Transit through London without Visa

[prashantbiotech]

Hello,

I booked my tickets through London (British airlines) and I am currently holding no visa stamp with an active H1b approval. I plan to get my visa stamped during my visit to India.

I have looked through a few forums and learned that I need a DATV to transit through London. But while filling out the form, it clearly mentions that DATV doesn't help pass through immigration.

Could anyone please help me in figuring out which visa to apply and Can I actually transit through London or not. I have my tickets booked for the 23 Dec 2011. Or is there anyone who got through London with DATV.

Any suggestions/inputs are highly appreciated.

Thanks.

[cellphone]

I'll tell you my situation.

I transited thru london heathrow in 2008 and stayed overnight as my flight to india was the next day. I ended up getting a "visitor in transit" visa because I I had to go thru immigration to go to the hotel. I had an advanced parole document and no H1B visa stamp. So, I applied for a visitor in transit visa thru the UK consulate.

Applying for a visa for a mere transit was no fun. I had to send my original docs along with the passport to the consulate. Original Docs like H1B approval, noitice EAD, AP, etc.
I am glad they didn't lose any of these docs. I have heard they are good about it.

anyway this is my story. I think you DO need some sort of a transit visa if you are transiting thru the UK.

I avoid the UK these days. I have a direct flight fto the UK from where I live. But i still prefer going thru the pacific.

[prashantbiotech]

Sir,

Thank you for narrating your experience. I think I do need a DATV visa. But on a sideline, could you please explain me what is an AP (Advanced Parole)? Is it the approval notice we get (I-797A, Notice of Action). Or if it is something else, is it necessary for me to carry it? If so, is there a procedure on how I get it?

Let me know.

Thank you once again.

[evoori]

Totally agree with cellphone.. I was in same situation last year.. H1 expired, had new approval but no stamp (was going to get stamped in India).. came to know about visa requirement after getting tickets booked in BA..
had to apply DATV.. DATV doesn't let you pass through immigration.. infact no one checks the visa in london.. it is only required to board flight FROM US.. and you can stay at the airport to change flight.. (I heard they need it even if you are not changing flight and the same flight is going to India with stopover in London, like air-india flight)..

[manojpwagh]

i had same experince .. Airline at JFK didnt allow me to go without transit Visa as flight was going thr London . INstead they changed my flight to next day which was going thr some other route . I will advise to cancel tickeit going thr London

[prashantbiotech]

I just realized that I am transfering from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 as I have to transfer from American Airlines to British Airlines. Is DATV sufficient for me to transfer flights or should I go for a visitor visa?

Thank you for your responses guys. Any responses are appreciated.

[evoori]

DATV is sufficient to change terminal..
however AFAIK DATV and visitor visa for 6 months cost same but little more paper work.. visitor visa has added advantage that you can go out of terminal and roam around in london..

[prashantbiotech]

Thanks for your inputs. And I will go for the visitor visa which I believe would be good to roam around.

And on a side note, could you possibly let me know what is Advance parole?

[cellphone]

Thanks for your inputs. And I will go for the visitor visa which I believe would be good to roam around.

And on a side note, could you possibly let me know what is Advance parole?

Advanced Parole = travel documents for people who have their I485 pending.