Indian Visa Offices Closed for 4 days

Applications for UK Visas will be taken right up until the 9th February 2010 and during the closure customers will still be able to collect their passports from the centres between 9 am to 10 pm, however no new applications will be taken.

Dan Chugg, Director of Press and Communications at the British High Commission said “applicants who intend to travel to the UK in February and March are advised to submit their visa applications as soon as possible. The UK Border Agency office in New Delhi and the customer enquiry email address will also be closed from February 11 to 15, after which the aim is to resume a normal visa service as quickly as possible”.

UK Visa applications taken in India are initially processed by VFS Global, a ‘specialist partner for diplomatic missions worldwide’. The organisation ‘manages all administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to the entire lifecycle of a visa application, enabling diplomatic missions to focus entirely on the key tasks of assessment and interview’. During the closure of the offices VFS Global will still be accepting applications in:

• Ahmedabad
• Banglore
• Chennai
• Cochin
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai (North)
• Mumbai (South)
• Pune

The technological improvements should improve the processing of large volumes of visa applications. By developing software systems for passport tracking, online scheduling etc VFS Global can facilitate more applications and provide a better service. In December 2009 the offices to receive IT improvements dealt with the following application volumes:

• New Delhi
  • Tier 1: 133 applications
  • Tier 2: 319 applications
  • Tier 4: 593 applications
  • Tier 5: 19 applications
• Chandigarh
  • Tier 1: 20 applications
  • Tier 2: 25 applications
  • Tier 4: 1,919 applications
  • Tier 5: 3 applications
• Jalandhar
  • Tier 1: 26 applications
  • Tier 2: 10 applications
  • Tier 4: 2150 applications
  • Tier 5: 7 applications
• Kolkata
  • Tier 1: 35 applications
  • Tier 2: 85 applications
  • Tier 4: 87 applications
  • Tier 5: 2 applications

Visa Processing Statistics

Each month Commonwealth Contractors compiles Visa Processing Statistics relating to Tier 1 (formerly HSMP), Tier 2 (formerly UK Work Permit), Tier 4 (Student) and Tier 5 (Temporary Workers) visa applications. The information relates to applications processed in India, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada.

We are very interested to receive feedback from recent Points Based System (PBS) applicants as to what current conditions are on the ground. If you have interesting information relating to the submission of an application, processing issues, delays etc please share your news with Commonwealth Contractors. We will share your information with the wider visa community.

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you.