British Embassy outsources Visa Services

[wowpow]

British Embassy announces changes to visa-application proces
From the Letters section of todays The Nation
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As part of our commitment to continually improve our visa services, the British Embassy has entered into a partnership with VFS (Thailand) Ltd to expand arrangements for the receipt and return of visa applications.

From April 21, applications for all categories of UK visas should be made at:

UK Visa Application Centre 2nd Floor, Regent House183 Rajdamri Road Kwaeng Lumpini, Khet Pathumwan Bangkok, 10330

Opening hours: submission - 8.30am to 3pm; collection - 3pm to 4.30. The office is situated within five minutes walk of BTS Rajdamri.

Most straightforward visa applications submitted through the Application Centre will be processed within two working days. A service charge of Bt425 (plus 7 per cent VAT) per passport will be levied.

It is appreciated that the service charge is an increased cost to a visa application, but it is hoped this will be offset by the convenience, comfort and efficiency that the new system and premises provide.

The Visa Section at the British Embassy will be closed from April 19 to 21 to prepare for outsourcing.

VFS, operators of the UK Visa Application Centre, are an experienced company offering visa support services to British and other diplomatic missions in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the People's Republic of China, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, among others.

British Embassy

Bangkok

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The visa section at the British Embassy in Bangkok was quite porous as it were. Why should the government in London talk about increased security while weakening it's entry processes?

Bashers of the British Embassy who hope for an improvement in the attitude of staff when applying for a visa should be aware that this move presents an added layer of between you and someone who will actually make a decision about a Visa. VFS have been running the processing for the Australian Embassy in Bangkok for several months now. The previous process was:
1 Turn up at embassy with passport, application form and fee
2 Hand in application
3 Pay visa fee
4 Wait an hour or two or three
5 Get passport back, with or without visa, having spoken with someone who is actually employed by the Australian Embassy

The new process is
1 Turn up at VFS
2 Get turned away because you don't have a photocopy of the photo page of the passport (carefully not included in the instructions)
3 Return minutes or hours later having found a photocopying machine
4 Hand in application
5 Pay visa fee
6 Pay processing fee
7 Receive back the photocopy of the photo page of the passport as a receipt for lodgement
8 Wait one week
9 Check Internet link provided or call up VFS to check passport is back
10 Turn up at VFS again
11 Get passport back, with or without visa, never having spoken with someone who is actually employed by the Australian Embassy

VFS are merely a handling agent and cannot give any advice or help on the application. It's a way for the Embassy to "increase security" or, more likely, clear out the riff-raff. All at no cost to the Embassy, since you now have to pay a "handling fee" which is VFS' cut and covers the cost of the VFS rent and the VFS staff etc. direct to VFS