UK airside transit visa for Jamaican citizen - help

[Sweets]

I spent some time the last couple of days and read the same info you posted in the thread and yes it seems straight forward although the app form seem so long just for someone passing through a country and only staying a couple of hours for their connecting flight. They actually do know where he is going and why and he has to provide a bag of supporting documents for a lot of different things.

One issue will be to show bank statements since he does not really keep money in the bank as I mentioned before and a lot of what he gets paid is cash in hand. This is why I posted this thread, to find someone that may have gone through the same process or someone that has got a friend that has, just to get an idea of how difficult it is and things to think about when filling out the forms. I'd consider myself superlucky if someone on here had a friend who were a tradesman and applied for a similar visa or even a tourist visa in the UK just to understand what they went through.

I would hate for him to pay for the flights and the visa app fee only to get turned down.

Thank you guys a million for your comments and links and yes he would be flying via Gatwick. i have been looking at other countries too like flying via Dubai, but then he would still have to stop in London Real pain in the backside if you ask me since the dude aint looking to migrate just to go on a holiday. It's in times like these I really feel thankful for my European passport

[airportworker]

Tic in eyes of UK border agency he's not really entering UK, and i don't know why he needs this airside visa, but they know best apparently, he only becomes of interest really if he passes through passport control, some times i wonder about my bosses

[Sweets]

* correction - they do not know where he is going and why - but on the application form that's what they want to know

[Sweets]

For some reason Im not too worried about getting a tourist visa in Malta - it's the UK I'm worried about cus Tic like you said they want so much information and we will not lie, we will be honest on the application but I don't know how it'll go mainly in regards to the bank statements, proving that he has enough in Jamaica to want to go back and tax. He has got his family there and he has got no family in the UK or Malta and he has got a small piece of land and his own house. Not sure if that's enough?

[airportworker]

Sweets reason i asked about gatwick, was if it was Heathrow and i was on shift i would gone to say hi, on the paid in cash front could he gets a letter signed by some local offical saying he gets paid in cash etc

[Sweets]

I'll look into it. I actually did try to find flights from JA to Heathrow, but all flights I found was to Gatwick.

I didn't know that you work at an UK airport - if you come across this topic at work, kindly drop me a few lines with any new helpful information. It's strange that you haven't really heard about the airside transit visa, but then again I guess it depends on where in the airport you work. I wish it was as simple as him being able to just fly in and get on the plane to Malta without the transit visa, but I dare not take the risk to advise him that. We'll just play it by the rules, be honest and hopefully they'll approve his app.

Many thanks again

[airportworker]

Sweets all the best flights from JA go via gatwick, yes i can tell you all about what is allowed in your carry on and how to spot a bang bang and even how to defuse bang bang but when it comes to visas and passports i know nothings

markus

[TiCtOc]

hey sweets definately do not tell him to try it without the visa LOL you said you lived in London you know how tight and strict the border control is there.No visa=no entry and straight back on to the plane or held until next plane available(do not think he would be actually allowed onto the plane).The only problem I see with what you have said is the fact he works cash in hand.
In UK that would NOT be acceptable but in Jamaica things work differently and it is in Jamaica that the assesment will take place.
The fact he has land and a house looks good on him as long as there is no mix up with paperwork and titles and names on things and such.You need to find out about if cash in hand work is legal in Jamaica or not and if it is what are the tax laws.If he is self employed that is good-property owner /land owner-own business but if he is saying he earns NOTHING from his business legally/legit and he has paid no tax they will just assume he has no money,Either that or he gets money via other means or possibly his family take care of him but then they would need good jobs too.All they want to determine is if the person applying for the visa is trying to get a better life away from the island and if there is a chance they will not come back.the house and land is a good thing.Get him to start paying some cash into his bank is my advice!
UK is getting real tough on people just flying in or through these days even those well known famous reggae singers asking for visas are sometimes getting denied.Think it all started a few years back and there was a massive operation on clamping down on drugs mules.Drugs were getting in and heavily distributed especially in parts of London.After that we had change of government and even tighter control on who is getting through and who is not.Shame they do not check the vans lorries and other ways in as tightly!So the genuine people often get turned away.
Have you checked if you have to put up security for your friend?I am not sure if you have to pay it when just passing through but if holidaying in the UK you do check that
Does he not need a visa for malta?

[Sweets]

Thanks Markus - much appreciated.

Tic - No I don't think I have to put up security, when it comes to money I think it's all on him to be fair - I believe the only thing I might be able to do on my end is to write an invitation letter stating that he will stay with me, but that's about it - I think.

My biggest concern is that he gets turned down and loses the money paid for the flights and the flights needs to be booked and travel confirmation needs to be included in the visa application, so it just feels a bit risky.

Yes, he needs a visa to visit Malta, but I don't think the visit in Malta will be an issue, it seems a lot more straightforward

[TiCtOc]

OK Just double check on the security bond sweets one of my family had to put up a bond for FAMILY not even a friend.