The UK's Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes has recently announced details of a new visa application submission process for people applying for a work or study visa, settlement or citizenship from within the UK. The new outsourced service will be managed by a single third party provider, Sopra Steria , and takes effect in October 2018.
The introduction of this new outsourced service follows the Home Office's gradual process of implementing online application forms for most application types in the UK, including Tier 2 work visas, settlement and citizenship applications. At the same time as submitting the application forms online, relevant fees are paid and a biometric appointment booked. Applicants have then attended either a Home Office visa application centre to submit their biometric data and deliver their documents or have submitted their application package by post or courier and attended a centre to submit their biometric data, when asked to do so.
There are three main changes under the new process:
1. A facility to upload the documents required for an application in advance of a biometric appointment.
2. The provision of over 60 locations for applicants to submit their biometric data and present original documents. All original documents, including the passport will be checked at the appointment and immediately returned to the applicant. The application will then be processed immediately by the Home Office.
3. There will no longer be premium service centre appointments at various offices around the UK, and the Tier 2 priority service will also cease. It's understood that a bespoke service will also be offered, similar to the current Super Premium Service, allowing applicants to submit biometric data at a location of their choosing. It's hoped that the new service will make the application process more efficient. Full details of turnaround times and fees will be published in the coming months.
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