Online visas to the UK from April 5

The number of travellers to the UK from Sri Lanka has grown during the past few years for business and for other purposes, the UK said, announcing a new online visa facility. 
“We are proud to announce the On Demand Mobile Visa (ODMV) service to Sri Lanka from April 5 where UK -bound travellers will no longer need to visit a VFS Global centre to submit their visa application,” said the Head of Operations -South Asia VFS Global Prannav Singha at the launch of ‘On Demand Mobile Visa Service’ held at the Galle Face Hotel Colombo on Thursday. 
"We will make sure that we bring the Visa Application Centre to your office or home to make it convenient.”
He said the Biometrics and the photograph essential to process the visa application will be done at the same location. The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives James Dauris said the online visa facility will make it easy for Sri Lankans especally businesspersons and tourists to travel to the UK. 
He said there is a marked increase of Sri Lankans visiting the UK and around 200,000 thousand British Passport holders visit Sri Lanka. 
Regional Director South and South East Asia UK Visas and Immigration Nick Crouch said they decided to bring the On Demand Mobile Visa Service to Sri Lanka which is not a cheap product as such. Meanwhile Sri Lankans opting for the ODMV service can book an appointment to submit their visa application from the comfort of their homes or offices. A VFS Global representative will then visit the location of the applicant’s choice to complete the visa submission process including biometric enrolment. (JJ)