Visas and Red Tape Information from Online Discounted Hotels

Visas and red tape
Citizens of all European countries — except Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria. Croatia Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and all the former Soviet Republics (other than the Baltic states) — can enter Britain with just a passport for up to three months (indefinitely if you’re from the European Union EU). US, Canadian, Australia’ New Zealand citizens can stay for up to six months, providing they have a return ticket and adequate funds to cover their stay. Citizens of most other countries require a visa, obtainable from the British consular or mission office in the country of application.

Note that visa regulations are subject to frequent changes, so it’s always wise to contact the nearest British embassy or high commission before you travel, or look at the Home Office’s website www.homeoffice.gov.uk , from which you can download the full range of application forms and information leaflets. In addition, an independent charity, The Immigration Advisory Service (lAS), County House, 190 Great Dover St, London SE1 4YB 020/7967 1200, www.iasuk.org ), offers free and confidential advice to anyone applying for entry clearance into the UK.

Customs and tax
Travellers coming into Britain directly from another European Union (EU) country do not have to make a declaration to customs at their place of entry. If you’ve bought the goods in a shop or supermarket within the EU and paid duty, you do not have to declare them. You’re allowed to bring as much alcohol and tobacco as you wish for your personal use. However, the general guideline limits for what is considered personal use are 90 litres of wine, 20 litres of fortified wine, 10 litres of spirits, 110 litres of beer, 3200 cigarettes or 3kg of tobacco. That said, tobacco restrictions remain in place for eight of the new member states — for more details, contact the HM Revenue & Customs (see * below).

If you are travelling from a non-EU country, you can still buy tax- or duty-free goods, but not within the EU. The duty-free allowances are as follows:

• Tobacco 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of loose tobacco.
• Alcohol 2 litres of still wine, plus 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of fortified, sparkling
  or still wine.
• Perfumes 60cc of perfume plus 250cc of toilet water.
• Other goods to the value of £145.
 

Longer stays
For stays of longer than six months, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens can apply to the British embassy or high commission (see above) in person or by post for an Entry Clearance Certificate. If you want to extend your visa, you should write, before the expiry date given in your passport, to the Immigration and Nationality Dept, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Ad, Croydon CR9 2BY (0870/606 7766).

Working visas
Unless you’re an EU resident, you need a work permit in order to work legally in the UK, although without the backing of an employer, these can be very difficult to obtain. Persons aged between 17 and 27 may, however, apply for a Working Entry Certificate, which entitles you to stay in the UK for up to two Years, during which if is permissible to undertake work of a casual nature (le, not in a Profession, or as a sportsperson or entertainer) The certificates are only available abroad, from British embassies and high commissions and when you apply you must be able to convince the officer you have a Valid return or onward ticket, and the means to support yourself while you’re in Britain. Note, too, that the certificates are valid from the date of entry into the UK.  You wont be able to recoup time spent out of the country during the two year period.

If you need any clarification on British import regulations, you should contact the *HM Revenue & Customs on 0845/010 9000, http://www.hmrc.gov.uk   . Pets from countries participating in the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) are allowed info Britain, providing their owners follow certain procedures; for more information, check the government website www.defra.gov.uk  or phone the helpline 1)0870/2411710.

VAT
Most goods in Britain are subject to Value Added Tax VAT), which increases the cost of an tern by 17.5 percent. Visitors from non-EU countries can save money through the Retail Export Scheme (tax-free shopping), which allows a VAT refund on goods taken out of the country. Note that not all shops participate in this scheme (those doing so will display a sign to this effect) and that you cannot reclaim VAT charged on hotel bills or Other services.

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