New UK visa application options in India (aka How to spend a small fortune)
If you've got a trip to the UK coming up, you'll know that trip is likely to be expensive by itself. But if you've still got some spare cash (or a bankload) to spend, here are some ideas. VFS, the company that runs application centers India for various countries' visas including the UK, is offering several new services. While I see the practical need for some of these options, I find the prices quite ridiculous!
Under the on-demand-mobile service, VFS will collect your application and also process the biometric information collection at your preferred location - say, home or workplace. The good news is that they will do this on weekends as well, and it is probably useful for corporates who have multiple applications to process. Apparently the service also includes personalised form-filling assistance and a scrutiny service that enables you to send any missing documents to the embassy (through VFS) within a specified time frame.
The pricing varies by location and number of people, but as published, it is GBP 750 (close to Rs 75,000) for a group of 10, with extra persons being charged GBP 75.
Then there's the Home-to-home service, where VFS will pick you up from, and drop you back at, home (or airport, etc) in a chauffeur driven car, and also provide you with access to a premium lounge at the visa application center (that includes refreshments!). If these lounges are anything like the airline lounges in India, no thank you! Since you'll be shelling out Rs 9,000 per person for this service, they'll sweeten it a bit for you by offering extended timings (not sure if there's an additional charge) till 7 pm on weekdays only, form-filling assistance and scrutiny services (same as for on-demand-mobile service).
And if VFS' normal work hours aren't for you, then you should think about the prime time service. They're always open for an extra hour each working day, one hour after closing time, when you can submit your visa application. This, for the paltry sum of Rs 6,300 per person.
If you're interested in any of their other bank-breaking services, look no further than here.
Of course, none of these guarantee you a visa. In fact, they don't even get you faster visa processing by the high commission (except if you opt for a fast-track service, I guess). These are solely to facilitate submission of the UK visa application based on the applicant's convenience.
Look, I know there are folks out there whose time is a priority, and who might not bat an eyelid before spending this kind of money. I am certainly not one of these, which is likely why I find the service rates exorbitant.
I'd rather spend good money on good experiences, and if that means going to the VFS office within their normal working hours, and foregoing refreshments at the lounge, and ending up saving in excess of Rs 20,000, count me in!
Under the on-demand-mobile service, VFS will collect your application and also process the biometric information collection at your preferred location - say, home or workplace. The good news is that they will do this on weekends as well, and it is probably useful for corporates who have multiple applications to process. Apparently the service also includes personalised form-filling assistance and a scrutiny service that enables you to send any missing documents to the embassy (through VFS) within a specified time frame.
The pricing varies by location and number of people, but as published, it is GBP 750 (close to Rs 75,000) for a group of 10, with extra persons being charged GBP 75.
Then there's the Home-to-home service, where VFS will pick you up from, and drop you back at, home (or airport, etc) in a chauffeur driven car, and also provide you with access to a premium lounge at the visa application center (that includes refreshments!). If these lounges are anything like the airline lounges in India, no thank you! Since you'll be shelling out Rs 9,000 per person for this service, they'll sweeten it a bit for you by offering extended timings (not sure if there's an additional charge) till 7 pm on weekdays only, form-filling assistance and scrutiny services (same as for on-demand-mobile service).
And if VFS' normal work hours aren't for you, then you should think about the prime time service. They're always open for an extra hour each working day, one hour after closing time, when you can submit your visa application. This, for the paltry sum of Rs 6,300 per person.
If you're interested in any of their other bank-breaking services, look no further than here.
Of course, none of these guarantee you a visa. In fact, they don't even get you faster visa processing by the high commission (except if you opt for a fast-track service, I guess). These are solely to facilitate submission of the UK visa application based on the applicant's convenience.
Look, I know there are folks out there whose time is a priority, and who might not bat an eyelid before spending this kind of money. I am certainly not one of these, which is likely why I find the service rates exorbitant.
I'd rather spend good money on good experiences, and if that means going to the VFS office within their normal working hours, and foregoing refreshments at the lounge, and ending up saving in excess of Rs 20,000, count me in!
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