VFS Global inaugurates new Visa utility centres in Lagos
By Taiye Olayemi
VFS Global has inaugurated a brand new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Nigeria to boost visa utility expertise for travellers.
Mr Marc Owen, Director for Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), disclosed this in a press release on Sunday in Lagos.
According to Owen, VFS was just lately awarded the contract to offer UK visa companies in 142 nations worldwide.
“VFS Global is proud to announce that residents of Nigeria, travelling to the UK can now guide appointments to submit their visa functions by VFS Global’s new state-of-the-art Visa Application Centres (VAC).
“These are situated in Abuja; Ikeja and Victoria Island in Lagos. The centres have commenced operations from Nov. 19 2024.
“The opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an thrilling milestone for UKVI and VFS Global within the provision of a world-class UK visa service right here in Nigeria and elsewhere throughout Africa.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225 thousand UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all applicants,” he mentioned.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, mentioned, “I’m delighted to witness the opening of the biggest visa utility centre in Africa.
“Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS deliver ever improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.”
Also, Mr Alok Singhal, Head, Sub-Saharan Africa, VFS Global mentioned, “We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration right here in Nigeria.
“We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and look forward to now bringing travellers from Nigeria our best-in-class services.”
Singhal famous that the UK is a well-liked vacation spot for travellers throughout Africa, with Nigeria being within the high 4 nationalities by quantity for UK go to visas, accounting for 5 per cent of the worldwide complete.
He mentioned within the African area, VFS Global would additionally present visa utility centres for the UK in 31 nations.
According to him, visa prospects can now select from optionally available companies supplied by VFS Global, to offer enhanced consolation and comfort.
“These embrace doc add help, prime time for utility submission outdoors of enterprise hours, SMS notifications, doc checking service, and courier return of the passport as soon as a choice has been made.
“VFS Global’s “Keep My Passport While Applying service” permits prospects to maintain their passports as soon as their utility is submitted and biometrics have been enrolled.
“Customers will solely have to re-submit their passport when a choice is reached.
Customers in Abuja may submit their UK visa functions from the consolation and security of their house, workplace, or every other most well-liked location with our On Demand Mobile Visa service.
“Our Premium Lounge service provides personalised submission expertise with devoted employees members.
“These services are completely optional and have no bearing on the processing timeline and outcomes of visa applications.”
Singhal famous that as a associate to UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, VFS Global supplied visa companies in 58 nations earlier than the brand new contract and has now been awarded the contract to offer UK visa companies in 142 nations worldwide.
