Know your travel risk before you book.

Travel risk checker for Indian passport holders navigating US visa journeys.

Your Status
Visa Stamp
Other Visas
Routes
⚠️

Not legal advice. Rules change frequently — always verify with your airline and an immigration attorney before booking. Last verified: April 2026.

What is your current US immigration status?

Select the option that best describes you right now.

This tool is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Always verify with USCIS or official embassy sources before booking.

Built by Divya Kandikatti — Digital Transformation Leader

Send feedbackLast updated: April 2026

How it works

Three small questions. One clear answer.

1
Tell us your status
H1B, L1, H4, Green Card or other — pick what applies.
2
Confirm your visas
US visa stamp + any UK / Schengen / Canada visas you hold.
3
See safe routes
We match your profile against every transit route and re-entry rule.

Test your travel scenario

Quick risk assessment based on your visa, I-797, destination, and transit country.

😊Lower-risk scenario

Valid visa stamp and a commonly used transit route. This scenario is generally lower risk, but always verify airline and transit requirements before booking and again before departure.

Recommendation: Carry your I-797, recent pay stubs, and employment letter. Verify rules 48 hrs before flying.

Decision logic the product should use

The checker should behave like a scenario engine, not a static FAQ. It should evaluate the traveler's exact route and documents in a fixed order so the result is explainable.

1. Re-entry gate
Check the return-to-US condition first. If the visa stamp is expired, default to high risk unless a narrow exception clearly applies.
2. Transit gate
Evaluate the exact transit country and airport — airside vs landside, airport change, overnight layover, and baggage handling.
3. Exemption gate
Apply country-specific exemptions only after airport and routing conditions have been checked.

Suggested rules engine structure

A transparent breakdown of inputs, rule order, and the shape of every result.

Inputs
  • Passport country
  • US visa category
  • Visa stamp validity
  • I-797 validity
  • Destination country
  • Transit airport
  • Airside vs landside
  • Overnight layover
  • Airport change
  • Baggage re-check
Rule order
  • 1) Re-entry eligibility
  • 2) Transit visa requirement
  • 3) Country-specific exemption logic
  • 4) Operational caveats
  • 5) Final risk label
  • 6) Explanation block
Hard-stop rules
  • Expired stamp for ordinary overseas re-entry
  • DATV/ATV requirement without qualifying exemption
  • Entering Schengen when only an airside exemption applies
Conditional rules
  • London TWOV
  • Singapore VFTF
  • Germany transit exemptions
  • Dubai airside vs exit rules
  • AVR for qualifying Canada/Mexico trips
Output shape
  • Risk label
  • Reasons
  • Required documents
  • Airport-specific caveats
  • “Verify before booking” notes

Verification notes the product should account for

Updated April 2026 — Schengen transit rules are country-specific, not one single Schengen rule.

🇬🇧 UK / London
DATV typically required for Indian passport holders. TWOV may apply with a qualifying US visa — confirm with the airline before booking.
🇩🇪 Germany / Frankfurt / Munich
ATV generally required for Indian passport holders. Some narrow transit exemptions exist — verify per airport and routing.
🇫🇷 France / Paris (CDG)
Special return-trip exemption may apply when transiting CDG on the way back to the US. Check France-visas.gouv.fr.
🇳🇱 Netherlands / Amsterdam
ATV generally required. A valid US visa does not automatically exempt Indian passport holders at Schiphol.
🇸🇬 Singapore
VFTF (Visa-Free Transit Facility) may apply for qualifying nationals connecting through Changi. Same-airport, onward flight required.
🇦🇪 UAE / Dubai
Airside transit is generally visa-free. Leaving the airport (landside) requires a UAE visa or visa-on-arrival eligibility.

Why this tool exists

Because booking flights shouldn't require 17 tabs, 3 Reddit threads, and a mild panic attack.

"I had a 14-hour layover in Frankfurt and didn't realise I needed an ATV. Almost missed my mom's birthday."

CONFUSED ABOUT TRANSIT RULES

"Spent three nights reading Reddit threads before booking. Still wasn't sure I'd make it back to the US."

UNCERTAIN BEFORE BOOKING

"My stamp was expired. I kept refreshing visa appointment slots from the airport. Never again."

STRESSED ABOUT RE-ENTRY

H1B travel questions — answered

Quick answers to the most common H1B travel and transit questions.

Yes — H1B holders can travel internationally, but you need a valid (unexpired) H1B visa stamp in your passport to re-enter the United States. If your stamp has expired, you must visit a US consulate abroad to get it restamped before returning.

  • Carry your I-797 approval, recent pay stubs, and an employment verification letter.
  • Avoid travel during pending H1B amendments or extensions if possible.