UK envoy calls on UP CM, opens new visa service centre in Lucknow

Britain's High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith, made his first visit to Lucknow today, where he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to discuss how UK and Uttar Pradesh could work more closely together.

The High Commissioner welcomed the first applicants of the new UK visa service in Lucknow, which was inaugurated today. The new visa service, available on the third Tuesday of each month, allows customers to apply for their UK visas in Lucknow for the first time.

The service is based at the Golden Tulip Hotel, where customers can submit their UK visa applications and give their biometric information.

Sir Dominic Asquith said:"I am delighted to visit India's most populous state to find out how Uttar Pradesh and the UK can work more closely together.The UK already has more Visa Application Centres in India than we have in any other country, and I am pleased that we are expanding our footprint into Uttar Pradesh. There has been a growing demand for UK visas from the state, and we hope that it will encourage more people from Uttar Pradesh to think of the UK for tourism, study, trade and investment."

UKVI's Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia Nick Crouch said: "The new visa centre was announced during the UK Immigration Minister's visit to India. During the visit he also announced a number of other improvements including a new application form for visitors and allowing first-time visitors to use the Priority Visa service. These improvements have been well received and are all part of UKVI's strategy to make it quicker and easier for Indian customers to apply for UK visas. UKVI and our commercial partner VFS Global will continue to monitor demand for the Lucknow visa service and look to adjust it accordingly."

Customers will be able to apply for their visas in all routes and in the coming months UKVI will look to roll out more premium services to customers in Lucknow including the 3 - 5 day Priority Visa service.