Fees for priority UK visa service ‘exorbitant’ – agents

CLIENTS are paying fees
of up to R16 690 for
priority service to get
their UK visas issued on time
as the standard processing
time of 15 to 20 working days
for these visas is not being
met.
Daniela Ossato, owner
of CTT Travel, had a client
pay R16 690 for the visa to
be issued within 24 hours,
while Angela Sheasby, travel
consultant of Carlson Wagonlit
Travel, had a client pay
R6 500 for a visa to be
issued within five to seven
working days.
Marco Tomasicchio, director
of XL International Tours,
says the urgency for visas
stems from clients wanting to
travel to the UK for a summer
holiday or to attend one of
the many trade fares that
take place at this time of the
year. However, he feels that
the British High Commission
is being totally unreasonable
with the fees for priority
service. “That said, because
it is revenue generation, I
suppose the High Commission
does not see anything wrong
with charging these costs
and preying on travellers’
desperation,” he says.
Daniela feels that while it is
important to have the option
of being able to pay for an
emergency visa, this service
should not come with such an
exorbitant price tag. Angela
suggests that the fees can
– and should – encourage
travellers to plan their
travel better, although she
points out travel isn’t always
predictable and urgent trips
do crop up.