Shashank_Gaur

I want to visit london for 1 days to visit a friend do i need any visa. I am an Indian Citizen and I am living in paris for 3 months on schengen visa. Please tell me if i want to go by train i.e. TGV do i need any other visa

hetismij

I suggest you read this:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...s/inf2visitors

Since the Uk is not part of Schengen there is a good chance you do need a visa.
If in doubt contact the British Embassy for more information.

JoyC

UK is not part of the Schengen area but is a part of the European Union. So you would need a separate visa to enter it even though you already have a schengen visa.

PalenQ

Even Brits need visas to visit Britain!

Carlux

'Even Brits need visas to visit Britain!'

NO idea what this means. As someone born in England, I certainly don't need anything but my passport

PalenQ

and they say Brits do satire!

Carlux

Maybe BRITS do

PalenQ

since the OP has the answer it's OK to have some fun about Britain's border control policies - filling out Landing Cards, etc that few European countries do now - even those not in Schengen

And the paperwork for say lorries coming off boats at Dover - i was driving a lorry once that got flagged into the super-duper scrutiny bays for inspection - and was asked of course for all the relevant papers for the lorry, contents, etc

And the Customs guy, in what to me is typical British humour asked me "do you know why Hitler could never invade England?"

answer he gave was "because he could not fill out the paperwork!"

flanneruk

Has this paint-addicted tosser ever tried driving a lorry into his home country?

Or even crossing the border on foot from the friendly country a few miles south of his house?

nancicita

whatever you do, if you need to apply for a UK visa, DON'T MAIL YOUR PASSPORT to VFS Global / WorldBridge.


What TO do:
*** Go to your nearest British Consulate, make an appointment, and bring your documents to apply for your visa in person.


VFS Global / WorldBridge is going to get sued.
They're in serious trouble and thousands of people are mad at them right now for losing important documents (originals) and passports in the mail. They are running a very serious scam; be aware. If you are not sure, google this organization and you'll find some leads.

KayF

In case you are unsure - whether you travel to the UK by train, plane or ferry - the visa situation will be the same. The train that travels from Paris to London (St Pancras station) is the Eurostar, not the TGV and just a tip if you are going to book, the earlier you can book the cheaper it will be, just like the airfares. But make sure you have a visa before you book. Good luck.

Kay

acacia67

Good to know about the Visa, would not have had a clue about it coming from Paris.

sheila

Ignore nancicita.

However incompetent VFS Global is (and I'm not saying it is)you use them when you have to.

You do need a visa.

You'll find thee relevant details here:-

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoap...itors#22366723

Start at "How do I apply"

nancicita

Ignore me and you will be waiting at least a month for your visa. You will have no idea how long you need to wait and the only way to get information is to call a pre- recorded 900 number that charges $12 a call ( or more, depending on which country you are calling from).

I am speaking from personal experience. 5 of my
other friends went through the same thing with this organization. The company is a private company; they just
process credit card payments and take you biometric data.
The British Consulate said the most efficient and least expensive way to obtain you visa is to make an appointment,
go in person, bring all your documents, and make sure you get it on that day.

If you have any further questions, I'd be happy to answer
them as i am still waiting for my UK visa. It has been almost
two months since I applied -- via the website that silly shiela
tried to speak up for. But you dont need to take my word for
it. Google "VFS Global scam" or "Worldbridge scam" and see
what everyone else had to go through.



Would you want your biometric data stored in computer server
somewhere like this? They are not affiliated with the British
Embassy; VFS Global / WorldBridge are contractors making huge profits from processing visas. They are not the only ones who sells the service, however they have gained control over the UK visa application market. I personally went to the
British Consulate last week and confirmed this information with the security personnel working there. They even TOLD ME that they make effort to stop people frim mailing their passports to VFS Global. When you mail all your passport and documents to them, the people who process your application are not diplomats.

nancicita

Again:

Make an appointment, go in person, apply for your visa in person. Do not mail your passport to external agencies, and especially not to VFS Global. The website tells you that visas need to be done by mail but this IS NOT TRUE. The website link above forwards you to a non-government, for profit agency based in the US. ( ironic, yes).

nancicita

http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/july/bw000028.html

It's old news but this might shed some light.

Odin

In some cases, consulates outsource to VFS Global so there is no option but to use them, eg for Russian visa applications in the UK. Even direct applications is no guarantee that an important document will not get lost or the application won't take a long time. Not everyone has the time to lodge applications in person so an external agency is useful in these circumstances.

nancicita

Odin, while I see your point, I dont think you really understand the severity of the situation that most applicants have to go through. You are welcome to correct me if you have personal experience involving the application process, but so far, every person I have spoken to regarding the UK visa application process has said negative things about VFS Global / WorldBridge. EVERY one of them-- including the staff at the British Consulate.

There are lots of options. When I asked the British Consulate what they recommend instead of VFS Global / WorldBridge, they gave me a list of local agents that deal directly with the embassy in person and do all the leg work for you. I called one of the agents on the list and actually got to talked to a real human being ( with VFS Global / WorldBridge you will NEVER EVER talk to a human and the toll number you call gives you the same information on their unhelpful useless website). The agent said that once an applicant sends their passport in the mail to VFS Global / Worldgate, it might as well be lost forever. There is no tracking number and NO way you can ask about the status of yoir application.

sheila

If you have to use them, you have to use them. It's not a pick'n'mix system. I'm not trying to "speak up for them" - nor am I silly. I am, however an Immigration lawyer.

They are contractors employed by the UK government. Private contractors; and I don't like them either; but there are many places where the applicant is obliged to use them.

And if you think getting a visa to come to the UK is bad, you should try getting one for the US!

The UK visa system sucks; it doesn't matter whether they use a contractor or not.

nancicita

I didnt say the UK visa system sucks. I said not to use VFS Global / WorldBridge. I'm just telling everyone what the staff at the British Consulate told me when I went there in person this Monday. If there was no other choice, they wouldnt have told me that there is. You should know this if you are an immigration lawyer. I won't dare to say that I'm an expert on UK visas because I am not one; however what I can offer is to share my personal experience and perhaps help prevent people from losing a significant amount of money, time, and energy.