We have introduced new systems for issuing visas for the UK in Japan recently, and things have not gone as smoothly as we had hoped.
The new Points Based System for visa applications to the UK in theory will make the process much quicker and simpler. Most Japanese visitors do not need a visa anyway. Those that do will usually fall into Tier 2 (skilled worker that includes intra company transfers which must be accompanied by a Certificate of Sponsorship) or Tier 4 (for students). The website of our commercial partner VFS Global, handling visa applications, sets out the documents that need to be submitted. Understandably, perhaps, in the first stages of a new process, not everybody presents the right documents, which can mean delay.
We used to issue visas in the Embassy in Tokyo, but from January, this work was moved to the British Embassy in Manila. This "hub and spoke" arrangement will apply to other British Embassies in East Asia. This means that the documents that accompany the visa applications will be couriered to Manila and returned with the application once it has been processed. The process is totally secure. But the new arrangements have taken some time to settle down, and, in spite of all the efforts of our excellent colleagues in Manila, visas have taken longer to issue than was the case before. We're tackling this, with their help, and with the help of the UK Border Agency in London (who are responsible for this work), and the process is speeding up. But I have received more complaints than I should have liked while this has been happening.
I'm talking about this on my blog for two reasons. Japanese readers planning to visit the UK will want to know what the requirements are and ensure that they let the visa application centre have the right documents. And I think that a blog should talk about problems and things that haven't gone smoothly as well as celebrate the things that have. Protecting the UK's borders is crucial. But so is maintaining the UK as a friendly and supportive environment for Japanese investors and travellers. We're determined to ensure that we do this.
Posted at 10:01 26 May 2009 by David Warren | Comments[0]
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