ATTN all those who made travel plans
UK tightens visa dragnet (
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=234881)
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2003 05:56:00 PM ]
NEW DELHI: To check the growing menace of illegal immigration, Britain has announced that Indians will need a Direct Transit Visa from Thursday to travel through the country.
The new rule was announced by the British Home Office at 0001 BST (UK time) on October 16. Apart from Indians, nationals of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Angola, Cameroon and Lebanon will need also rewuire a DATV to travel through Britain.
Previously nationals of these countries required visas to visit the country and were allowed to travel without one if they were passing through on their way to a third country.
A grace period for those who have already made their travel plans will operate until 23.59 hours on October 20. Any transit passenger who bought their ticket on or before October 15 will not be refused entry solely on the basis of not holding a valid transit visa.
Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said, "We are responding to intelligence that a growing number of nationals from these countries are using the transit route to flout our immigration controls and to enter the UK illegally or to make unfounded asylum applications."
"Today's announcement is part of a package of measures we are using to strengthen UK border controls abroad, including new screening technology and the better use of intelligence to break up gangs that profit from the trade in illegal immigrants. We are committed to making this process as straightforward as possible for genuine visitors," Hughes said.
In taking this step Britain have looked for ways to ensure that it keeps to a minimum the number of passengers who require a DATV by waiving the requirement for Indian nationals in possession of:
. a valid visa and ticket for Canada or the USA.
. For those travelling from Canada or the USA, a visa for that country which if expired did so no more than two calendar days before arrival in the UK
. a valid USA-1551 Permanent Residence Card (Green Card) issued on or after 21 April 1998
. a valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card issued on or after 28 June 2002
. a valid common format Category D visa for entry to an EEA State which is valid for more than three months;
. a valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA State pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002;
. a diplomatic or official passport issued by the Indian Government.
However, he said: "UK is committed to a continued increase in the number of visitors and students from India."
"We can ensure that those who do not qualify under these waivers and who need to apply for a DATV can do so as smoothly as possible and at any of our 11 visa application collection offices across India at a cost of Rs 2,150," he added.