You might think, “I’m just changing planes at JFK, I don’t need anything.” Wrong. Even if you stay airside (in the transit area), most nationalities still need a C-1 transit visa or an ESTA. There’s a specific exemption for a handful of countries, but if you’re from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or Cuba—surprise—you’ll need a visa just to walk from Gate B to Gate C. Always check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for transit rules. It changes more often than a New York minute.
The “I Have a Green Card Holder Friend” Fallacy
I once had a reader write to me, furious. His sister lived in Brooklyn with a green card. “Surely that makes it easier for me to visit?” he asked. Spoiler alert: it does not. Having family or friends in the U.S. doesn’t exempt you from needing a visa. In fact, it can sometimes complicate things—border officers might assume you’ll overstay to be with them. The only exception is if you’re a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen, and even then, you apply for a specific IR-1 or CR-1 visa. So no, your cousin’s green card doesn’t get you a free pass. Sorry.
Visa for New York, for a stopover or tourism
