UK Embassy in Manila Extends Priority Visa Service for Seafarers

UK Embassy in Manila Extends Priority Visa Service for Seafarers

All business visitors and seafarers, plus an enlarged group of general and family visitors are now eligible to use the priority visa service in the Philippines with an estimated turnaround time 3 working days or less for applicants applying at UK Visa Application Centres in Manila and Cebu.

These premium services are part of a suite of enhancements, to the UK visa service, which aim to provide customers with a greater choice and flexibility. The priority service, first launched in May 2012, has proven extremely successful with over 1300 applicants taking up the service to date.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie said:

“We’re committed to providing an excellent visa service in the Philippines and will continue to look for ways to make the process as fast, fair and efficient as possible. The priority visa service has been especially welcomed by those travelling on business and we are pleased to be able to extend the service to even more applicants.”

The priority service is available to those eligible applicants who pay an additional fee to have their visa application processed ahead of others. The UK Border Agency aims to turn around priority applications within 3 working days for applicants applying at UK Visa Application Centres in both Manila and Cebu. Priority visa fee is 4200 PHP

A Prime Time appointment service for the convenience of customers is also available to applicants who pay a fee to lodge their visa application and provide biometrics at the visa application centre in Manila on a Saturday. Prime Time appointments must be made online. Applicants who have documents ready for pick-up are also able to collect these between 9 am and 12noon on Saturdays at no charge.

The eligibility criteria for general and family visitors has been extended to include those who have travelled in the previous 5 years to the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or a country in the Schengen area.

More info

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UK Embassy, February 1, 2013