Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0

[fooki 0]

Congratulations Leona!!!

My interview is in Dec. now after EId i will go for Medical.

If i need any advice regarding medical please guys let me know.

and pray everything go fine..

Fooki

[CAnne 0]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the congrats. I have a question about ticket process. I am sending the ticket(PIA) for my wife. The traveling agent is telling me that she needs a transit visa since flight will be staying some time in Manchester, UK. Does anyone has this experience before, or is it specific to visa given. And also is the electronic ticket is good becuase thats what travelling agent is issuing. I hope she does not have any problem at the airport.

Thanks

Sham

The flight only stays in Manchester to collect more passengers. The does entail getting everyone with their carry-ons off, rescreened through security and await in the terminal until boarding commences. The airport security folks distribute a plastic colored card and direct you to the appropriate places (I barely was able to use the toilet in one area before waiting in the long line to go through the security X-rays because there was another flight arriving from NY & they didn't want to get confused with those passengers from Chicago!?) Having a U.S. passport, I don't know the regulations on the transit visa in U.K. I would suspect they wouldn't need it unless there are flight problems and it has to stay overnight (but one doesn't even leave the secured area of the airport.) I'm not in your position though. The travel agent I used in Chicago to book my ticket would be able to help. The agent was from Karachi, himself. I don't have the number with me, but if you need it to get a second professional opinion, just let me know.

Congratulations.

[us1415 0]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the congrats. I have a question about ticket process. I am sending the ticket(PIA) for my wife. The traveling agent is telling me that she needs a transit visa since flight will be staying some time in Manchester, UK. Does anyone has this experience before, or is it specific to visa given. And also is the electronic ticket is good becuase thats what travelling agent is issuing. I hope she does not have any problem at the airport.

Thanks

Sham

Sham,

My wife and daughter just came back from Karachi. My wife has a green card. When she has gotten her visa (CR-1) and we were coming back from karachi she didnt needed a transit visa. You can go to the British Embassy site and lookup but basically what it says is if you have a non-expired visa to US you dont need a transit vias for UK, however I would recomend that you get a paper ticket instead of an electronic ticket just to be safe since PIA doesnt have good technology.

Good Luck!

Here is the paste from the British Embassy website:

EXEMPTIONS:

Certain exemptions to this requirement have been introduced and apply to all DATV nationals. The following categories of traveller are not required to hold a DATV and may still benefit from the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession.

YOU ARE EXEMPT IF:

You are travelling FROM the US with a valid US visa and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom to another country; or

You are travelling TO the US from another country and hold a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom and a valid US visa; or

You last entered the US with a valid US visa which has now expired but you hold a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom to another country and you are intending to transit the United Kingdom within 6 months of your last date of entry to the US; or

You have a valid US I - 551 Permanent Residence Card (Green Card) issued on or after 21 April 1998 (but see Note 1 and 2 below); or

You have a valid US Immigrant Visa packet (form 155A / 155B); or

You have an expired I - 551 Permanent Residence Card (issued on or after 21 April 1998) and a valid I-797 letter issued by the Bureau of Citizenship authorising its extension (but see Note 1 and 2 below); or

Source:http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?i=65025&L1=41000&a=41448

[ae4ever 0]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the congrats. I have a question about ticket process. I am sending the ticket(PIA) for my wife. The traveling agent is telling me that she needs a transit visa since flight will be staying some time in Manchester, UK. Does anyone has this experience before, or is it specific to visa given. And also is the electronic ticket is good becuase thats what travelling agent is issuing. I hope she does not have any problem at the airport.

Thanks

Sham

Congrats sham.

Yeah paper ticket is recommended. Why do you have to buy ticket form here? If you are in Karachi, I can recommend a good travel agent there, it will be cheaper and will, INSHA ALLAH, be confirmed.

I am also, curious about UK transit visa question. My sister used PIA last month, she is a permanant resident, and didnt need a transit visa. But I also wanna be absolutely positive about this.

Asalam aleikum Everyone,

Congratulations to Sham for your wife being approved for her visa! I also have good news, my husband's interview was yesterday and he was approved for his visa!!!! Alhamdulillah! He said that it was such a great experience and that the officer only asked a few questions , and it only lasted about five minutes..he said the interviewer was so nice and laid back guy, must have been only 22 or 23 years old, and that he thought it was so funny how it said on our wedding certificate that I am a "spinster" ( we married in cardiff) and he showed it to his supervisor and colleagues..lol. Also, they didn't look at hardly any of the evidence, other than photos of us together. Anyway, they told him that he should get his visa after AP of 45 days to 3 months ( i know this time could mean any length of time in reality) Rashid also said that they only took the finger print of his index finger from each hand, and that they didn't charge him 45 dollars or take additional finger prints.

Insh'Allah he will have his visa with in the time frame given... He called me at mid night to tell me the great news, then i couldn't fall back asleep of course...so now im so tired but still so happy! I just pray that he will be here before the end of this year.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advices.

Leona

Wa Alaikum Assalam.

Congrats RKhalid. INSHA ALLAH, he will have visa soon. Good Luck.

[hafiz 1]

what us1415 has posted is correct. no transit visa needed.

[Sham 0]

what us1415 has posted is correct. no transit visa needed.

I called the PIA office in NY they are telling me if the passport has a sticker than no transit visa needed, but if there is not sticker than it is needed. I do not know who to beleive.

what us1415 has posted is correct. no transit visa needed.

I called the PIA office in NY they are telling me if the passport has a sticker than no transit visa needed, but if there is not sticker than it is needed. I do not know who to beleive.

I called twice to double check and it is the same thing sticker visa no transit and if it is stamped visa need transit visa. I do not know who to believe British DATV exemptions or PIA.

[PSoft 0]

Thanks for all the congrats. I have a question about ticket process. I am sending the ticket(PIA) for my wife. The traveling agent is telling me that she needs a transit visa since flight will be staying some time in Manchester, UK. Does anyone has this experience before, or is it specific to visa given. And also is the electronic ticket is good becuase thats what travelling agent is issuing. I hope she does not have any problem at the airport.

Thanks

Sham

Brother sham,

My wife came two months ago first time on her CR1 visa from Lahore Pakistan via PIA to Houston she didn’t have UK transit visa check PIA website (http://www.piac.com.pk/)

Or call it’s 1-800 for reconfirmation.

How everyone doing here I believe everyone is busy in fasting May Lord Almighty accept our fasting.

WSalam

[guest123 0]

I'm so happy we have this Islamabad thread. It answers a lot of questions.

This may have been answered already, so forgive me if it has, but how does the Embassy mail the packets out in Pakistan? Is it done through standard mail, DHL, or what?

We're not at that stage yet, but to be prepared, I need to tell my wife what to look for as her address is somewhat confusing.

Thanks!

[a1v 4]

I'm so happy we have this Islamabad thread. It answers a lot of questions.

This may have been answered already, so forgive me if it has, but how does the Embassy mail the packets out in Pakistan? Is it done through standard mail, DHL, or what?

We're not at that stage yet, but to be prepared, I need to tell my wife what to look for as her address is somewhat confusing.

Thanks!

Embassy Sents Packets Through "TCS"

[ae4ever 0]

I'm so happy we have this Islamabad thread. It answers a lot of questions.

This may have been answered already, so forgive me if it has, but how does the Embassy mail the packets out in Pakistan? Is it done through standard mail, DHL, or what?

We're not at that stage yet, but to be prepared, I need to tell my wife what to look for as her address is somewhat confusing.

Thanks!

Embassy Sents Packets Through "TCS"

ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM;

ALHAMDULILLAH half the month of Ramadhan is over, may ALLAH accept our fastings and other good deeds allow us to do more of these in the rest of the month and let this month be a good starting point for us to spend the entire next year on the right path. Ameen.

INSHA ALLAH my wife's interview is on Friday. Any advise? suggestion? information? Appreciated.

Please keep us in your prayers.

ALLAH HAFIZ.

[RKhalid 0]

Congratulations Leona!!!

My interview is in Dec. now after EId i will go for Medical.

If i need any advice regarding medical please guys let me know.

and pray everything go fine..

Fooki

My husband said his medical went very smoothly, and everyone was helpful with good customer service...he got his results two days after..make sure you don't open them though...my husband said a guy there who was picking up the results the same time as him opened his! and had to do the medical all over again...all the shots and everything!

Sham,

About the transit visa thing...i would just follow the website, cuz i was always under the impression that if you are not leaving the airport, then technically you aren't needing a visa just to be there till the next flight...

maybe if her flight was like the next day, and she had to stay in some hotel that night you would need a transit visa.. i could just be wrong, this is just me thinking...

when i went to pakistan, and from pakistan...they gave us a paper on the plane, with an option if you are there in just transit, and we didn't go through immigration or anything...we just went through security, and into the waiting room..if i remember correctly...where there was a shopping area...then we went back on, you don't even have to get off the plane...last time i dind't get off, cuzi had my baby with me and he was sleeping...people just came on the plane and cleaned it, then left...so..other than that , iduno anything ...insh'Allah it will become clear to you soon.

[babybunny 2]

I wish everyone good luck.. I hope things start to clear this week for the men...

[michigan 0]

Shon! you should call DOS, preferably talk to Erica (she is good at giving info) ask her what clearance they are processing!

[babybunny 2]

Shon! you should call DOS, preferably talk to Erica (she is good at giving info) ask her what clearance they are processing!

I actully got her on the phonage..

she said she will request a follow up on this security check. thanks for the tip..

[indianalady06 0]

Shon! you should call DOS, preferably talk to Erica (she is good at giving info) ask her what clearance they are processing!

I called DOS today and talked to a really mean lady- her name was 2 initials I think but I didn't quite catch it and by the end of the convo I was too flustered to ask again. How do you talk to someone who is actually the slightest bit helpful? I talked to a man a few weeks ago and he gave me soo much info, and Barbara was very nice, too, but not this lady! She was just rude. Have you ever requested someone? Or do you just call and hope for the best? Haha and hang up when you know its the mean lady

Also, are there any questions you have asked that you find tend to be more successful and bring out more information? I try a few every time I call and I always get different answers. Like "Can you tell me what background checks are being performed?" "Are we still just waiting for one check, or have more been triggered?" Sometimes they answer, other times they tell me they can't give that info. I don't understand the discrepencies. Anyway, anyone who has some advice on how best to get answers from DOS - we would really appreciate it!