Improved UK
Visa Application
Services for
the East

15 January 2015

UKVI: Breaking Down Barriers

UKVI, the Home Office department for UK Visas and Immigration, certainly seems to be following the Prime Minister’s plan for long-term economic growth with its recent efforts to improve customer service across the globe.

2014 has seen the Home Office responding to customer service questionnaires and taking action upon a myriad of points.

Various improvements have taken place across the globe over the course of 2014 but UKVI has recently concentrated its customer service efforts in the MEP (Middle East, Pakistan) and Asia Pacific regions of the world. Here, they responded to calls for regular updates on the progress of visa applications and a wish to see the application process made easier. Email updates are now being sent to applicants concerning the progress of their applications and the online application process has been streamlined. Online application services are now available in translation along with supporting documents accessible in 18 world languages.

UKVI has added many new locations to the list of UK VACs (Visa Application Centres) across the MEP and Asia Pacific regions and implemented a mobile ‘visa on demand’ service in China. An interview appointment process has also been put into place in China to help cut down waiting times for those who require a face-to-face interview.

Turning to the Priority Visa Services, UKVI has removed many of the previous restrictions surrounding access to these and expanded it to many locations across the Asia Pacific region, now making it available to a wider range of applicants. India and China have seen the introduction of the 24 hour Super Priority Visa Service during the year 2014 and it is planned to see this service rolled out to Thailand and the Philippines over the course of 2015.

Click here for further information on the improvements made to visa application services in MEP and Asia Pacific.

With UKVI lessening the barriers for those wishing to access the UK from the East, it is hoped that investment and growth between the UK and these Eastern regions will be actively encouraged. International business leaders, investors and wealthy tourists alike are among those who play a role in the Prime Minister’s plan to ‘back business, support investment and create jobs’ and these improvements to visa application centres and processes are certainly a step in the right direction. The message is loud and clear: Britain is open for business!

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