2 visa is the same.