Flying to Canada - stopping in the States.

[Donaghy]

Hi, I was looking at booking flights and at this time of the year, near enough every single flight stops in Chicago, Mineappolis or Orlando. I was just wondering if anyone here has heard of having to apply for a travel visa so I can sit in the airport and wait for my flight? I will not be leaving the airport at all.

 

[vermanaman]

Flying via USA requires you to have a transit visa depending on your nationality even to just sit at the airport. If you are from a visa exempt country you might not need a transit visa.

 

[Donaghy]

I'm from Scotland/United Kingdom.

 

[newtone]

Provided you have a Brit passport, no visa is required.

 

[vermanaman]

Newtone is correct. I assume you have a british passport, in which case you will not require any visa to enter/ transit USA and even Canada for that matter.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You will need to apply for ESTA, even just to transit through the US.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1094/~/do-i-need-to-apply-for-esta

I am a citizen of a VWP country and am traveling to the United States by air to transit the U.S.?

Yes. You must apply for ESTA even if you are only transiting the U.S. In the address field of the application, write "In Transit."