URGENT: Anyone travelled from US to India via London? - transit visa question

[laguy79]

I am travelling from USA to India via British Airways (2 hours stopover in London) 2 weeks from now. My current H1 visa has expired, and I plan to get visa stamping done in India before I return to US.

Since I have already booked the British Airways flight recently (and it is non refundable), my question is this:

I see that as per UK Border Security website I am exempt from DATV transit visa only if I have a "1) a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a journey to or from one of those countries; or":

1) Since I am going to my home country (Indian citizen) for my stamping, and have a valid I-797 and I-94, do they really still mandate people to have a valid US visa to travel to India?

2) I also have a B1 visa stamp which is valid till 2015. I am assuming that if they really want this, I can show them that B1 visa stamp to meet the requirement? They shouldn't care to see if I was in US long enough to be on H1 versus B1 - they should only care that I have a valid US visa stamp. Thoughts? Did anyone use this to success?

3) Who is really checking for this visa requirement? Is it only that British Airways will verify that I have valid visa before they let me board the plane from US, or would UK Border Security also verify it in London? Since my stopover in London is less than 2 hours, and connecting flight is from the same terminal, I can't imagine they would have time to do additional checks at London (besides standard security / boarding process) for the flight connection to really work.

Please let me know your thoughts urgently. If you are not sure, or haven't done this, please state that you are not sure to avoid confusion. I really don't want to go through the DATV process with just 2 weeks left for my travel.

[omshiv]

Always do the homework before booking a $1000+ Air Ticket.

You need a Transit Visa if your US visa has expired.

[jairichi]

I am travelling from USA to India via British Airways (2 hours stopover in London) 2 weeks from now. My current H1 visa has expired, and I plan to get visa stamping done in India before I return to US.

Since I have already booked the British Airways flight recently (and it is non refundable), my question is this:

I see that as per UK Border Security website I am exempt from DATV transit visa only if I have a "1) a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a journey to or from one of those countries; or":

1) Since I am going to my home country (Indian citizen) for my stamping, and have a valid I-797 and I-94, do they really still mandate people to have a valid US visa to travel to India?

2) I also have a B1 visa stamp which is valid till 2015. I am assuming that if they really want this, I can show them that B1 visa stamp to meet the requirement? They shouldn't care to see if I was in US long enough to be on H1 versus B1 - they should only care that I have a valid US visa stamp. Thoughts? Did anyone use this to success?

3) Who is really checking for this visa requirement? Is it only that British Airways will verify that I have valid visa before they let me board the plane from US, or would UK Border Security also verify it in London? Since my stopover in London is less than 2 hours, and connecting flight is from the same terminal, I can't imagine they would have time to do additional checks at London (besides standard security / boarding process) for the flight connection to really work.

Please let me know your thoughts urgently. If you are not sure, or haven't done this, please state that you are not sure to avoid confusion. I really don't want to go through the DATV process with just 2 weeks left for my travel.

(1) You need to have a valid US visa.

(2) Your unexpired B1 visa would allow you to transit through London with out the need of a transit visa.

(3) Both British airways and UK border security. Do not underestimate immigration authority of any country. Even if you have less hours for transit they do not care and they would still go through your documents thoroughly. You will be at loss as you will miss your connecting flight.

[omshiv]

I should have added that...since your B1 is valid you can travel without Transit Visa via London.