The British Embassy in Moscow announced today that it would open two new Visa Application Centres, in Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don. Together with existing Centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg, this brings the total number of Visa Application Centres in Russia to five. The new locations, which will open in August 2008, have been chosen after extensive market research on the part of our commercial partner, Visa Facilitation Services, which indicated significant demand for visa application services in those areas.
Jon Gray, Head of Visa Services for Russia, said:
These two new Visa Application Centres will make travel to Britain much easier for those in the vicinity of Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don, who will no longer have to travel large distances to submit their biometric data. We have been able to open these two new centres thanks to improved efficiencies flowing from the centralising of all Russia-wide visa decision-making at our hub in Moscow, thus improving quality and consistency for all our customers.
The two new Visa Application Centres will initially be able to accept up to sixty visa applications per day, with the facility to vary this capacity according to demand.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
More detailed information about how to apply and UK Visa Application Centres in Russia can be found at:
www.ukvac-ru.comMoscow-based decision-making begins Tuesday 27 May for applications lodged in Ekaterinburg, and later in the year for those lodged in St Petersburg.
Target is to process within 5 working days 90% of application being submitted at the VAC.
Advice remains to apply as early as possible, and at least 15 working days in advance of a trip, but up to 28 working days for longer term visas.
