As part of its economic plan, the government has announced further improvements to the visa system to attract the brightest and best to work, do business and invest in the UK.
This includes the launch of the GREAT Club, an invitation only service providing top business executives with bespoke support from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The Club will start in the New Year as a 12 month pilot aimed at around 100 global business leaders who use the visa service and have strong links to the UK. They will be provided with an account manager to ensure their journey through the visa and immigration service is swift and smooth. The account manager will also be able to arrange visa services tailored to each individual’s needs at no extra cost during the pilot.
The government has already been working to make our immigration system more pro-growth to create investment and jobs in the UK that will benefit hard-working people, while still deterring those who have no right to be here. Thanks to new commercial contracts our visa application centres will be able to provide business travellers with more premium services than ever before. Over the next 12 months additional improvements will include:
* Expanding our priority (three to five day) visa service from 67 countries to over 90 countries by spring 2014;
* Expanding our same-day visa service, currently available in India and soon to be available in China, to several further key locations by the end of 2014; and
* Introducing a VIP mobile visa service to India and piloting our passport pass back service in southern India with a view to expanding countrywide if successful.
The Home Secretary, Theresa May said: “I created UK Visas and Immigration in March to provide a focus on delivering excellent customer service. These changes will allow us to maintain a world class, competitive visa system that can innovate in order to serve the ever-changing needs of business and ensure Britain succeeds in the global race.
“We will continue to listen and respond to the needs of high-value and high-priority businesses so that we can provide them with a service that supports economic growth, while at the same time maintains the security of our borders.”
UKVI is committed to improving the visa system for business users and this summer introduced the Business Helpdesk. This gives business travellers access to high-quality information direct from UKVI staff. We are setting up a Business and Growth Network identifying priority businesses that use our visa system and giving them access to a quick, responsive service.
