This blog is an update to our previous blogs on the re-opening of Visa Application Centres in the US and various other countries outside the UK.
Following the success of “Phase 1” of the resumption of operations at some overseas VACs from 1 June 2020, the Home Office has confirmed that the second phase of VACs will be open from 22 June subject to the “local conditions and operating environment remaining conducive”.
The following VACs are expected to re-open as part of Phase 2:
- Adana
- Alexandria
- Amman
- Ankara
- Auckland
- Baku
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Banjul
- Barcelona
- Belgrade
- Brussels
- Bursa
- Cairo
- Changsha
- Chengdu
- Chiang Mai
- Danang
- Fuzhou
- Gaziantep
- Geneva
- Hangzhou
- Hanoi
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Istanbul
- Izmir
- Jinan
- Kunming
- Lisbon
- Madrid
- Nanjing
- Osaka
- Paris
- Phnom Penh
- Seoul
- Shenyang
- Shenzhen
- Tokyo
- Tunis
- Wuhan
- Xi’an
For specific details regarding each VAC, applicants are advised to visit the relevant commercial partner websites for Europe, Africa, parts of the Middle East and all other countries.
UKVI has also confirmed that its priority and super priority services for expedited visa processing remain under review as it strives to maintain safe and effective operations.
Separately, individuals who are required to sit Home Office approved English language tests are directed to contact or visit the relevant tests centre website for further information on the re-opening of English Test Centres and booking tests:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Pearson Test of English
LanguageCert
The information in this blog is current at the date and time of posting. The situation regarding policy and guidance based on the COVID-19 pandemic is subject to change at short notice. We shall be monitoring all aspects of UK immigration which may be impacted by the coronavirus closely, so please do keep updated with further blogs and articles which we will be posting on this site.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2020