UK Visas and Immigration introduced a new in-country visa application system on 02 November 2018 made within the UK.
As a result of this online application process, Premium Service Centres will close on 29 November 2018 (only limited appointments will be made available until 09 January 2019 for certain applications).
How was the old system?
The old application system is divided into two categories, namely postal applications and applications which are made in person, i.e. Premium Applications.
1. Postal applications
These are also known as paper applications. Regardless of how the application was filled, either online or on the paper form, the applicant would then be required to send the application to the Home Office by post with his/her supporting documents.
The key difference between a paper and an online application form was the date of application. The date of application is the date you send the application to the Home Office. This is the date you send the paper application form to the Home Office or the date you submit the application online.
It is a requirement that, for the postal applications, that an applicant attends a participating Post Office to enrol their biometric information. Failure to register biometric information would mean an invalid application to the Home Office.
2. In Person applications
With in-person applications, the date of submitting the application is the date an applicant attend the Premium Service Centre appointment to submit his/her application. On the date of his appointment, the application would submit his application along with his supporting documents and also enrol his biometric information there.
Premium applications cost an additional £610, and the application would be decided on the same day (in most cases).
What is the new visa application system and what does it involve?
Under the new system, the applications are only completed online. The application fee including the biometric enrolment fee is also paid online.
After submitting the application, the applicants are then redirected to Sopra Steria’s website to book an appointment to attend a VCAS centre in person, where they will register their biometric information.
The applicant can upload all the supporting documents for the application online when submitting the application. They can also scan their documents at the appointment at VCAS with an additional fee. The applicants will be able to keep their original documents, including their passports, whilst their application is pending with the Home Office.
The above, however, does not mean that all the applications will be decided on the same day of the appointment. If an applicant wants his application to be expedited, he will have to pay an additional fee. There are 3 different services available to the applicants:
- Standard service – under this service, the applications will be decided within the current timeframe, which is 6 months or 8 weeks from the date of application, depending on the application type.
- Priority service – under this service, the applications will be decided within 10 working days (until the end of November 2018) or in 5 working days (starting from December 2018).
- Super-priority service – under this service, the applications will be decided on the next working day.
There are 4 different types of centres for different applicants:
- 6 core service centres (they offer free appointments);
- 50 enhanced service centres (they offer charged appointments);
- 1 premium lounge centre (they offer an upgraded service);
- 7 dedicated Service and Support Centres (SSC) (these will open in January 2019 and will offer services to those who need more support with their applications). SSCs will be for:
- People applying under a family route;
- People applying to join as a dependant;
- People applying for a family reunion;
- People applying on the basis of statelessness;
- People who qualify for a fee waiver or fee exemption;
- People applying under the domestic violence route;
- People making further submissions having their asylum claim being refused;
- People who are only required to enrol their biometric information.
It should be noted that the new system is not open to all applicants yet.
Categories in the new visa application system
Customers in the UK seeking to remain in the UK or to settle permanently on the following routes will be eligible to use the new service UK Visa Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) from 9th November 2018, the appointment booking will open on 2nd November 2018:
- Tier 1 (Investor)
- Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer): graduate trainee
- Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer): long-term staff
- Tier 2 (Minister of Religion
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
- Tier 4 (General) student
- Tier 4 (Child) student
- Tier 5 (Temporary Worker)
- PBS Dependant – partner
- PBS Dependant – child
- Member of HM forces or their dependents
- Turkish Businessperson or Worker
- Dependant partner of a Turkish Businessperson or Worker (ECAA 3 – Dependant Partner)
- A dependent child of a Turkish Businessperson or Worker (ECAA 3 – Dependent Child)
- Settle or extend your leave in the UK – Turkish ECAA categories only
- Settle in the UK – long residence
- Settle in the UK – child
- Settle in the UK – partner of a person or parent of a child already settled in the UK
- Settle in the UK – HM forces category
- Settle in the UK – refugee or humanitarian protection
- Settle in the UK – certain categories only
- Registration certificate as an EEA or Swiss national
- Document certifying permanent residence as an EEA or Swiss national
- British citizenship by naturalisation
- Register for British citizenship as a child under 18
- Register as a British citizen
- Update, replace or transfer – biometric residence permit
- Other leave to remain applications within the rules (unless noted below)
- Apply for a Home Office travel document
Customers on the remaining routes will continue to need to use the existing service until January 2019. This includes most customers applying:
- To join family members in the UK as a dependant, other than a PBS dependent, armed forces dependent or ECAA dependent
- For family reunion with a refugee or person with humanitarian protection
- On the basis of statelessness
- On the basis of domestic violence under the specific route for that
- Making further submissions after a failed protection claim
- To only enrol your biometric information
- For a fee waiver or fee exemption
- For a certificate of right of abode
Applicants will be informed which service and which centre they will be able to use once they submit their application online.
When is the new system taking effect?
Until 29 November 2018, applicants will be able to either use the old system or the new system. However, applicants should be aware that once they select one of the 2 systems, they cannot change their mind.
Can the applicants travel whilst their application is pending?
The applicants are advised not to travel whilst their application is pending, even though they will have their original passports. If an applicant travels whilst their application being considered, their application will be considered withdrawn.
Disclaimer:
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Connaught Law and authors accept no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Connaught Law. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Connaught Law.
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