by LAUREN CODLING
THE number of Indians visiting the UK is increasing year-on year, according to UK Government statistics.
UK Visas and Immigration have published figures showing the number of Indians visiting the UK is increasing year-on year.
Of the 2.1 million UK visitor visas granted in 2017, there was an 11 per cent increase in those granted to visitors from India (up 43,816 to 433,852).
The UK was among the top six destinations for which visa applications were processed from India in 2016 and 2017. The other countries were the US, Malaysia, Canada, China and the Schengen area, according to VFS Global, an outsourcing visa service for governments worldwide.
VFS Global revealed that there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of visa applications from India in 2017 (4.7 million), compared to 2016 (4.3 million). The figures also showed a 14 per cent increase in the number of outbound visa applications processed by VFS Global from India from January until June this year.
A straight-forward experience in securing a visa can have a significant impact on tourist or business travel choices, according to a study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Anirudh Pratap Singh, 40, is the COO of VFS Global Services in Europe and Americas. He explained to Eastern Eye that VFS Global’s aim is to make the process more streamlined and give clients a positive experience when applying for a visa.
That can, in turn, help clients to have a positive perception of the country they hope to visit.
“VFS Global developed on the base of the need of the client and in terms of what else they wanted us to do,” Singh explained.
The concept of VFS Global came about as a solution to the problems embassies faced working locally and accommodating customers. The company, which was founded in 2001, discussed with embassies what they needed from the service.
VFS Global began at the US embassy in Mumbai, and since then, has grown to become India’s largest visa service provider with 45 client governments.
It serves almost 60 governments around the world, including the UK, Japan, Germany, Russia and France. There are more than 2,600 application centres in 140 countries
across five continents.
Singh, who has worked with VFS Global since 2005, explained that the company’s expansion has meant more options for customers.
For instance, in April, VFS Global launched a Mobile Visa Application Centre (MVAC) in Thailand. Called a first-of-its-kind ‘visa application centre on wheels’, the MVAC aims to make the process easier, with technology tailored to register biometrics and accept visa applications remotely from any location.
The company also offers an ‘On Demand Mobile Biometrics’ service, to improve flexibility of the visa application experience for UK visa applicants in Qatar. A team will travel to a client’s home, taking down their details and biometrics, meaning they are able to avoid travelling to an embassy or application centre.
“There are different needs of different people,” Singh said.
However, he emphasised the need for tight security within the visa process. “Security is the most important aspect. You cannot compromise it for any person and you cannot have anything in place that compromises that,” he added.
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event