<http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33961:- uk-moves-its-visa-office-to-south-africa&catid=34:news&Itemid=114> UK moves its visa office to South Africa
MONDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2014 00:51 WRITTEN BY EDWARD SSEKIKA <http://www.observer.ug/images/stories/Inside-the-Emirates-plane2.jpg> Visas to the UK to take longer than usual Ugandans intending to travel to the United Kingdom will have to wait longer than usual for a visa, with urgent cases fetching a surcharge of Shs 420,000. According to the new guidelines, the UK government has moved its visa processing office for east and central Africa from Nairobi to Pretoria, South Africa. The new guidelines were communicated to members of Parliament on September 16, 2014 and have been pinned on all notice boards. This is to bring it to your attention, the new guidelines for applying for visas to the United Kingdom. These have taken immediate effect. Visa processing has been moved to Pretoria, South Africa. The Nairobi office will no longer process and handle visas, the notice reads. Previously, all visas for east and central Africa were processed at the British High Commission office in Nairobi, Kenya. Processing time for [a] visa is strictly a minimum of 15 working days from the date of submission of the application to the date of receiving a visa in the Kampala, office, the guidelines say. However, MPs and parliamentary staff eligible for priority applications can have their visa processed within eight working days from the day of submitting the application. Although the guidelines dont define priority applications, the British High Commission in Nairobi says they include diplomatic and urgent medical cases. According to the new guidelines, priority applicants will have to pay 100 pounds in addition to the visa fees. Payments for UK visas will be made online through a visa or MasterCard online transaction. And all applicants are required to open a personal online account which will be used for payment purposes. Note that the visa handling centre in Pretoria, handles 17 other countries and will therefore not be in position to fast-track... or prioritize applications outside of the official processing period. Applications should therefore be made well in advance to guarantee visa issuance on time, the guidelines read. For further information, applicants are advised to contact the protocol officer, British High Commission, Kampala. However, frequent travellers to the United States, Canada and other European countries will have their visas processed in eight working-days from the date of submission. All applicants are advised to indicate contact numbers and email addresses that are functional such that the visa application centre will be calling applicants directly when their visas are ready, the notice reads. The guidelines urge MPs, staff or members of the public who regularly travel to the United Kingdom to apply for long-term visas to avoid inconveniences which come with sudden travel arrangements. The notice doesnt explain the reasons behind the relocation of visa processing to South Africa. However, Stephen Burns, the head of communications at the British High Commission in Nairobi, noted in a notice dated June 13, 2014, that the relocation is part of UKs strategic move to operate few overseas hubs, as London applies austerity measures in its foreign offices On June 13, this year, Britain closed its honorary British consulate office in Mombasa following security threats. Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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