Flying via Miami do I need a visa as in 4 hours I'll be heading onward?

Question

There is like a 4 hour connection waiting time, would I be able to venture out of the airport and have a wonder around Miami or would I have to stay in the airport?

Answer 1

if you are a uk national just fill out the green visa waiver on the plane.

Answer 2

International passengers making a connection in a US airport will be required to pass through customs and immigration as this is your first point of entry. However, you will not need a visa as you are in transit. You will simply show your passport and your connecting flight ticket or confirmation.

Your bags are still subject to search by customs agents.

Once you have completed the process at the customs hall, you will be directed to collect your bags and re-check them for your flight to your final destination. Your airline will assist you with this process.

You will still need to go to the check in counter or the transit counter to receive your boarding pass for travel from Miami to your final destination. You will then proceed through security once again prior to boarding your aircraft to your final destination.

Since you have four hours between flights, you could express to the customs agent that you are planning on leaving the airport and returning for your flight to your final destination.  

As an aside, if you are flying on a domestic flight to your final destination, it could take you up to two hours to reclaim your bags and go through the check in process once again for your flight to the final destination within the US. At Miami International Airport, you will not have sufficient time to leave the airport as you will be required to change terminals.  All international arriving flights arrive into a seperate terminal than domestic flights arrive/depart from.  

Also there really isn't much right around the airport. With traffic, 4 hours really isn't sufficient to go out venturing in Miami as you'd have to be back at least 1 hour prior to your flight for check in, if it's domestic and two hours prior if it's international.

Enjoy your travels.

Answer 3

It depends on your citizenship. Visas are required for citizens of some countries but not all of them. I suggest that you contact the visa section of the US Embassy or the nearest consulate in your country. If you take advise from this website and it turns out to be wrong, you will be denied boarding in your country and your trip will be over before it starts.

Even if you don't need a visa, four hours really is not enough time to leave the airport to do anything. It will probably take at least an hour to disembark and clear Customs and Immigration. Then, you'll need to be back at the airport 90 minutes to two hours in advance to check in and clear security. That will give you 90 minutes at most and the cab ride to and from the city will use up some of that. You're better off just to wait at the airport.

Answer 4

Depending on which country your a resident of, you might be able to get the visa waver.  You will still need to be figerprinted and photographed....and be prepared to be 'randomly selected' for security checks.  I was 'randomly selected' being the only Brit on a flight once.