Same day visa service launched in India and VIP mobile visa service introduced for Chinese travellers
The Home Office yesterday launched its first same day visa service in Delhi and Mumbai making it easier for Indian business travellers to visit the UK.
According to the Home Office, the super priority visa is the first of its kind to be launched by the Home Office and the service will cost £600 in addition to the price of the visa. There are plans to expand the scheme to Chennai in the next few weeks.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "This government is committed to encouraging international business to invest in Britain. India and Britain have a long history of trade and we run our largest visa operation in the world there. We are delighted to be able to launch our first same day visa service in Delhi and Mumbai, and make our world class visa service even better."
In related news, Mark Harper today addressed key tourism and retail groups today to "debunk myths about the UK's visa service in China," according to the Home Office.
The Home Office says that a VIP mobile visa service has been introduced for Chinese business travellers where applicants can apply for their visa and provide their biometric information to a visa officer who comes to their place of work.
According to the Telegraph, the scheme is one of several measures introduced this month following calls from UK business leaders to make it easier for Chinese investors and tourists to come to Britain, amid claims bureaucratic visa rules are costing this country £1.2bn in lost income.
The Telegraph notes that the service comes at a price - costing £1,080 to process between one and 10 applications during one 60 minute visit.