I got my documents back from the British consulate
Hello All,
I apologize for not having updated the status of my Transit VISA. I have been bit busy with my project.
I posted my message few days ago, and I was a bit nervous at that time as I mailed by passports and original documents to an unknown world.
However, I am very pleased to say that I received my passports and original documents from the British Consulate in New York. It took exactly 5 days for them to process my Transit VISA application excluding mail time and weekends(Just like they promised on their web site). I have mailed the documents by FedEx to them on 04/30/04 and I received them back on 05/10/04.
Additionally, the consulate was generous and issued a 5 year multiple entry Airside transit VISA. I consider that as a bonus to my displeasuring days I have spent since I mailed the documents to them.
I think sometimes we worry more than needed, but when I looked at the way the British consulate had handled the documents, "I worried for nothing", I said to myself. They taped my EAD cards to the passport so that the EAD cards will not be displaced while in Transit. They placed a bookmark in the passport which would make us find the VISA stamp. I don't remember the U.S. STATE department doing all this when I sent my passport for re-validation
. Nevertheless, I still dissent the very idea of the Airside Transit VISA, and the coercion of that on certain countries. But that is a different story and outside the context of this thread.
To the members of this board, who may be interested in knowing the details, following is the procedure to obtain an Airside transit VISA.
Before I jump into the procedure, Ladies and Gentlemen, the answer is YES, you do need a Airside transit VISA when you are traveling on an Advance Parole via U.K.( with a few exceptions which can be found on the British consulate's website:
http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=313 )
This is true even for Air India passengers where they would use the same flight for an onward journey. I am myself taking an Air India flight.
The following procedure is for the persons that are on Advance Parole
1. Fill the online application form at
https://www.britainusa.com/ukvisas/
2. While filling out the application, the questions around the flight details may be confusing to some applicants. All of the questions related to flight details are for outbound as the Transit visa is always a multiple entry. For example, If you are traveling from JFK-London Heathrow-Bombay by AI 112, then the following would be true.
1. Inbound to London Heathrow would be AI 112
2. Outbound from London would also be AI 112
Again, you only have to fill the flight details for one direction only as the Transit VISA is always multiple entry.
3. Pay the fee using your credit card. British consulate also charges $16 for the Fed-ex. British consulate does not accept pre-paid FedEx letters like the U.S.STATE Department does.
4. You may add multiple applicants. The web site will prompt you for this at the end of the primary applicant filling process.
5. MAKE SURE TO PRINT THE APPLICATIONS. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. At the end of the process, they will display three buttons at the top that. It is very easy to overlook these buttons. You have to click on of these buttons to print the applications.
The aforementioned steps conclude the on-line filling.
After you have filled everything online and printed the apps, prepare the following for EACH APPLICANT:
1. Printed on-line application
2. One passport size photograph
3. Confirmed travel itinerary. I have sent the one my travel agent had given me on their company's letterhead.
4. Original passport
5. ORIGINAL Advance Parole and a photocopy of the same
6. ORIGINAL EAD card and a photocopy of the same.
( It is also a good idea to make a photo copies of all of the documents you are sending for your record. Just in case if the documents were lost in the mail )
Mail the above to the following address: ( I used FedEx overnight)
THE BRITISH CONSULATE GENERAL N.Y.
845 THIRD AVENUE
10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022
kick-back and relax. You will get your documents with in 8 days
Hope this information helps.
( Note: Please use your personal judgement. The aforementioned text is for information purposes only. )