Hi All,

I'm moving next week to Toronto for Canadian Immigration. I'm comming Via NY and have an valid US visa.

I'd booked in Olympic Airways. My flight is from Dubai - Athens - JFK, NY - Toronto.

I'll be changing flights in Athens and transit Time to Catch the next flight is 4 hrs. I was told that i need to have a TRANSIT VISA for Athens for Indian Citizens.

Looks like If PR card is there, then its not required.

I could not find details about this requirement in internet. Unfortunately Greek Embassy is closed now and will open only tomorrow 10.00 am.

Desi's inputs will be of great help and thanks in advance.

Suresh

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Orginally posted by DGSuresh
.....Looks like If PR card is there, then its not required.

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SS
Reiki Grand Master

Hi,
I am also moving to toronto on june 4th I also have the same problem.
I have checked the greek embassy in abudhabi last week. They want Dhs 175/person( 35 euro);valid canada visa and confirmed ticket & approx. 1 week to process visa.
I also collected ticket today by olympic air and planning to apply transit visa on saturday

you can contact me 050 5584 602

From Gulf News 18.05.2005
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Airline says sorry for providing wrong information

By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter

Dubai:
Emirates airline has apologised after a customer was given incorrect information on whether a transit visa was needed for a stop-off in the UK.

The Indian woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said the airline told her a direct airside transit (DAT) visa was needed when she, her son and her husband changed planes in London on their way to Canada.

They booked an Emirates flight to London and are continuing to North America with another airline.

The woman's son is planning to study at a university in Canada.

According to the woman, Emirates said the family members would need DAT visas for the UK as they were changing aircraft in London.

"However, we checked with the British Embassy and they confirmed that as long as we hold a visa and a ticket for Canada and the journey is within 24 hours, a transit visa is not required, even if we change aircraft.

"Reputable airlines like Emirates should not mislead us and waste our time and money by saying that we need a UK transit visa," she said.

Indians must have DAT visas to pass through the UK in transit, unless they are exempted for one of several reasons. Among those who gain exemption are people with a valid onward airline ticket and a visa to Canada.

A spokeswoman for Emirates said the details the airline provided its agents on visa requirements for the UK were accurate.

However, she said an agent could have read that Indians normally do require a DAT visa for the UK and not read further and realised the family qualified for an exemption."We apologise for the wrong information provided earlier. The visa information is very complex and it could be that an agent looked at part of the information and jumped to the wrong conclusion," the spokeswoman said.

She added that airlines had to be extremely careful that they did not allow passengers without valid visas for their destinations to travel.

"If we take a passenger to London who does not have a valid visa, we're fined £2,000 (Dh13,499) and we have to bring the passenger straight back. That's probably why the agent erred on the side of caution," she said.

Jason Smith, second secretary for political and media affairs at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said anyone unsure whether they needed a visa should consult the website www.britain-uae.org

The website has a search facility that tells travellers from each country whether they need a visa.

"If people need further information they should contact the embassies in Abu Dhabi or Dubai," he said.
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Double check agents and airlines before proceeding to travel.

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Shreenivas

Quote:

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Orginally posted by dubaivasi

Hi,
I am also moving to toronto on june 4th I also have the same problem.
I have checked the greek embassy in abudhabi last week. They want Dhs 175/person( 35 euro);valid canada visa and confirmed ticket & approx. 1 week to process visa.
I also collected ticket today by olympic air and planning to apply transit visa on saturday

you can contact me 050 5584 602

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Regards - ezrider