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I am flying Virgin Atlantic from the USA back home to South Africa. I have a 13-hour layover at Heathrow airport. Will I be able to pass through passport control to be able to go smoke in the designated areas, and then return through security before my flight back to South Africa?

choster
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Angelique
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1 Answers1

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From the new rules that activated yesterday, these parts were REMOVED from the rules...

you’re travelling from (or on part of a reasonable journey from) Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and have a valid visa for that country

you’re travelling from (or on part of a reasonable journey 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

Visitor in Transit Strategy: You only need a valid visa for entry into the USA (Australia, etc). Being on the leg of a trip to/from the USA (Australia, etc) is now irrelevant. The US visa, or any other exemption document listed in the rules, such as a valid common format Category D visa for entry to an EEA state or Switzerland is sufficient to qualify.

Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2702/pdfs/uksi_20142702_en.pdf

Temporary Admission Strategy: Failing all of that, it is also perfectly acceptable to ask an Immigration Officer for a Temporary Admission. There's paperwork, and they will take custody of your passport, but it's an avenue if all else fails. They do not have to give a TA if they don't want to, and they do not have to have a good reason for refusing. However it does NOT count as a refusal that must be reported in subsequent applications.

Gayot Fow
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