UKBA unveils new premium service for UK visas

United Kingdom, 7th April: UK Border Agency has launched a new super premium service for a few types of UK visas from 6th April, 2010 onwards.

However, there will be a special fee to be charged by the UKBA (UK Border Agency) from the prospective applicants for the UK visas for offering such premium service at their door step, the agency revealed. For this, an official of the UKBA will come at the place chosen by you for processing of the application for the UK visa and will charge a fee of £15,000 per application including fee for dependants.

The applicant desirous of obtaining UK visa by availing such service will have to provide all the biometric information needed by the UKBA official including a photograph (of the applicant) and his fingerprints.

The special fee, it is being argued, is undoubtedly the highest ever fee to be charged by the UK Home Office for any of their services till now but the good point is that the decision will be announced within a short span of 24 hours.

Meanwhile, subject to certain immigration categories stated by the UK immigration, this special Super Premium UK visa service is, at present, only available for those residing in South of England and London. However, later, it will be extended to cover applicants for UK visas at all places in the UK.

Following are the categories for which such special premium service can be availed-----------

• Those applying for extension of their UK Tier 2 visa and UK Tier 4 visa under the Points-Based System and for categories in which application forms FLR(BID), FLR(M), and FLR(BUS) are required;

• Those applying for transfer of their residence permit to any new passport by using TOC application form;

• An academic visitor applying for an extension;

• A visitor applying for an extension for private medical aid;

• Any one applying as a civil partner or on the basis of marriage or unmarried/same-sex partner of a permanent resident;

• Those applying as a retiree of independent means;

• Those applying as a sole representative;

All the above categories require an ICFN (Identity Card for Foreign Nationals) as part of the whole process. 

Who cannot avail Super Premium Service-------

• Those applying for UK citizenship or UK permanent residency; and

• Those applying for an extension of their UK visa under non-ICFN category.