The British High Commission announced that all visa applications to the UK will be made online from May 19.
“From May 19, all applications under the UK’s points-based system will go online, including those for dependents, with all other applications online from Sunday 2 June 2013,” the high commission said in a press release today.
From these dates manually completed application forms will no longer be accepted, it said.
To make an application, “customers will simply visit www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk and submit their application online, following the guidance available in both Bangla and English. This will mean spending less time at the visa application centre as their information will have already been received and recorded before they visit”, the HC stated.
It also “allows relatives” to assist the applicants when they complete their application form online.
“Customers will then print out a copy of their completed application form and bring this with supporting documents to their nearest visa application centre in Dhaka or Sylhet. No appointment is needed unless using a premium service”.
As before, the centre will take applicants’ biometric details (finger scans and digital photograph). Customers can either pay the application fee during this visit or prepay at one of the designated branches of BRAC Bank, in which case the centre will ask for proof of payment.
Applicants without access to a computer connected to the internet and printer can arrange in advance to use equipment provided at the centre by the UK’s commercial partner, VFS Global, for a small fee.
They can submit their application and supporting documents at the same time, avoiding the need to visit the centre twice.
Full instructions on how to access the website and submit an application form will be on display. Applicants wishing to use this IT service can contact VFS at: Dhaka: [email protected], telephone +8802 9885132, and Sylhet: [email protected], telephone +880821 717570.
