UK Visas for Saffers
Breaking News on ********* ..The final verdict on Visa's for Saffers to the UK ..[/B]
Here is the correct story ... straight from HM Home Office :
Quote:
Today, Monday 9 February, Phil Woolas announced amendments to the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2003.
From 3 March 2009, nationals of South Africa who do not have evidence of previous travel to the UK in their current passport, in the form of an entry stamp, will be required to obtain a valid visa prior to travel to the UK.
Nationals of South Africa will require visas to enter the UK and Direct Airside Transit Visas if they wish to transit the UK airside, with effect from 3 March 2009, unless they are lawfully resident or otherwise exempt.
1.The introduction of the visa requirement will commence with a temporary exemption for those South African nationals who can evidence having previously obtained leave to enter the UK in their current passport. This means that from 0001 hours (GMT) on 3 March, those passengers who do not have a UK entry stamp or valid entry clearance in their current passport will need to obtain a visa to either enter or transit through the UK. Previous travel in an old passport will not meet the exemption criteria and a visa must be obtained in the new passport.
2.This exemption criteria will continue until the middle of 2009, at which point all South African nationals who are not lawfully resident or otherwise exempt will require a visa to enter the UK, irrespective of previous travel history or the purpose and duration of the stay. Once that date is confirmed, a further announcement will be made.
3.Because of the advance notification, there is no transition period and all passengers visiting or transiting the UK on or after 3 March who do not meet the exemption criteria will need to have obtained the appropriate visa. Those who do not have evidence of previous travel in their current passport and do not have a visa should be refused entry.
Also from 3 March 2009, nationals of Jamaica will no longer be able to benefit from the transit without visa concession, and will be required to obtain visas even if they are solely in transit through the UK and do not intend to stay.
Lastly, from 3 March 2009 nationals of Taiwan will no longer require visas for travel to the UK.’’
We will be sending out a letter to carriers clarifying the rules in the next day or so – visa requirements will also be introduced for Venezuela, Bolivia, Lesotho & Swaziland.
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