RIYADH, 25 October 2007 — The British Embassy has launched a new biometric visa system through its new Visa Application Centers. “The system is considered the first of its kind and will be followed by other governments,” said Andrew Turner, charge d’affaires at the British mission.

“The system will accommodate two main changes. First, the requirement for people to give biometric information with their visa application means they have to come personally when applying at VACs. Secondly, the use of VFS Global Ltd as an agent to help with the process,” he added.

VFS Global Ltd., a subsidiary of the Swiss-based Kuoni Travel Ltd which specializes in serving visa sections of diplomatic missions, will act as an agent to process visa applications on behalf of the British Embassy.

Turner said that although the British Embassy’s visa section provides the best visa service in Riyadh, the embassy is not able to accommodate the total number of applicants, and that its security cannot deal with the total number of people personally visiting its offices. The new VACs system should, however, change this.

Turner said many factors will remain the same, including the decision of granting or refusing visas will be the responsibility of the British Embassy, that there will be no increase in fees and that visas will take no more than 24 hours to process.

Ian Marson, regional deputy director of visa services, pointed out that all vital information and details of applicants would be kept confidential in the embassy’s data system. “Every time an applicant applies for a visa to the UK, he or she will be required to give biometrics, that is why we are encouraging 10-year visa application, during which biometrics will be taken once, especially for people who are regular visitors to the UK,” said Marson.