Visas to be allocated within 15 working days, says UK envoy

“Two months ago, I said that our aim was to get back to processing India to Great Britain visa applications within our standard time of 15 days by the end of this year... now, we have achieved that,” the message said.

UK visa, united kingdom visa, Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, Indian Express, India news, current affairs

Over the last few weeks, both countries have taken steps to ease visa issues for applicants on either side. Ellis called it “good news for the living bridge”, as people can move between India and the UK with much greater ease.

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The United Kingdom on Friday announced that the visit visas for Indians travelling to the country will now be allocated within 15 working days. “Good news for those travelling from India to UK – visit visas now within standard time of 15 working days (with a small number of trickier cases taking longer),” said Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, in a video message.

However, there are still “a few cases which take longer, very complex ones and that’s right that they do”, Ellis said in the message posted on Twitter, adding: “But this enables new people to move to India and the UK with much greater ease.”

A UK Standard Visitor visa is applicable in case of visiting family or friend; business trip; vacation; and a short course of study. There is also a priority visa option, which now has a turnaround time of five days, the UK said, adding that they have a big intake of student visas for the session starting in January 2023.

“Two months ago, I said that our aim was to get back to processing India to Great Britain visa applications within our standard time of 15 days by the end of this year… now, we have achieved that,” the message said.

Earlier this month, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami had announced that India is all set to resume the e-visa facility for British citizens travelling to India.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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