The British Visas and Immigration have announced plans to make the UK visa process for Bangladeshis “safer, more modern and more efficient” by introducing the option to use card and online transactions to pay for visa application. Beginning from Tuesday, this change improves the previous model, where cash was the only way to pay for a UK visa application, giving customers greater choice during this process.
According to the British High Commission in Dhaka, almost 25,000 Bangladeshis were granted a UK visa across all categories last year – a 26 percent increase on the previous year. In addition, almost 85 percent of Bangladeshi customers receive a decision in 15 working days or less. “As more and more Bangladeshis choose the UK as a place to visit and study, this announcement can give them extra confidence that the UK system is modernising, efficient and secure,” the High Commission said.
“The UK Government knows how much interest the UK visa system can generate in Bangladesh, and that is why we want to be sure that system is as efficient as possible,” High Commissioner Robert Dickson was quoted as saying in a statement. “This announcement is a key part of that goal. By adding modern, digital payment methods to our visa service, we can give customers choice in how to pay and confidence to our customers that their money is safe and secure.”
This project is part of a six-month pilot in partnership with UKVI’s commercial partner VFS. Customers will still be able to use cash during this time and the Home Office will seek Bangladeshi views to ensure any feedback is built into any further plans.
