REFUSED DURING AN INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION
A traveler connecting from one foreign country to another through the United States must still complete the required U.S. inspection. If CBP refuses admission, the traveler generally cannot continue through the United States on the original itinerary as though the U.S. connection were only an airside transfer.
CBP states that travelers arriving in the United States must clear CBP at the first U.S. port of entry.
An onward ticket to another country does not allow the traveler to bypass the U.S. inspection.
A C visa, B visa or VWP authorization allows a qualifying traveler to seek the U.S. admission needed for the transit. It does not guarantee that CBP will permit the traveler to proceed.
A traveler whom CBP does not admit cannot simply proceed through the airport to the planned onward flight as though no U.S. inspection were required. Return or alternate transportation arrangements will depend on the action CBP takes and the carrier arrangements.
A traveler permitted to withdraw an application for admission generally receives a different immigration outcome from a traveler formally ordered removed through expedited removal.
Federal removal rules can make the point of embarkation and other statutory destinations relevant rather than automatically sending every refused traveler directly to the country shown on the passport.
Formal arrival-removal cases have statutory carrier transportation rules. Withdrawal cases should not automatically be treated under the same transportation-cost rule.
A port-of-entry refusal can be accompanied by visa cancellation. The traveler should determine whether the U.S. visa remains valid before attempting later transit through the United States.
The U.S. connection still requires the applicable U.S. inspection and admission process. A traveler whom CBP refuses to admit cannot simply bypass that process because another international flight is booked.
Not necessarily. The applicable return or removal destination depends on the immigration procedure and statutory transportation rules.
Yes, particularly if it is unclear whether CBP used withdrawal, expedited removal, visa cancellation or another procedure.
These government materials provide the principal U.S. transit, visa and CBP inspection rules discussed on this page.
The difference between withdrawal, expedited removal, visa cancellation and another inspection outcome can determine whether and how the traveler can transit through the United States again.