OUTSOURCING OF VISA APPLICATIONS 

As a major step towards upgrading Visa services, the High Commission of India, London and the Consulates General of India in Birmingham and Edinburgh would be outsourcing the collection of visa applications and their delivery from the end of May 2008/beginning of June, 2008 (for exact dates, please see below).

          Since 2002, there has been a rapid expansion in the number of British nationals going to India for tourism, business, etc. In fact, the number of visas issued has almost doubled during this period. This has been a reflection of the growing Indo-British ties in all spheres of life. This has also been facilitated by the spurt in the number of Airline flights between India and the UK.

          Given the constraints of space and manpower, it was found that the High Commission and the Consulates General were unable to provide the environment for high quality services that they would have liked to provide. This was despite the fact that visas continued to be issued on the same day in most cases.

          This matter had been engaging the attention of the Indian authorities concerned for quite some time. It was, therefore, decided to outsource the collection and delivery process while the processing of visa applications including the decision to grant a visa or otherwise would continue to remain with the High Commission/Consulates General.

          VF Services (UK) Limited has been selected as the agency that would implement the visa outsourcing throughout the UK for Indian visas. The firm has considerable experience in handling visa applications. At present it is handling visa applications for 21 countries which include the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Thailand and Schenegen nationals. It has a modern IT driven on-line application and tracking system and is expected to provide value-added services.

          To ensure a smooth transfer of acceptance of visa applications and delivery of visas from the High Commission/Consulates General to VF Services (UK) Ltd., the outsourcing operations will be implemented in a phased manner.

          In the first phase, commencing May 29, 2008, two Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) will begin operations in London. In the second phase, beginning a week later, i.e., w.e.f. June 6, 2008, an IVAC will become operational in Birmingham. In the third phase, a third IVAC in London and another one in Edinburgh will also get operational.

          The VF Services (UK) Ltd. IVAC in Birmingham for accepting visa applications and return of documents will be located at the following address:-

                   VF Services (UK) Ltd.

                   (India Visa Application Centre)

                   20-21, Pemberton Street,

                   Jewellery Quarter, Hockley,

                   Birmingham B18 6NY.

          Visa applications can be submitted at the IVACs from 0830 hrs. to 1430 hrs. and documents can be collected from 1100 hrs. to 1600 hrs. on all working days (Monday to Friday).

          A service-fee of GB Pounds 06.90 plus prevailing VAT charges @ 17.5% per application will be charged by VF Services (UK) Ltd. Over and above the normal visa fee. Postal/courier/Bank/Agency charges, wherever applicable, will be additional, to be borne by the applicant.

          IVACs will provide the following services:-

          All postal applications from those in the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, Birmingham, and complete in all respects, should with effect from 6^th June, 2008 be addressed to the VF Services (UK) Ltd. At their address at 20-21 Pemberton Street, Birmingham B18 6NY.