A surge in the number of tier 2 work permit applications for those with sponsorships from UK employers in Bengaluru, India has prompted the UK government to open a new UK Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Based in the centre of the city, the new UK visa centre was officially opened in early November by UK immigration minister Brandon Lewis, who claimed that recent changes to UK visa rules will help to speed up and simplify the application process for those based in India.
In fact, the decision to open the hub has reportedly been viewed by many as a tactical attempt to draw the interest of more highly skilled workers in Bengaluru, which is India’s IT capital.
Specifically, the VAC will allow first time visitors to Britain, as well as students and tier 2 work permit applicants, the help they need to ensure their visit to the UK is simple. This should ultimately strengthen ties between the UK and India, Mr Lewis added.
In a statement, he said: “The opening of this visa application centre is yet another example of how the government is making it easier for businesses across the world to work with the UK.”
“India has always been an important partner for us and we are committed to building on this relationship and positioning ourselves as a truly global Britain.”
The new VAC will be the 18th opened in India, with some of its sister facilities based in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The latest addition to this lineup is a 4,000 foot building that will focus on providing support to those applying for tier 2 work permits, allowing many applicants to avoid what would have been a lengthy journey to a neighbouring city to access help.