-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVISED PROCESSING TIMES FOR APPLICANTS AT POSTS CONDUCTING FINGERPRINT CHECKS (17/10/05)
>From 17th October 2005, processing times for applications at Posts carrying out fingerprint checks on visa applicants will be revised. We are currently recording biometric data in the form of electronic fingerprint scans from visa applicants applying at our visa sections in Sri Lanka, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania and Rwanda. The recorded fingerprint data is checked against records held by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in the UK. It currently takes several days for the visa officer to receive the results of a fingerprint scan and a decision to issue a visa could be made before the fingerprint match result arrives. To address this we are revising our target processing times for visa applications at these Posts. This means that some visa applicants could wait for up to seven days for a decision on their visa application. This is a temporary measure and we are working with colleagues at the IND to reduce the response time. The use of biometric technology produced significant results in identifying and deterring fraudulent visa applications and is part of our efforts to reduce asylum and immigration abuse. By 2008 UKvisas will introduce fingerprint scanning for all visa applicants. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 1st Young Goans International Essay contest 2005 | | | | Theme: WHAT CAN I DO FOR GOA | | More details at | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/034190.html | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
