Exiting landside at Heathrow when I don't have a landside transit visa
I am a Vietnamese traveller, without a landside transit visa, arriving at Heathrow with ongoing direct travel to the USA via Gatwick with a valid USA Visa. My ticket to the USA leaves within the transit visa exempt time limit, but I will be meeting a friend outside the Heathrow terminal and there could be a possibility that I over-extend the exempt visa time limitation.
I'm assuming I could take a later flight to the USA but what are the consequences? How do they stamp my passport in Heathrow? Can they prevent me from taking a later flight? What can they do to me? etc.
Best Answer
If you violate your transit visa conditions you may be arrested, fined, deported removed back to your country of residence (at your expense) and your future entry to the UK (even on transit) declined. Probably no one will notice, but it is possible.
Your passport will be stamped at Heathrow.
Unless you bought a very expensive airline ticket allowing you to "no show", if you miss your scheduled onward flight the airline will cancel all travel coupons remaining on your ticket and the ticket will have zero value. You will have to buy a new ticket for all your remaining transportation at that day's prices.
If you think your ticket is flexible double check that it allows "no shows". Otherwise you must contact your airline at least an hour before the scheduled departure to inform them of the change.
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Do I need a visa to transit through Heathrow airport?
You're going through UK border controlApply for a Visitor in Transit visa if you'll be going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours. You'll need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if: you need to stay longer in the UK. you can prove you need to frequently pass through the UK over a longer ...Can I transit through UK without a visa?
You might need a Visitor in Transit visa if you're: changing flights in the UK on your way to another country. going through UK border control, for example to check in your luggage for a connecting flight. leaving the UK within 48 hours.Can I leave Heathrow airport between connecting flights?
However, the person travelling can exit through 'Arrivals' to meet you, or leave the airport if they have enough transfer time between flights (more than 6 hours for Heathrow and Gatwick) and the necessary documentation to enter the UK.Review: My GUIDE TO HEATHROW - Things you didn't know!
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Images: Uriel Mont, Uriel Mont, Ono Kosuki, Matteo Basile