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On November 28th, 2014, in Moscow, the airport Domodedovo, I had my valid ticket to the U.S. going through Moscow-Frankfurt => Frankfurt-Toronto => Toronto-Minneapolis, MN. I hold a F-1 U.S. visa, and am a citizen of Tajikistan. When I came to the check-in counter, handed my passport to the representatives to print me my boarding pass and check my luggage in, they told me I needed a transit visa transiting through Canada, not going through Germany, therefore they did not check me in nor gave me my boarding pass. I checked Canadian embassy whether I needed a transit visa it says YES. below is the snapshot:

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Then I tried calling the Canadian consulate in Moscow but there wasn't anyone assisting visa questions. I tried calling the ticketing agency I purchased the ticket from but they weren't any helpful in rebooking different tickets using the same airline before my departure time. At the end I was forced to buy new tickets to fly to the U.S. My questions or was my ticketing agency supposed totl inform me via email to get a transit visa? Was it a legit reason for the representative at a check-in counter in Moscow not allowing me to use my ticket? Would I have a good reason to claim a report for some kind of refund saying the agency didn't inform me I needed a transit visa? Or is it always up to the travelers to know they need it?

Thanks! I'm just a full-time student and spending extra $650 is just too much for just not knowing about this Canadian transit visa.

JonathanReez
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user2486873
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1 Answers1

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In general, it is the passenger's responsibility to ensure that they obtain any required visa(s) before commencing travel. The airline will check the passenger's passport to see whether they have the required visa(s), but it is still the passenger's responsibility to get them. (The airline checks because they are responsible for returning you to your point of origin if you arrive somewhere without a required visa.)

The check-in representative did what they were required and refused you boarding. Your ticket agent probably said something like "visas are the responsibility of the passenger". However, the ticket agent should have made this very clear to you because of your requirement for a Canadian transit visa.

Greg Hewgill
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