UK
Border Agency or UK visas
About
UK Border Agency or UK visas
Please
note: UK visas is now UK Border Agency
The
UK visa operation has offices in a hundred and forty six locations
throughout the world. The largest handled over 170,000 applications
in 2006/7; the smallest less than ten. UK Border Agency issued visas
to 81% of those who applied. They processed 66% of visa applications
within 24 hours. This is a record of which they are proud, but they
aim to do even better.
UK
Border Agency have already introduced new initiatives such as working
with commercial partners to enable them to handle sharply increasing
demand while also improving customer service. Their online application
system, Visa4UK, has improved convenience and reduced processing
times for customers and is now available in many overseas posts.
They continually review the whole customer visa experience as they
introduce new measures to ensure that they achieve their goals of
supporting community cohesion and improving the United Kingdom's
competitiveness as a destination.
In
2007 they implemented biometrics in their overseas posts, enabling
them to take the fingerscans and digital photograph of every visa
applicant. This enables them to fix their identity when they apply
for a visa and improve their service to low-risk customers who will
experience a faster, more effective service and are better protected
against identity theft. They have also continued the expansion of
their overseas risk assessment network, which identifies emerging
trends or visa abuse through the development of analytical and profiling
tools. Biometrics and risk assessment are key parts of their programme
to strengthen the UK's border.
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