Folks,

I'm an Indian passport holder, having a Swiss B permit (credit card type). Please can any one of you let me know if I need a transit visa if transiting via London to India from Zurich. I have seen some threads which are quite old. I guess some rules might have changed by now. Thanks in advance for any useful information.

regards
Fs

This was recently discussed, but anyhow:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...u-need-a-visa/

YES

Please refer to the enclosed screenshot, or give it a try yourself. The Swiss B permit in a credit card Eurocompatible format is valid for entry into Schengen areas, of which the UK does not belong to.

UK visa for Swiss residents - please apply in Geneva or Zurich via their agents World Bridge Services.

https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/dest_org.aspx

http://ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/visas/

That's a pity but anyhow thanks for the information jrspet

Just been checking (always useful to know, even though I'm a UK citizen) ... India is on a list of countries requiring a transit visa (known as a "DAT visa" for airside transits).

In Switzerland you have to apply online, *but* also need to visit an agency which deals with UK visas (two: one in Zurich, one in Geneva) to have some biometric data captured.

Cost is £51. Not sure if that covers the entire process but one would hope so.

If it were me, I'd say "screw the UK"" and find another route.

A full visitor visa ( multi entry ) valid for 6 months costs EUR99, perhaps better value than a DATV. Alternatively, most people I know fly via Brussels ( visa free, use your Swiss B permit ) to India.

It's often more difficult (and could involve an interview in Dusseldorf?) to get a full UK visa.

Interview and biometrics is done at Geneva or Zürich, visa grant usually within 30 days, date of grant can be postponed for another 30 days ( like mine ). Besides, a return trip is usually but not always goes back through London.

As for the doccos, almost the same stack of papers to submit ( the idea here is to rule out recourse to public funds, asylum applications etc. ). Once you are in the system, subsequent visits are much easier and hassle free.

Indian friend of mine had to go to Dusseldorf to get his UK visa. That was about a year ago; maybe it's changed now. UK govt website implies that the Zurich and Geneva offices are agencies and don't do interviews, but it wasn't clear. You don't need much documentation for an airside transit visa.

Fees have changed slightly.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/co...e=UK%20English

Zürich is busier than Geneva:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...mes-zurich-vac

There is no real interview at World Bridge for the Full Visitor visa, other than to verify your permit, passport and original documentation - everything lasts no more than 20 minutes at the counter, 5 more if your photo needs to be retaken ( with a high price tag ).

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/co...e=UK%20English

Hey guys,
Being an Indian traveling to Switzerland from the US and transiting through UK i face this same problem. The thing is i was told that most countries don't ask for a transit VISA from Indian citizens. So i didn't bother to check the UK policies. After i came across this post i panicked and read everything on the UK border agency website. So it seems although we are part of the DATV list you can be exempted if you hold a valid US/AUS/CAD/NZ visa and are traveling from these countries elsewhere and you have entered these countries no more than 6 months before your travel. You are also exempted if you hold a category D visa (long stay like mine) from EU/EEA countries. There are other categories too. Just check under the 'travel without visa concession' tab under more information on the following page

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/cu...nsit-airside/#

hope it helps u as much as it helps me!


Cheers!
Arghya

Hey,
This was not the case close to a year ago, but rules keep changing with the UK border, because my husband did travel to India via London and only held a B type permit for Switzerland.
It seems to be true that you need a DAT Visa now for transit if you hold a Indian passport.
Quote: "If you will arrive on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through immigration control, and then depart on another flight from the same airport, you should apply for a direct airside transit visa."

Yes it would be best to avoid London or any UK port for transit.
Cheers
S

I believe with the new B permit you are allowed to transit without visa as it's following the European convention for exception as published on their website.

How long does the visit visa processing take typically if applied in Zurich and Geneva?

thanks

Through World Bridge Geneva, it took about 2 weeks, traceable via your reference number.

Thanks. 2 weeks - does it include postal delivery time also? did it take 10 business days or 15 business days after submission at worldbridge geneva?

the statistics indicates that 95% of the decisions are made within 5 business days so not sure. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/cu...ultTableAnchor

Any idea if it is taking longer now that it has to be sent Paris?

Is the 2 weeks that you mentioned - was it for visit visa (short term 6 months) or for long term visit visa (1 to 10 years). Is the processing time typically the same for both categories?

6 month visitor visa, multi entry.

Check World Bridge and the UKBA for CH for updates, as in this:

Geneva used to have quick turn around times. All applications are couriered to UK Emb in Paris for a decision, and thereafter sent back by courier to Geneva ( or Zürich ). No interview other than the brief 20 minute encounter over the counter.

hey guys,
So i completed my transit through UK. It was no trouble at all. You do not go through any kind of immigration channel if you have a valid permit type B. In any case I asked the BA people and they said transiting Indian passengers with valid Swiss permit (type B) and/or flying to/from the US do not require one. So transit through Heathrow if you meet the above criteria. Cheers!

Regards,
Arghya