UK Immigration News

UK Priority Visa Service Launched in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

From 27 February 2012, the UK Border Agency in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait will offer a priority visa service to applicants of UK visitor visas.

Visitors wishing to come to the UK will be able to pay an extra fee (360 Arab Emirates dirham) to fast track their visa application. The service is optional and will be available in all visa application centres.

Only UK visitor visa applicants, who offer evidence of their visits to the UK, a country in the Schengen Area, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA within the last 3 years, are eligible to use the priority visa service. Applicants must complete and submit their visa application online and will be able to obtain details of the priority visa service at the visa application centre operated by VFS Global in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

The priority service does not imply or guarantee that the visa application will be successful. All visa applicants must meet the requirements of the UK immigration rules. The amount paid for the priority service, as well as the visa application fee, is not refundable if the visa application is refused or if, in exceptional cases, takes longer to process.

Applicants should be aware that they may experience extended processing times if they have:

• previously been refused a visa for the UK;
• previously been refused permission to enter the UK;
• previously been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK;
• overstayed a period of leave in the UK;
been refused permission to stay in the UK permanently by the Home Office;
• been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or the Schengen countries; and/or
• been convicted of a criminal offence in any country.

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.