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C-2 Visa (Transit to the United Nations Headquarters District)
The C-2 Visa is a highly specific non-immigrant transit visa for individuals traveling in immediate and continuous transit to or from the United Nations Headquarters District in New York City. Its purpose is to adhere to the U.S. Headquarters Agreement with the United Nations, which prevents the U.S. from impeding the travel of certain persons authorized to travel to the UN.
What is a C-2 Visa?
The C-2 Visa is a geographically restricted transit visa used primarily by representatives, experts, and, in some cases, accredited media representatives who are officially authorized to travel to the United Nations.
The visa is necessary for travelers who must pass through the United States to attend to official business at the UN Headquarters.
Key Features of the C-2 Visa
Geographic Restriction: The holder’s travel is severely restricted to the immediate vicinity of the UN Headquarters District, defined as the area within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle, New York City.
Purpose of Stay: The sole purpose of the stay is transit to and from the UN Headquarters for official UN-related business.
Immediate and Continuous: The transit through the U.S. must be immediate, continuous, and solely for the purpose of reaching the UN or departing the U.S. after UN business is concluded.
Duration: The maximum period of admission is typically 29 days. An extension of stay is generally not permitted.
No Work or Study: The C-2 status does not authorize employment or enrollment in a course of study for purposes unrelated to the UN official business.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a C-2 Visa, the applicant must demonstrate:
Official UN Authorization: They are covered under the provisions of the UN Headquarters Agreement, typically as a representative or expert authorized to travel to the UN.
Direct Transit: They must proceed directly to the UN Headquarters District upon arrival and must depart immediately after their official business is finished.
Onward Travel: They must possess a ticket or other evidence of transportation arrangements to a final destination outside the United States.
Sufficient Funds: Proof of sufficient funds to cover costs while in the U.S. during the transit period.
Dependents
The C-2 visa category does not explicitly extend to immediate family members for this type of restricted transit. Family members traveling with the principal UN-affiliated traveler would generally need to qualify for their own appropriate non-immigrant visa, often a separate C-2, G, or A visa depending on the principal’s classification and diplomatic status.