The British High Commission on Friday announced that the Gerry's International will reopen UK's Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Karachi and Lahore on October 8 and 13 respectively, which were closed after suicide attack on Marriott hotel last month.
The Islamabad and Mirpur Visa Application Centres will remain closed until proper security arrangement are put in place at these centres satisfying the High Commission authorities after which it will give the reopening dates for these centres, the sources said. According to sources in the British High Commission, security at these centres is currently being reviewed to ensure the safety of the applicants.
They further informed that applicants or persons who are interested in seeking information to apply for British visa should contact the call centre (phone number 0900 10411) from a landline or 8865 from a mobile/cell phone to get an appointment date at their nearest VAC, as no person without an appointment date will be entertained or given access. Those, who have applied for visas will be contacted by the High Commission authorities directly with instructions for passport collection on completion of their application processing, they maintained.
The applicants have been advised to visit the Gerry's website at www.ukvacpk.com or contact the call centre on the above mentioned numbers, for further information about applying for British visa, they added. The High Commission also made it clear that if any person is in urgent need of travelling to the UK in case of death or illness of a close family member, he/she is advised to contact the call-centre, which will pass the details of the concerned person to the High Commission and arrangements will be made if emergency is genuine in nature.