Valid visa for DATV exemption

[Kwagga 0]

Greetings from South Africa

Can anyone tell me what A valid U.S. immigrant visa packet (form 155A/155B) is. Is it perhaps that elusive brown envelope you get from the embassy/consulate when your passport is returned?

Im starting to look at flight options, and flying from SA via the UK is the cheapest option. South African passport holders do however need a visa to enter or transit the UK.

I have found this info on the UK Visa site, but need to confirm what this "valid U.S. immigrant visa packet (form 155A/155B)" is, before I make a crucial mistake of not applying for a transit visa.

Passengers exempt from the DATV requirement

Holders of certain documents are, regardless of nationality, exempt from the requirement to hold a Direct Airside Transit Visa when transiting the UK.

A transit passenger is not required to hold a transit visa if he holds or a person with whom he arrives in the United Kingdom holds on his behalf:

A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held;

A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from the country in respect of which the visa is held to another country or territory

A valid U.S. immigrant visa packet (form 155A/155B) is a valid visa for DATV exemption purposes.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

If you use one of the following, you can avoid London entirely, connection-point parenthesised:

• Etihad (Dubai)
• Qatar Airways (Doha)
• Olympic Airways (Athens)
• Turkish (Istanbul)
• Air France (Paris)
• Emirates (Dubai)
• KLM (Amsterdam)
• South African Airways connecting to United (Frankfurt)

(edit: I used Johannesburg to JFK)

Edited June 17, 2009 by CherryXS

[Kwagga 0]

If you use one of the following, you can avoid London entirely, connection-point parenthesised:

• Etihad (Dubai)
• Qatar Airways (Doha)
• Olympic Airways (Athens)
• Turkish (Istanbul)
• Air France (Paris)
• Emirates (Dubai)
• KLM (Amsterdam)
• South African Airways connecting to United (Frankfurt)

(edit: I used Johannesburg to JFK)

Thanks CherryXS. I've found an airticket on Virgin Atlantic flying from SA via London to Boston for between $200 - $400 cheaper than any other airline. And even if I have to get a transit visa for UK, it will still work out cheaper to fly this route.

[milimelo 4,268]

K-1 is a NON-immigrant visa (even though it has dual intent) as you still have to adjust status.

You better get that transit visa for Britain.