With effect from 2 November 2009, the British High Commission will follow other British diplomatic missions in Southeast Asia by sending all visa applications, and accompanying paperwork and passports, to a regional hub of expert entry clearance officers in Manila for processing.  This will help ensure consistency of UK Border Agency (UKBA) service levels and decision-making across the region. But the process will now take five working days. 

British High Commissioner Rob Fenn said, "Apart from this change in turnaround time - five working days, even for straightforward applications - the process for the applicant will be exactly the same as now.  There is no change to the system for online applications (which we can receive up to three months ahead of travel); nor to the friendly and expert service provided by UKBA staff at the High Commission. We will continue to accept supporting paperwork, passport, biometrics and the relevant fee at the visa counter; from where customers will - as now - collect their passports after issue.  What they will need to bear in mind, however, is the time required for transport by secure courier to and from the UKBA hub.

"In the past, we have often been able to issue visas more quickly than this five day target - though five working days has actually been the UKBA global standard for some time. From next month, however, it will no longer be possible for us to "beat the target". The travelling public and their sponsors will need to factor this into their travel plans. This is especially important for those travelling in early November, as the Visa Section will be shut on 29 and 30 October to prepare our IT for the new system."

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