short visit to England on a Swiss Schengen Visa Type-D

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
I am a telecommunications engineer and a professional from India, have come to Switzerland for a 3.5 month deputation... I would really like to visit my brother and his family in Reading, England, atleast once till I'm here in Europe... am beginning to apply for a UK Visa online... however I had a few doubts for which I have sent a separate email to the consulate in Geneva/Zurich, but I thought I might as well ask the folks around here...

I hold a valid Work Permit and a Schengen Visa Type-D which reads as:

Valid for: Suisse + 1 transit Schengen

Type: D

Number of entries: Multiple

I was wondering whether this visa would allow me to step out and back in of the Schengen states for my intended visit to the UK. It is the "1 transit Schengen" word which is confusing me, although the "Multiple" entries sort of reinforces my confidence... any help in understanding this will be appreciated.

2
Hi, unfortunately you need a separate visa to visit your family as UK is not part of Schengen area

http://www.mediavisa.net/schengen-area.php

3
hey there Aleydis,

I am sure you meant it all in the best spirit, but I am not all that uninformed as you might think... I did mention that I will be applying for a separate UK visa in my post...

anyhow, the main purpose behind the post was to enquire whether I would be able to re-enter Switzerland on my current visa once I am back from England (provided I get my UK visa and make the trip to Reading)... hence I detailed out what my Visa read as.

if you have any pointers on this then please do reply again.

4
That wasn't the question asked; the OP said that a UK visa was being applied for. The OP asks if the visa, which seems to allow for one transit in Schengen but is multiple entry into Switzerland, in fact allows such multiple entries.

One has to wonder what the "1 transit Schengen" means in the context of a multiple-entry visa. But Googling '"1 transit schengen" multiple entry' shows that this is the normal form of visa, and presumably means that once you have entered the final country it is redundant.

5
I am not an immigration lawyer, but it would seem to me that if you go direct from CH to UK, then at no point will you transit any (other) part of the Schengen zone, and, coupled with your multiple entry to CH, once you've got your UK visa, you'll be free to go and return.

You really need to get this clarified with Swiss immigration. No-one else is qualified. Even if they give you advice based on what they've done, if you're unsure - check it out. The consequences of getting wrong are fairly severe!

6
thanks for your view/s... I did write to the UK consulate as I mentioned, and they sent a response today itself... however the reply does seem a bit automated with so much general content along with just one line of specific information dealing with my case...

Maybe I'm getting paranoid for not much reason... but yeah,

This makes more sense, as the answer would lie with the Swiss immigration rather than the UK consulate, cause my query is about re-entering Swiss... shall write to them too...

7
hey Andy,

pardon my ignorance, but what's an OP?

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OP - Original Post/Poster

9
If your permit is being processed you should be able to get a re-entry visa from the migration office along with an attestation for the UK embassy. It is also a type D visa and you can easily get a multiple entry type if you say you intend to travel more than once.

Since the visa you have already says multiple entry maybe you dont have to get a new one as long as you are taking a direct UK-Switzerland flight. Best to check with the migration office.

10
Varun,

Usually a D visa is issued in order to get the Work permit. Multiple entries lets you leave the Switzerland and re-enter, only resitriction is the validity. So if your D visa is valid beyond your intended UK trip you would have no issues in re-entering Switzerland. You would need a permit for entering a different country. ( UK - you have applied, Schengen if needed or transiting through the Schengen area)

Your work permit also by itself permits free movement in the Schengen area (and re-entry) during its validity, so I am a bit confused. Have you already been issued a permit.

11
perfect!

almost all the information that I'd ever need... now if somebody could help me with the cheapest form of travel from Bern till London with all nearby airports included, and what sort of deals I could get on which airlines, then it'd be almost complete...

12
normally, normally, a travel agent can help you.

But since you ask, you can hitch a ride on the underside of a truck - I am told it is not very expensive if you do not inform the driver. Now where you can find such a truck is something you can ask in your next post

http://www.easyjet.com from zurich, train from bern to zurich will be a little more expensive than the truck thingamaling

13
would it take the same chunnel as the Eurostar?!

thanks again for the easyjet.com tip... I figured out it is the best option through some of those air-tickets websites

14
You forgot "carry my bags to and from the airplane".

15
hahaha...

thanks for the offer Shorrick...

I guess I did sound like information-ally handicapped with all my Qs when there is the world-wide-web to help me... the same path I took to land up here!

but what if the bags are heavy? ummm...

16
Apologies! Indeed I misunderstood the question. All the best getting your trip organized.