Visas: Biometrics

(asked on 25th July 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the number of free points for biometrics was per 10,000 visa applications for 2018 against the projected number of free points for biometrics per 10,000 visa applications in 2020 on current projections of visa applications.


Answered by
Seema Kennedy Portrait
Seema Kennedy
This question was answered on 3rd September 2019

The specific information requested is not available.

We offer free points for biometric submission (photo and fingerprints) in the UK through the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) or overseas through Visa Application Centres (VACs).

In the UK, prior to UKVCAS customers were able to submit their biometrics in over 100 Post Office locations. Since the rollout of UKVCAS in November 2018 customers have been able to submit their biometrics and supporting evidence simultaneously through UKVCAS service points which are run by Sopra Steria (SSL) on behalf of UKVI.

There are currently six core sites across the UK at which application submission services are offered for no additional charge on top of that already paid to UKVI and beyond that, a range of enhanced services in a further 50 locations. The UKVCAS core service points offer appointments up to 35 days in advance and free appointments are available Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00. Any appointments outside these times, and those at enhanced service points, are subject to additional charges.

Overseas, in 99 Visa Application Centres (VACs) across 57 countries, VFS Global and TLS Connect offer customers application submission services for no additional charge on top of the visa application fee.

In 149 locations across 105 countries, customers have the option of attending a premium only centre or submitting their biometrics through a User Pay VAC, all of which incur an additional fee. Both commercial partners allow customers to book appointments within a four week rolling window and appointments outside of core hours are subject to additional charges.

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