Super priority visa to Britain, thumbs up from India’s business people
The Super Priority Visa for Britain, that is issued on same day at a huge price tag, almost Rs. 60,000 more than the original cost of visa is not a deterrent for the Indians. The business community of India have no hassle in shelling out the extra 600 pounds to obtain Britain’s super priority visa.
According to the statement made by Nick Crouch, regional director of UK Visas and Immigration, to the Times of India, the total number of SPV’s issued to Indians has been calculated as almost 1300, since it was started in 2013. In 2015, the visa numbers are almost “68% up from the same period the year before,” show the visa records of this year’s first six months. The rush for visas is heavy and Delhi and Mumbai were left behind by the Chennai crowd in applying for the Super Priority Visa.
In 2013, Britain commenced this novel practice and the endeavor of Super priority Visa, was first started in India in 2013. In his last visit to the Indian subcontinent, David Cameron , The British Prime Minister announced that visas could be obtained within 24 hours but after paying a suggested amount. These SPV’s were launched in Delhi, Mumbai and then Chennai took it over. Britain then announced the same for other countries like China, Brazil, UAE , South Africa and Turkey.
According to Crouch “We are always looking at ways to improve the visa service and regularly take on feedback from the business and tourism sectors. This year we opened the new standalone Premium Lounge in Gurgaon in response to feedback from business stakeholders and we will continue to look for new locations to open visa application centers”.
He further added “We are currently trialing new chargeable services which include walk-in appointments, appointments for large groups and assistance for customers for filling in their application forms online. Again many of these services were suggested to us by travel agents keen to make it easier for their customers to apply for their UK visas. Around 9 out of 10 Indian nationals who apply for their UK visa get one.”
The normal cost of the short term business visa is about Rs 6650 and the visa is valid for about 6 months, or one can gain a single entry, or multiple entries into the country under this. The long term visas- the ten year validity visa is Rs 60,900 and the visa valid for 5 years costs nearly Rs 42,200 state the figures got from the Home office.
Officials report that many Indians apply for the visa and most of them get it. About 400,000 visa applications are processed each year for the U.K. The huge trade advantage between India and U.K are the reason for the largest visa operation between the two countries. Nearly 70,000 business visas on an average were obtained by Indians in a year for the last 5 years. In 2012, almost 69,600 applications were received by the Home office officials and out of these 67,400 business visas were issued making the approval rate for business visas as approx 97% and after calculating the visit applications approval visit visas were accounted at 86%.
The SPV service will be made available for the two year multiple entry visitor visas or the six-month visit visa but not for the student visit visas. The service will also be made available to people who have travelled to any one of these countries- New Zealand, U.K., U.S, any Schengen country or Australia without any complications. Applications rendered by People related in any manner or members of the UK Trade and Investment in India managed Business Express Programme, who are registered in the capacity of official business visitor , will also be considered.
