Indian nationals were the largest group to receive UK visas for Visit, Study and Work categories in the year ending June 2024

Indian nationals were the largest group to receive UK visas for Visit, Study and Work categories in the year ending June 2024, said HE Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India at the inauguration of the new state-of-art UK visa application facility operated by VFS Global in Delhi on 12 November 2024.

UK visa customers from India will now enjoy a smoother process. At VFS Global UK Visa Application Centres (VACs), biometrics will be enrolled first, followed by document scanning for non-digital customers. This change reduces wait times and enhances service under the global UK visa services contract secured by VFS Global in December 2023. Many VACs have also relocated or upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities across India.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India said: “The UK-India partnership is built on millions of personal connections, shared dreams, and collective aspirations. I’m delighted to launch the refurbished VFS Visa Application Centre for UK visa and passport applications in Delhi. We’re introducing significant improvements in our visa services across India, further strengthening our already excellent visa offering for Indian nationals. The vast majority of Visit, Work and Study visa applications we receive are processed within 3 weeks and there are no caps on visa appointments.”

Matt Heath, Visits & ETA Network Deputy Director, UK Visas and Immigration, remarked, “I am delighted to be here, in Delhi, to inaugurate this visa application centre, we extend our sincere thanks to VFS for their outstanding support in facilitating close to a million visa applications for Indian nationals in the recent year ending June 2024.

For the last two years, UKVI has consistently met our customer service standards, making visa decisions for visit, work or study routes within 15 working days for standard applications, 5 working days for priority applications, and an impressive 1 working day for super priority applicants. I’m pleased to report that VFS consistently offer biometric appointments for UK visa applicants within 5 working days. In fact, the current waiting time is a mere 1 to 2 working days. This is a testament to our commitment to providing swift and efficient services.

I’d also like to emphasise that UKVI does not cap appointments at the front end. We consistently have appointments available for customers at our visa application centres, ensuring flexibility and convenience for all applicants.

Looking ahead, the UK Government is moving towards a ‘digital by default’ immigration system by 2025, introducing eVisas to enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the security and efficiency of our immigration system. While we’re excited about these innovations, we’re also committed to ensuring the safety and security of all visa applicants. I urge everyone to stay vigilant against visa fraud. Remember, UKVI will never contact you through social media, ask for payment by email or into a personal bank account, or guarantee visa offers in exchange for payment to third parties.”

Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global said, “We are deeply humbled by UKVI’s continued faith and support and are excited to welcome travellers to the UK at this new facility. Our partnership with UKVI and the British High Commission has grown from strength to strength through our 21 years of association here in India, and their steadfast partnership encourages us to keep putting our best foot forward in providing UK visa services across our locations of operations.”

VFS Global’s UK Visa Application Centres in eight cities across India have relocated to new, larger premises – Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mysuru and Kochi.

Additionally, travellers can visit one of the 13 Premium Application Centres across India in Amritsar, Bhopal, Calicut, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Indore, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Mohali, Nasik, Noida, Shimla and Vizag. These centres provide additional optional touchpoints for customers looking for further comfort and convenience in their application process.

UKVI has also urged travellers to follow its official X (previously Twitter) handle @UKVIgovuk to be wary of scammers fleecing unsuspecting customers.