Now, UK and Ireland on one visa

The Indian tourism market is of top priority for the UK government, says Nick Crouch, Regional Director for UK Visas & Immigration, South & Southeast Asia. Crouch tells how the UK visa process has been simplified and how the launch of a new video can help

How many visit visas have been processed this year?

For visit visas which covers the tourist visas and business visits we have issued 350,000 visas during July 2014June2015, which represents a 15 per cent increase as compared to previous year. The percentage increase is a proof that India is a top priority tourism market for the UK. There are three big processing centres – Delhi, Chennai and two in Mumbai. We have also launched more visa application centres this year, one being in Gurgaon and the other in Jaipur. We have increased the frequency of temporary enrollment in Goa and are expanding, making it easier for people to apply.

has the visa process been simplified?

We have launched a video as a global initiative which will help travel agents understand the visa process better. It explains the visa application process and breaks the myth that it is difficult and complicated. It is a simple 5 step process. To apply for visa, one has to go online, fill the application form, gather all relevant documents and visit the visa centre for a biometric pro

` cessing. A visa fee of £84 or 8,400 (exchange rate subject to fluctuation) has to be paid for the processing and the documents can be collected or returned to the applicant via courier.

explain the BIVS Scheme?

This scheme, only applicable for Indians and Chinese nationals, allows travellers to visit UK and Ireland on one visit visa. This is a new product that we launched and have received positive response from agents, VisitBritain and the Irish Tourism Board. The British Irish Visa Scheme allows the holder of such a visa issued by the country of first arrival thereafter to travel freely between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, for the duration of that visa. Also if they are returning to Ireland following a visit to the UK, they will not require a re-entry visa and vice versa.

is the passport passback scheme?

The passport passback scheme allows the applicant to retain the passport after payment of a convenience fee while the visa processing takes place. This is very helpful for those who have applied for two visas or travel a lot for work and need their passports while the UK Visa is being processed. After completion of biometric process the traveller can take the passport with them. Once a decision has been made to sanction UK visa at one of the processing hubs, they can bring the passport to get the visa stamped. The convenience fee to be paid for the service is £40

` or 4000.

there any services available to further expedite the processing of visa applications?

The super priority visa scheme is now a global product, being offered in most countries but India was the first location where the UK launched it. Across the spend 24 hours in the UK or the night of the next day without a UK visa. If you are travelling by air, you can travel without a transit UK visa to anywhere in the world if you have a valid visa for USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, or an e-residence permit and/or Irish biometric visa. Someone with an Irish BIVS visit visa can transit the UK visa free either airside or landside so long as they have an onward flight that leaves on the day they arrive or before midnight on the day after.

do you work with travel agents to increase business?

This year we actively attended majority of the VisitBritain roadshows and conducted webinar series for agent training. During the roadshows we made sure that the visa section was up to date and helpful