Regional Manager for Gulf, Iran and Pakistan, United Kingdom's Border Agency based in the British High Commission in Islamabad, Ms Mandy Ivemy has informed that they were following the British Global Standard for visa processing. According to a press release, effective from May 1, British visas could be applied online. However, applicants were required to visit nearest application centers for giving finger impressions and submission of documents.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of commerce and Industry (KCCI), she informed that Pakistan is the 5th largest country to apply British visas. She stated that visa issuance ratio to Pakistanis was around 75 percent which was high by comparison with other countries.
She said the process had been improved and delays previously observed had now been removed. Priority visa was introduced for visitors who had visited UK in past two years, which would be processed in five working days, while the ordinary visa processing time was 15 working days.
The agency, she said, was in the process of further improving services. She also welcomed KCCI's suggestions in this regard. She said Pakistan was providing huge source of revenue in the shape of Pakistani students studying at UK. She said that her responsibility was associated with the delivery/issuance of visas. Every year Pakistanis make around one million journeys to the UK to meet their relatives, for business or education purposes.-PR