How am I able to smoke at Heathrow during a 13-hour layover as a South African citizen? Can I exit passport control?
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?
Best Answer
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.
Pictures about "How am I able to smoke at Heathrow during a 13-hour layover as a South African citizen? Can I exit passport control?"
Can you smoke in Heathrow departures?
"Heathrow is a smoke-free airport, in line with British law on smoking in enclosed public spaces. Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the terminal building. However, please be aware that once you have passed through security control, you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge."Can I smoke during a layover?
Smoking in the airport is only allowed in designated smoking lounges. The lounges are located throughout the airport at each concourse: near gates B37, B73, C2, and D30. Anyone found smoking outside of the designated areas will be required to pay a $25 fine. Continue to 13 of 13 below.Is there a smoking lounge at Heathrow?
If you are catching a connecting flight at Heathrow, please note that smoking is not permitted during the connection process. It's only possible to access the outdoor smoking areas by entering the UK (via passport control), and you would then have to pass through security control to return to the departure lounge.Which terminal at Heathrow has a smoking area?
But Heathrow also has two official designated smoking areas, one in Terminal 3, the other in Terminal 4. One is intended for transiting passengers (T3) while the other is intended for departing passengers (T4).Do's and Don'ts in Connecting Flights | Points to Remember
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ketut Subiyanto, FOI International, David Bares, Uriel Mont