Britain to set up visa services network across India
Monday, 03 February 2003, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: The British High Commission in India has entered into an outsourcing agreement with a private sector firm to set up visa service offices in different parts of the country. Switzerland-based Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) will handle visa application procedures on behalf of the British High Commission, said Chris Dix, head (visa department) of the high commission. "This service has been developed as part of the British High Commission's continued commitment to make Britain's visa services more accessible to our customers," Dix told a press conference here Saturday. "These centres will improve our services further and completely change the way visa applications are processed," he added. Three new visa application centres will open for business Monday in New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh. More centres will be opened in other cities including Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. "We plan to have 10 visa offices, up from four now, by the end of this month," said Dix, adding that the British High Commission has invested "significant resources" in launching the project. "Customers will now be able to obtain a British visa without the need to make the often long and difficult journey to the British High Commission in New Delhi. "Instead they will be able to lodge their applications at one of the conveniently situated application centres much closer to their homes," he added. Dix said VFS would be responsible only for accepting applications and providing necessary advice and guidance. All visa applications will continue to be assessed by at the British High Commission. "Last year we issued more than 200,000 visas. This year we are certain we will cross the 250,000 application mark," Dix said.
Source: IANS
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