UK Border Agency’s Mobile Biometric Clinic launched in Goa
British High Commissioner, Sir James Bevan, Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Manohar Parrikar and Regional Head - South Asia, VFS Global, Mr Vishal Jairath, formally launched the UK Border Agency’s first Mobile Biometric Clinic (MBC) at Taj Vivanta in Goa today.
The MBC is a new and optional service which for an additional fee, allows applicants who are resident in Goa to submit their UK visa application and biometric data using a mobile facility in Goa. All visa applicants previously would have had to travel to Mumbai to lodge their applications. The new MBC service now offers the option to do this much closer to home. The Goa MBC is part of UKBA’s proactive approach to constant improvement in customer service.
Mr Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Goa, said:
The Mobile Biometric Clinic is a welcome initiative by the UK Border Agency and VFS Global, providing convenience to the citizens of Goa with the localised option of applying for a UK visa. The Government of Goa welcomes this initiative and hope that such novel service initiatives are organised more frequently in the state.
Sir James Bevan, British High Commissioner, said:
Britain welcomes Indian students, visitors, investors and business people. We aim to offer them the best visa service in India. Our visa operation here is the biggest in the world. We have the largest number of Visa Application Centres of any country in India - twelve. Most Indians who apply for a visa get one – nine out of ten.
We seek constantly to improve the service we offer. Last month the Prime Minister announced a new same day visa service for businessmen. Today we launch another new service – a mobile facility which allows Indians to submit their visa application and biometric data outside our current network of Visa Application Centres. For customers in Goa, it means they no longer have to travel to Mumbai to submit their applications. We will continue to look for other ways to improve the visa services we offer.
The MBC uses the UK Border Agency’s mobile Biometric Enrolment System (BES) equipment to take biometric data (finger scans and digital photograph). This service is delivered by the UK Border Agency’s commercial partner, VFS Global.
Mr Vishal Jairath, Regional Head - South Asia, VFS Global said:
We are proud of the success of this Mobile Biometric Clinic in Goa, and are confident that future clinics will prove to be increasingly beneficial for visa applicants from the state. VFS Global is honoured to be associated with the Government of UK since 2003, and privileged to be their trusted partner in 35 countries globally where we operate 75 visa application centres at key locations for the UK Border Agency. As a trusted partner, VFS Global is committed to providing the platform for innovative initiatives by the UK Border Agency, thus contributing in realising this strategy as a success story making travel to the UK easier.
Further Informaton:
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The Mobile Biometric Clinic is an initiative of the UK Border Agency to benefit customers in Goa.
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Further information about the service, and how to schedule an appointment, is available on the VFS website
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India is one of the UK’s biggest visa operations in the world: last year the UK Border Agency dealt with about 370,000 visa applications.
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Most Indians who apply for a UK visa get one: * Of over 370,000 visa applications processed in India last year, 88 % were successful. * Over 102,000 visitor visas were issued in 2012, 85% of those who applied were successful.
* Almost 56,000 Business visitor applications were received from Indians in India last year. 97% of these were issued -
Further information about the UK’s visa operation and guidance on applying for visas to work, visit and study
Marcus Winsley, Director,
Press and Communications,
British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021,
Tel: 44192100; Fax: 24192411
Mail to: Gaurav.Gurung@fco.gov.uk,
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