In December 2018, SIT detailed changes to the in-country visa application processes and the new UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VCAS) centres operated by Sopra Steria.
Applicants have still had the choice to submit their biometric information (fingerprints and photos) through the Post Office while the new processes and centres were being introduced.
However, from the 25 March 2019 the Post Office service will no longer be available.
All applicants will have to attend one of the:
- Core Centres offering free appointments (Solihull, Croydon, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, or
- Approx. 50 enhanced service centres for an additional fee of £60 per applicant (the closest are Reading, Swindon, and Warwick)
Applicants can use the UKVCAS website to identify their nearest UKVCAS Centre location.
Applicants using the new centres have raised a number of concerns to SIT, including the additional travel burden, increase in cost to attend a Enhanced Service Centre, lack of available appointments, and priority services not meeting the specified quicker decision times. SIT continues to provide this feedback directly to Home Office and through the Russell Group.
We would encourage any applicants who experience difficulties with the new centres to get in touch with the Staff immigration team.
