UK - Transit Visa- with I551 stamped

dw_guy

Registered Users (C)
Hello All,

My wife is planning to travel sometimes next month. She had I-551 stamped on her passport after her 485 approval in 1st week of August. I have booked tkts by British Airways and according them, transit visa not required for Permenant Residents of USA. We have not received plastic card so do we need to get transit visa?

I am wondering those who were in the same situation could share their experience.

Thanks,
 
transit visa for uk with I551

Even we are in the same boat, so thought of pushing this thread up. Anyone who has info on this pls respond.
Do we need transit visa to tranist uk when gc is approved and passport stamped with I-551, but the real plastic card has not yet arrived.

Thanks
 
Call British Embassy or British Consulate. If you feel you need transit visas, get transit visas (it would be better than sorry). - I think it is very easy to get transit visas even though you are a US permanent resident.

Some officers don't recognize I-551 stamp because it can be fake or designed by a 5 years old kid.
 
From murhty.com hope this is helpful to you

We have recently learned of instances in which U.S. permanent residents of Indian origin and Indian citizens with nonimmigrant visas wishing to visit the U.S. were unable to board flights from India to the United States via the United Kingdom (U.K.). This was due to these individuals' failure to have proper transit documents. This was a surprise to many who had assumed that, if they were not leaving the airport and were merely in transit from one airline to another, there was no requirement to obtain a visa for the U.K. Citizens of India, however, must have a Direct Airside Transit Visa to travel through the U.K. This includes permanent residents of the U.S., if the person's plastic green card (I-551) was issued before April 21, 1998.

In addition to citizens of India, this requirement applies to nationals of 22 other countries, including: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Columbia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. If any such citizen intends to change airplanes in the U.K., a visa will be required for her/him to enter. There are a number of exemptions from the need for a Direct Airside Transit Visa, including U.S. permanent residents with more recent green cards, issued on or after April 21, 1998. The exemptions also include persons with valid U.S. or Canadian visas, who hold tickets to the U.S. or Canada. Diplomats from India and China are also exempt.

It is quite common for the airline agent to incorrectly insist on a transit visa to the U.K. when one is not required, for example, when a person has a valid (un-expired) visa to enter the U.S. It is helpful to print out this information or information directly from the British Government WebSite prior to traveling through the U.K. Rather than being unable board one's flight, such information can be used to clarify procedures on British immigration procedures for the agent.
 
Thanks

Thanks for your responses. Guess it is better to get the transit visa, when one is not sure.
 
USGC485 said:
Call British Embassy or British Consulate. If you feel you need transit visas, get transit visas (it would be better than sorry). - I think it is very easy to get transit visas even though you are a US permanent resident.

Some officers don't recognize I-551 stamp because it can be fake or designed by a 5 years old kid.


The stamp mentioning temporary evidence of I-551 or permanent resident status is valid for a year. It is valid proof of permanent resident status for employment and travel purposes. There is no need to worry about traveling on such a simple looking stamp. The ink used is security ink. The Port of Entry (POE) officers can quickly determine if a stamp is genuine. Those with genuine stamps can travel in the same manner as individuals who have received the Form I-551 or the plastic green card.
 
yygov:

I can cleary say that you do not have enough information to share in this thread. There may be people who successfully travelled using I-551 stamp from UK.

My friend's wife was sent back just because the genuinity of I-551 stamp in UK during her transit. They did not care about the ink used by INS officer in US.

So better to have transit visa until you get the plastic GC.
 
Any direct flight

Is there any non-stop direct flight to Bombay from NYC/Boston. Hope there is which can help us reach there within 15hrs without going thru this uneccessary trouble of transit in f*** W. Europe.
 
1204gc said:
yygov:

I can cleary say that you do not have enough information to share in this thread. There may be people who successfully travelled using I-551 stamp from UK.

My friend's wife was sent back just because the genuinity of I-551 stamp in UK during her transit. They did not care about the ink used by INS officer in US.

So better to have transit visa until you get the plastic GC.

Hi, there, thanks for sharing the information. However, I was argued what was highlighted in my previous message. Read it again.
 
Top