Transit to the USA with a UK visa

Since December 1, 2014, the UK government has significantly complicated the lives of travelers flying through London in transit. Visa-free transit rules have become stricter (read more in the article: Transit through the UK. Who can fly in transit without a visa), but pleasant exceptions have appeared for some categories of travelers. Today we will talk about those flying to the USA in transit through London. Let's not keep you waiting - you do not need a visa in this case.

• You can fly in transit through any UK airport.
• You must be flying to or from the USA, and you must have a ticket for the next flight (print out your itinerary or boarding pass).
• You must have a valid US visa. Although there is an exception to this rule - you are eligible for visa-free transit if you are flying from the USA, your visa has already expired, but it has been less than 6 months since your entry into the USA.

You can leave the airport and take a walk around London or stay overnight in a hotel. Transit time is not strictly fixed and varies depending on when you arrived. The main rule is that you must depart by 23:59 on the day following your arrival. Example 1: You arrived in London at 00:00 on May 1st, you must depart by 23:59 on May 2nd, giving you 48 hours for transit. Example 2: You arrived at 23:59 on May 1st, you must depart by 23:59 on May 2nd - 24 hours for transit.

Visa-free transit is not possible if you have a US visa of type «YY» or «ZZ» with the annotation «Not a visa. Foil prepared at DHS request» or if you have a stamp «Processed for I-551».

At passport control, you will need:

• A completed immigration form (you can get it at the counter before control or on board some airlines). For convenience, bring a pen, as one might not be available.
• Passport with a US visa. Airline ticket itinerary or boarding pass, as well as the boarding pass for the flight you arrived on in London.

Have a question? Ask it in the comments!