Hi all, Does anyone here know if F1 students require transit visa while on transit at the UK(london) airport? your info will be highly appreciated.

i need the info also

anyone please?

JUST GO TO WWW.BRITAINUSA.COM AND THEN CLICK ON THE VISAS THINGY AND THEN SEE WETHER U NEED IT OR NOT... WELL I THINK U NEED IT.... CAS IF U AIN'T A GC HOLDER OR A CITIZEN I THINK U NEED A TRANSIT VISA...
HOPE THIS HELPS

Yes u need visa even u will be spending just few hours inside the airport. BUT, if u have american visa then u don't need one becoz u automatically qualify for that category ( I belive they think that people will stay in america rather than london). i am not sure exactly how much time do u have to have before ur visa experies. now this a personal experience, make sure u check their website or with travel agent before u travel, since rule changes ....GT

Transit Without Visa (TWOV) Concession

Do I qualify for transit without visa (TWOV)? If you are a visa national or a DATV national (see below) who is exempt, you can transit without visa if you will: arrive at a UK port on a ship and leave on the same ship within 24 hours; or arrive and leave by air within 24 hours and have no intention of staying in the UK (you can travel by rail or road between two airports); and have a confirmed onward booking that will leave within 24 hours of your arrival in the UK. You must also have the documents you need: to enter the country you are travelling to; and for any other country that you may pass through on your journey. You are advised to contact your carrier before departure. Some Airlines may refuse to board passengers without visas. This waiver does not apply to: 1. Nationals of these countries: Afghanistan Lebanon Albania Liberia Algeria Macedonia Angola Malawi Bangladesh Moldova Belarus Mongolia Burma (Myanmar) Nepal Burundi Nigeria Cameroon Palestinian Authority China, Peoples Republic of Pakistan Colombia Rwanda Congo Senegal Congo, Dem. Republic of Serbia and Montenegro (including documents issued by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo) Ecuador Sierra Leone Eritrea Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Gambia Sri Lanka Ghana Tanzania Guinea Turkey Guinea – Bissau Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus India Uganda Iran Vietnam Iraq Zimbabwe Ivory Coast   Kenya   If you hold a passport from one of these countries, you will need a Direct Airside Transit or a Visitor in Transit visa unless you qualify under one of the exemptions. 2. Anyone intending to visit friends, family, go shopping or sightseeing etc. You will require a visit visa. 3. Anyone holding STAFF or OPEN dated tickets.  You will also require a visit visa.

UK Visas Apply online.

Visa FAQs

For further visa enquiries please contact Worldbridge, our commerical partner, at these numbers: 1 900 656 5000 - calls cost $US3 per minute OR 1 212 796 5773 - $US12 flat fee  (residents outside the US will need to call this number) Please note: Worldbridge is NOT able to provide information on the status of an application that has already been submitted. Telecommunications

Exemptions:

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:

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. You have a valid US Immigrant Visa packet (form 155A / 155B); or
6. 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
7. You have a valid Canadian Permanent Residence Card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or 
8. You have a valid common format Category D visa issued by EU/EEA member states; or
9. You have a valid common format EU residence permit issued under Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002;
10. You hold a diplomatic or a service passport issued by the People's Republic of China; or 
11. You hold a diplomatic or an official passport issued by the government of India; or 
12. You hold a diplomatic or an official passport issued by the government of Vietnam.
    

Note:

1. Holding an I-512 Parole letter or an I-797C (Notice of Action) instead of a valid US visa; or a Transportation Letter instead of a valid US Permanent Resident Card issued on or after 21 April 1998 or a U.S. Visa Foil endorsed, "NOT A VISA. FOIL PREPARED AT DHS REQUEST" does NOT qualify you for exemption from the DAT visa requirement.
2. Holding a valid travel document with an ADIT stamp - worded "PROCESSED FOR I-551. TEMPORARY EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL ADMISSION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE VALID UNTIL ......EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED" - does NOT qualify you for exemption from the DAT visa requirement.
3. Whether holders of non-national (including refugee travel documents) require a DATV depends on their nationality and whether they qualify for one of the exemptions listed above. So, for instance, the holder of a non-national travel document (eg. a refugee travel document) who is a national or a citizen of one of the countries listed on the DATV list (eg. Afghanistan) will require a direct airside transit visa if they are travelling to the UK to transit onto a third country.
   

There are separate exemptions for holders of Australian, Canadian and New Zealand visas. Please click here for details.

If you do not qualify from one of the above exemptions you should apply online and submit the following documents to your nearest entry clearance issuing post.

All visa nationals wishing to transit the UK but spend longer doing so than the 24 hours permitted under the TWOV condition must obtain a visitor in transit visa for stays up to 48 hours or a visit visa.

Please click here for frequently asked questions regarding Direct Airside Transit Visas

Transiting to the Republic of Ireland:

Passengers must pass through immigration control in order to take a flight to Ireland. Visa nationals (and passengers qualifying for DATV exemption above) may transit without visa providing they fulfil the TWOV conditions and are properly documented for entry into Ireland. DATV nationals transiting to Ireland must obtain a visit visa - NOT a Visitor in transit visa which is only for transit to destination outside the Common Travel Area.

Supporting Documents:

You will need to supply all of the following in original form:

• A completed online application
• Your passport (note: It should be the original document and have ample validity).
• One passport size photograph - no scans (Click here for example).
• Evidence of your Immigration Status in the USA. Please submit the original document. Copies will only delay your application. For example:
  -Alien Registration Card (Greencard)
  -H1-B Visa
  -Advance Parole Document
  -Employment Authorisation Card
  -Valid IAP66/DS 2019
  -Valid I20, signed on the reverse by designated school official
  -Valid I-94
• Confirmed Flight Reservation - Do NOT purchase the ticket before the visa is issued

Please provide original documents and copies of all requested documents in support of your application.

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?a=41448#exemptions