THE UK has launched a new
online application service in
South Africa, “designed to
provide a simple and intuitive
customer experience”.
The infamous timeconsuming
procedure is
expected to be simplified
through the launch of the
‘Access UK’ online service.
This is an alternative to the
current Visa4UK service.
In a recent poll run by TNW’s
sister publication, eTNW,
travel agents indicated their
frustration with the UK’s visa
application service. Of the
122 agents who responded,
30% said the UK had the most
admin-intensive application
process.
“The UK has the longest visa
application form. It
is very time consuming
and asks the same thing over
and again, just in different
ways,” says ITC, Stuart
Goodall.
The relevance of the
questions posed is also an
issue, says Rishen Radhella,
manager of Travel Experts.
“Some people were not
comfortable answering certain
questions, for example, the
breakdown of their monthly
expenses.” He adds that
because time is valuable and
because some clients were
not familiar with the online
visa application system used,
agents were often the ones
tasked with filling in visa
forms.
“The form was too complex
and people didn’t understand
how to fill it in,” agrees Nicki
Bramley of Giltedge Travel.
Travellers applying for a
standard visitor visa, a visitor
(marriage and civil partnership)
visa, or a visitor (permitted
paid engagement) visa are able
to make use of the service, UK
Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
said in a statement.
Benefits of the online
application service include
a shorter form with questions
ordered based on customer
feedback. “It is dynamic and
asks relevant questions based
on a customer’s previous
answers. What’s more, the
service is available on mobile
devices, enabling application
forms to be completed on
smartphones or tablets.” The
service is accessed via the
gov.uk website. Prospective
applicants should make sure
they click on ‘apply using the
new service’.”
