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From October 2024 to January 2025, there will be changes to who provides visa application centre services in different parts of the world. Applications from both within the UK, and globally, will be impacted.
Due to these visa application centre updates, your application may begin under one organisation, but then part way through the process, it will be switched to a new company.
We will take you through which providers are changing, and in what countries these changes are taking place. Also, towards the end of the blog, we will inform you of some checks you can do to make sure that you stay safe and avoid any scammers during the chaos of these service changes.Â
Visa application centres within the UK
On 15 October 2024, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) will get a new partner in the UK.Â
The provider in recent years has been Sopra Steria, but they will no longer be providing visa or citizenship services. This means that many of their offices dedicated to these services will be closing after 15 October.
Instead of Sopra Steria, UKVCAS will be working with TLScontact for applications made within the UK. They have their own offices, so you will need to go to their locations instead.Â
Other than making sure you go to the right location, there is nothing else that you will need to do. You can visit TLScontact’s website to find the location you need to go to.
Visa application centres outside the UK
The process of changing to a new visa application centre provider for countries outside the UK will take longer, with most switches taking place from October 2024 to January 2025.
TLScontact have been the global provider up until recently, with VFS Global taking their place, while TLScontact moves to providing UK-based services. This means that you may receive emails from both TLScontact and VFS Global during your visa application.
Belgium is the first country to have its UK visa application centres operated by VFS Global, with more soon to follow.
On 22 October, the following countries will be the first to switch to VFS Global as their visa application centre operator:
- Algeria
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Tunisia
Over the coming months, more countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia will switch to VFS Global for their visa application centres.
Other places in the world will not be impacted by the switch to VFS Global for visa applications made outside the UK.
What to do if you have already booked your appointment outside the UK
In the case that you have already booked your appointment outside the UK with TLScontact, then you just need to attend your appointment like you normally would.
If you would prefer to change your appointment, then you can do so. TLScontact may ask you to pay the mandatory user pay fee, but you can ask them to refund this.
Staying safe during the changes
Whilst there is nothing you have to do as part of the switches to different visa application centre providers, the transition could result in scammers trying to trick you into sharing your personal information with them using fake emails from TLScontact or VFS Global.
This is particularly an issue due to the fact that your visa application may be in process under one provider, and then switch part way through to the new provider, so you will be receiving emails from a whole different company.
You can stay safe by making sure that you are receiving emails from the correct, official email addresses of each organisation. Also remember to check your spam or junk folder, just in case any emails have gone into those folders.
The genuine emails you need to make sure you are receiving emails should end in:
- @tlscontact.com
- @vfsglobal.com
If the email address does not end in either of these, then you should ignore it, as it is likely a scammer.Â
How we can help
During the process of applying for your visa, it can be very useful to get the expert guidance of an immigration adviser. They will ensure that your application includes all the necessary documents, and they can help explain any complex topics or difficulties that may arise during your application.Â
Our team of immigration experts have assisted countless clients with their UK immigration needs, and they can help you too. Their help can be particularly helpful during times when the visa application process is undertaking changes, as they can provide an extra pair of eyes for if, for example, you receive an email that seems suspicious.
We offer a free 10-minute assessment that allows you to discuss what you need, and it allows our team to see if they can help you or not. After this, you can book a longer, paid consultation that lasts either 30 minutes or an hour. Your longer consultation can either be with an immigration consultant, or our principal solicitor, Nathan Woodcock.Â
Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you with your visa application.Â
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
