Citation and commencement

1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) Order 2015.

(2) Articles 1, 2(1) and (13) of this Order come into force on 17th March 2015 and all other articles come into force on 24th April 2015.

Amendments to the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014

2. —(1)The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014( 2 ) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 2(1), for “paragraph (2), (3) or (4)”, substitute “paragraph (2), (3), (4) or (4A)”.

(3) After article 2(4) insert—

“ (4A) This paragraph applies to a person who holds—

(a) a passport; or

(b) another document that can be used (in some or all circumstances) instead of a passport;

which does not establish citizenship or nationality ” .

(4) In article 2(5)(b) omit “or”.

(5) After article 2(5)(c) insert—

“ ; or

(d) is a citizen or national of the territory of Taiwan. ” .

(6) In article 2(6) after the definition of “Approved Destination Status Scheme” insert the following definition—

“ “Convention Travel Document” means a document issued in accordance with Article 28 of—

(7) After article 4(a)( 6 ) insert—

“ (aa) an expired visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America provided it is less than six months since the transit passenger last entered that country with a valid visa; ” .

(8) For article 4(g) substitute—

“ (g) a valid temporary USA I-551 machine readable immigrant visa; ” .

(9) In article 4(l) for “United Kingdom to a” substitute “United Kingdom to that”;

(10) In article (4), in each of paragraphs (n), (o) and (p), after “a”, insert “valid”.

(11) In article 4(o) omit “or”.

(12) After article 4(p) insert—

“ (q) a valid diplomatic passport issued by Turkey;

(r) a valid alien’s passport issued by Estonia or Latvia;

(s) a valid Convention Travel Document; or

(t) a valid laissez-passer issued by the United Nations or the International Committee of the Red Cross. ” .

(13) In article 4, which is renumbered article 4(1), at the end, insert—

“ (2) Paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply where the transit passenger is a citizen or national of Syria holding a B1 or B2 visa for entry to the United States of America. ” .

(14) In article 4(2) after “Paragraph (1)(a)” insert “and (1)(aa)”.

(15) In article 4, at the end, insert—

“ (3) All documents listed in this article exclude versions held—

(a) in electronic format; or

(b) in hardcopy format which derives from electronic format

except where the document can be verified by the owner of the aircraft (or his employee or agent) in which the transit passenger intends to travel to the United Kingdom. ” .

(16) In Schedule 1—

(a) omit “China”; and

(b) after “Palestinian Territories” insert as a new entry “People’s Republic of China”.