Travel to India via London with expired H1B visa and valid I-797

[khaland]

Hello all,

My H1B Visa expired last year and currently I am staying in USA with extended I-797. I am planning for vacation this year end and also get my visa stamped in India. I have booked my tickets for British Airways via LA->London->India. In London I will arriving and departing from the same terminal. My concerns is, will there be any issues in transit as I dont have a valid H1B visa on my passport? I will be carrying my original extended I-797, visa stamping package and my pay slips etc..

Did anybody face any issues travelling via Europe with expired H1-B visa? Please share your thoughts.

Thanks,
Khaland

[txh1b]

You need a transit visa without which BA will not even issue you a boarding pass or let you check in.

[khaland]

txh1b,

Thanks for quick reply.

Can I get transit visa on arrival or Do I need to get it here in USA before my travel? Is this the case only with BA or any flight travelling though Europe?

-Khaland

[abhayg4]

Hi Khaland,

You will be requiring a TRANSIT VISA , which is a must to travel via London.
Approved I-797 , Paystubs will not work.
So , if you have time - then you can apply for it.

It is now required for Frankfurt also (if you have expired Visa).
Not required for Amsterdam , Belgium.

I mentioned in my earlier forums also that if anybody wants to go to India and want to avoid Transit Visa issues/or Stopover time/Flight change - then Continental Airlines is best as it is a ONLY (if my understanding is correct )direct flight from US (Newark) to India (New Delhi/Mumbai).
There was a one from Delta from NewYork to Mumbai but now that is stopped.
Also American Airlines - from Chicago to New Delhi- not sure its a direct now , I think it has a stopover at some location

Thanks and regards,
Abhay

[DP1]

Need to get H1B visa stamped,traveling to India via London (BA), need transit Visa?

Hi All,

I have a slightly similar case as Khalad.

I came to US on F1 Visa (expires in 2011)
I was on OPT until July of this year. OPT expired 9/July/09.
H1B visa approved. valid starting from 1/Oct/09

I am traveling to India via London in British Airways. Will I need a transit visa to go to India via London?

Please let me know.

Thanks
DI

[IBMER]

Hi, Can a Canadian citizen (travelling on a valid Canadian passport) but on an expired H1B visa travel through Schengen state from the USA to India? Thanks!

[Pgmehetre]

Pradeep

Hello,
Can you share your experience??
How did u travelled to india with expired us visa?

[tejaalla369]

i have an expired f1 visa.
And have valid i-797 without visa stamping.
I do have a canadian student visa.

Now i am travelling from USA to India on indian passport. Do is still need a transit visa?

Cause this is what i have seen on British Consulate website
Exemptions

You don’t need a visa if you have one of the following:

a visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia or the USA (this can be used for travel to any country)

[smartpandian]

Please share your experience

Hi Khaland, Can you share your experience? I was in similar situation. Did you face any issues?

Hello all,

My H1B Visa expired last year and currently I am staying in USA with extended I-797. I am planning for vacation this year end and also get my visa stamped in India. I have booked my tickets for British Airways via LA->London->India. In London I will arriving and departing from the same terminal. My concerns is, will there be any issues in transit as I dont have a valid H1B visa on my passport? I will be carrying my original extended I-797, visa stamping package and my pay slips etc..

Did anybody face any issues travelling via Europe with expired H1-B visa? Please share your thoughts.

Thanks,
Khaland