AmeenaTutu

Thanks SVL. I have emailed them and am waiting for a reply. As we're getting down to the wire, I hope to hear something soon! Thanks!

Thanks Sam and Fen. I was thinking the same. It appears we meet the requirements and he won't need one. I can't determine, if it is required, whether we can get it there.

will they give the visa upon arrival or do we need to acquire it before we leave India? If yes, does anyone have any ideas on processing time, etc.

It's a 22.5 hour layover. We'll have to go through Border Control because we need to collect our bags in order to go to the other airport. Is Border Control the same as Immigration?

My husband received is IR1 visa. We have our flights booked and have a 22.5 hour layover in the UK. The layover has us landing in the UK via Heathrow and flying out of the UK via Gatwick.

I'm trying to determine if my husband, and Indian passport holder, will need a visa for the layover in the UK.

Per https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa when I go through the following questions:

What Passport Do you Have? - India

What are you coming to the UK to do? - Transit (on your way to somewhere else)

Will you pass through UK Border Control? - Yes

Basis these answers, here is the outcome:

You should apply for a Visitor in Transit visa if you arrive on a flight and will pass through immigration control before you leave the UK.

You might be eligible for the ‘transit without visa concession’ if:

• you arrive and depart by air
• have a confirmed onward flight which leaves within 24 hours
• have the right documents for your destination (eg a visa for that country)

One of the following must also apply:

• you’re travelling to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and have a valid visa for that country
• you’re travelling from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and it’s less than 6 months since you last entered that country with a valid entry visa
• you have a valid US permanent residence card issued on or after 21 April 1998 (or an I-797 extension letter issued by the Bureau of Citizenship if it’s expired)
• you have a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002
• you have a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area (EEA)
• you have a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state

Under the Transiting Without A Visa section, the first 3 bullets apply, and under the "One of the following must also apply" the first bullet is applicable.

We're just passing through, have our tickets to the US, and he has a valid US visa.

Do I need to acquire a UK transit visa before we leave India? Or do we fall into the Transit without visa concession population? It says it's decided by the immigration officer at the boarder. Basis that, is it safe to fly without a visa, and once we reach, if they want him to have one, we can get one there, or do we need it ahead of time?

Thanks!

Teacup, You could try submitting a letter from his mother stating you'll be staying with her at her US address until you find your own place.

Darnell, Any advice on this?

That's excellent news Ketsuban! Thank you so much!

Namaste! My husband has his interview in Mumbai on Feb 20th, which is 3 days after our 2 year wedding anniversary. We started the application process 18 months ago, but I've read that if you've been married 2 years or more at the time of your interview, you'll get an IR1, which has less restrictions than the CR1. Is that accurate? Should I have him ask about this at his interview? So long as we can return to the US, I'm least bothered as long as he leaves with an approved visa that allows him to work! Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the suggestion. The FRRO was a breeze and said I can convert my Employment Visa into an Entry Visa, no sweets required. :-)

They also said there's no hurry to do so, as long as I do it before my Employment Visa expires (which is in April 2013).

Photocopies of divorce decrees are acceptable. If you submit originals, you will most likely not get them back. A single copy should be sufficient. You can review this link for the documents that are required. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130instr.pdf

Best of luck!

I'm a US Citizen, staying in India on an Employment Visa. I married an Indian Citizen in Feb 2012 and approx one month ago, we filed his i-130. I was notified today that my employment is ending and was only given 4 days notice. I now have to decide if I want to go to a neighboring country to file for an Indian tourist visa for myself, then return but be unable to work, orif I want to return to the US without my husband.

My question is: since we've already filed his i-130, does he also have the option to file for a tourist visa to the US simultaneously? That way we can both go to the US together, he just won't be able to work until his previously filed visa is granted.

We have an appt at the Embassy tomorrow to find out more info but I thought perhaps someone here could recommend what to do in this situation and help me realize any details I'm leaving out or things I'm not considering.

Thanks in advance!