Kochi: VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has opened its state of the art Premium Lounge in Kochi. With this residents of Kochi applying for a visa to the UK can now submit their applications from the new facility.
The Premium Lounge, which has been design to provide a world-class service experience to travellers from the state of Kerala via end-to-end personalised service, assuring them of assistance with all visa related queries, quicker completion of the application submission process, and immediate biometric enrolment.
The venue in Kochi is the first Premium Lounge to be opened in Kerala, and the second in India to feature VFS Global’s new design. VFS Global unveiled its new Visa Application Centre and Premium Lounge design with the launch of its centre in South Mumbai. The design is aimed at brand standardisation, owing to which all new or refurbished VFS Global Visa Application Centres and Premium Lounges across the world would have the same look and feel and ensure applicants are greeted by a familiar setting, irrespective of the location.
The UK Premium Lounge in Kochi, Kerala was inaugurated on June 8 by Michael Lutz, Regional Manager – South and Southeast Asia, Home Office-UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Michael Lutz said, “this is another step in the shared ambition of UKVI and VFS Global to offer a world class visa service in India that is clear, efficient and customer friendly. Through this latest expansion, together we are doing just that by offering Indian customers even more diversity and choice as they make their visa application. This will make it even easier for Indian customers to visit the UK and experience all the sights and experiences that we have to offer. The new lounge is in addition to the 18 UK Visa Application Centres already offered across India – the most in any country – and I look forward to further such announcements in the future.”
According to Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – China, Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global, “At VFS Global, it’s our constant endeavour to provide our visa applicants with services that will make their submission experience as seamless as possible. The Premium Lounge has been one of our most successful initiatives to offer flexibility and convenience for applicants. We are excited to introduce this optional service to UK-bound travellers in Kerala.”
In addition to the personal touch and comfort offered, applicants who opt for the Premium Lounge service can also avail several additional benefits to further ease their visa application process, including complimentary photocopying and photo-booth services as per parameters specified by the Embassy and High Commission, and use the in-house equipment to print out of any mandatory documents that may have been forgotten.
Further, once a decision is made on the visa application, the passport and documents will be delivered to their doorstep by courier. Automatic updates at each stage of the visa application will also be shared via voice calls and SMS.
