UK - Direct Airside Transit VISA

[Snyper564]

Morning all,

Posing this here as TLScontact website is well useless.

I will be flying from SA -> UK -> France In late July. Using BA (just connecting via UK), I am aware that I need this VISA and need to pay on the UK website etc. I am also aware that I need to do biometrics in SA via TLScontact.

What I want to understand is in addition to the UK gov website fee with there be an additional charge if I do biometrics etc?

On the TLScontact website I found this

HOW MUCH IS THE APPLICATION FEE?
The fee for each type of visa can be found on the GOV.UK website.

This indicates that there are no additional fees. But under their value added services there are many very pricey services.

ECOMMENDED SERVICES FOR YOU

Assisted Service
Our team will scan and upload your documents in your behalf.
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 23.00 / ZAR 437.00 (Currently free of charge)
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Express Courier Return
Return your passport to a convenient address.
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 14.95 / ZAR 269.10
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Express Courier Return (international)
Return your passport to a convenient address (out of the country).
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 50.00 / ZAR 900.00
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Premium Lounge
Relax in our VIP Lounge.
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 89.00 / ZAR 1,602.00
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Flexi Appointment
Apply on Walk-in basis either without an appointment...
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 89.00 / ZAR 1,602.00
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Keep My Passport
Apply and keep hold of your passport during the decision making process.
Payment: Online and Onsite
GBP 56.85 / ZAR 1,055.70
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I am in no rush so I just want to know if there are any other fees?

The call centre is useless and says go to the branch, will do this but I wanted to know if anyone has any experience.

Thanks for the assistance as always.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

We went to USA with a brief stopover at heathrow on SAA. We didn't need transit visa.

 

[bwana]

We went to USA with a brief stopover at heathrow on SAA. We didn't need transit visa.

That's why.

 

[Snyper564]

That's why.

Yip this is one of the exceptions

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Yip this is one of the exceptions

That's why.

Thanks, I didn't know this. I always thought transit visa would be only if stayover (for connecting flight) exceed a certain time (e.g. 12 hours). But then we also went from SA to UK with a brief stopover at Istanbul - but maybe because it was Turkey airways? And I am not SA citizen.

 

[Snyper564]

Thanks, I didn't know this. I always thought transit visa would be only if stayover (for connecting flight) exceed a certain time (e.g. 12 hours). But then we also went from SA to UK with a brief stopover at Istanbul - but maybe because it was Turkey airways? And I am not SA citizen.

Possibly, wish these things were clearer. I can do my own research if they just provided everything clearly!

 

[AchmatK]

There is no charge for the biometrics at TLScontact.

The fees on their website is for additional value added services such as priority service, etc.

 

[Snyper564]

There is no charge for the biometrics at TLScontact.

The fees on their website is for additional value added services such as priority service, etc.

This is exactly what I thought, one of my colleagues paid an additional R1500 but I had a feeling she might have selected an extra service.

If you don't mind my asking though are you speaking from experience?

Do you just complete the forms and go in, get biometrics done, leave passport?

 

[AchmatK]

This is exactly what I thought, one of my colleagues paid an additional R1500 but I had a feeling she might have selected an extra service.

If you don't mind my asking though are you speaking from experience?

Do you just complete the forms and go in, get biometrics done, leave passport?

From experience.

I applied for a different visa for my wife last year and only paid the fee on the visa4uk website.

I also assisted my sister in law last year and she paid for priority service at her appointment as she needed her visa urgently.

You need to select the date and time from the available time slots, take in the documents and have the biometrics done.

 

[Snyper564]

From experience.

I applied for a different visa for my wife last year and only paid the fee on the visa4uk website.

I also assisted my sister in law last year and she paid for priority service at her appointment as she needed her visa urgently.

You need to select the date and time from the available time slots, take in the documents and have the biometrics done.

You are a life saver! Thank you so much that's exactly what I wanted to hear. Hopefully this can help someone else in the future!