Can I transit through UK on a valid tourist visa?

Transit Without Visa in the Uk?

• Hi! im peruvian citizen and im flying from italy ( where im legally living) to usa ( i have tourist visa )via london and i have to change airport in london ..i arrive at gatwick and then i depart from heathrow In the website of Uk Border Agency ....and also in Skyteam website they say that i qualified in Transit Without Visa since I have italian permit of stay , usa tourist visa and reservation of flight that leaves from Uk before of 24 hours and it also says that i can travel between two airports so that means that i can go outside . but in one point say that it will be an OFFICER OF IMMIGRATION that will prove all that. my question is ...where? in tha airport of italy ? of london? do i need to have with me some document from the uk embassy that is saying that i can transit without visa? or just the printed page of the uk border agency? sorry for my english thanks!!

• Answer:

  First of all your English is better to understand than the one of those who use chat abbreviations here. Peruvian citizen are on the visa list to the United Kingdom, in other words you would need a visa if you try to enter the country as tourist or for visits. However Peruvian citizen are not on the list of countries which need to have a Direct Airside Transit Visa even if they just change aircraft in the United Kingdom. Based on your citizenship you can transit without visa if you are able to show that • you arrive in the UK and depart by air • your intended onward flight has been confirmed and departs within 24 hours of arrival • you are properly documented for your destination • you hold the appropriate U.S. visa http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/visitingtheuk/datvleaflet.pdf .. http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf20transit#Q6 .. The check-in agent of the airline will check that you meet the U.K. transit without visa requirement, otherwise the airline would be subject to a hefty penalty. The Italian Carabinieri who stamps your passport on exit does not care about your visa requirement, he is just interesting that you have not illegally overstayed in Italy. The U.K. Border Officer at Gatwick will check your Italian Carta di soggiorno and the United States B-2 visa before he grants leave to transit for 24 hours. The airline check-in agent at Heathrow will check that you hold the required documents to travel to the United States, otherwise his/her airline would have to pay a hefty fine to the U.S. government. There is no U.K. immigration check on departure. BTW: based on your previous question in Spanish - you do not need ESTA, it is only required for Italian citizen who travel visa free to the United States, not for holders of a B-2 visa..