INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - JANUARY 16^th - JANUARY 31^st - 2008

VFS GLOBAL BAGS VISA PROCESSING OPS IN UK

VFS Global, a division of Kuoni Travel India, has been awarded the contract for visa processing services by the High Commission of India in the UK. The UK visa operations are the largest handled by any Indian mission overseas. "We expect to roll out visa application services in around 7-8 offices across the UK by April. So far, the Indian High Commission issues visas in London and through the consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh," VFS Global VP, business development and marketing, Ajit Alexander said.

"We will open three offices in London at Southall, Finchley and Waterloo and others at Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow. Applicants can also use our online facilities or send across their application forms to our offices," Mr Alexander said. The visas will be issued within 24 hours or even sooner in cases of emergency. Along with the visa fee of £50, applicants will now have to pay an additional £6.90 as service charges.