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Changes to the visa service in Russia - August 2015
UK Visa and Immigration introduces new changes to visa services in Russia
Biometric Resident Permits
Date of implementation: 31 July 2015
All customers applying for a visa to stay in the United Kingdom for more than six months on or after 31 July 2015 will be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
The Biometric Resident Permit:
- Is credit card-sized and shows an individual’s immigration status in the UK.
- Will routinely be used as an immigration document and contains a highly secure embedded chip. Fingerprints and a digital photo within the chip contain biometrics unique to each customer.
- Can be used as proof of right to work, study and access public services in the United Kingdom.
- Provides a more secure, streamlined and faster method for businesses and our services to verify someone’s identity and right to be in the UK.
- Will need to be collected from a designated Post Office within 10 days of arrival in the UK.
Customers will submit their visa application as normal. If successful, they will receive a 30 day vignette (or sticker) in their passport instead of a vignette with the full grant of leave. This is to allow the applicant to enter the UK and collect their BRP from a designated Post Office. For Tier 4 students, the vignette will start one month before the course starts or 7 days before the intended date of travel, whichever is later.
Customers will receive a letter which provides information about where to go for more information.
Communications
Enquiries from customers should be directed to the International Enquiry Service.
Changes to the Priority Visa Service
Date of implementation: 31 August 2015
UK Visas & Immigration are pleased to announce the expansion of the Priority Visa Service. The cost of this service is £120 and allows customers to receive their decision within 5-7 days. On 31 August, we will remove all caps and reduce the criteria meaning that more customers will be able to take advantage of this service at any time before enrolling biometrics.
We are also pleased to launch a Priority Visa Service to customers who wish to settle in the UK. The cost of the Settlement Priority Visa Service will be £360 with customers receiving their decision within 15 working days; we continue to offer a 60 working day standard settlement service.
Russia
The Priority Visa Service is available to all customers applying for a visit visa with a validity of six months, Points Based System Tier 4 and Tier 5. Please note that you must be resident in Russia if you are applying under the Points Based System except for Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme and Tier 5 Temporary Worker (Creative and Sporting) who should be in Russia for a similar purpose to the activity proposed to be undertaken in the UK.
Settlement Priority Visa Service Qualifying Criteria
Only customers applying to settle in the UK under family migration routes and where a full settlement visa fee is payable should use this service. Applications for Family Reunion or EEA Family Permits cannot use this service.
Prime Time Appointments
Prime Time Appointments provide customers with flexibility to submit a UK visa application outside of normal working hours. The service costs an additional 50GBP per customer and is available to all customers except Points Based System Tier 4 students.
Prime Time Appointment Availability
From 6 July 2015, customers applying in the UK Visa Application Centres in Moscow and St Petersburg may choose to submit their application between 08:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 19:30 Monday to Friday.
Application Process
The UK visa application process is quick and easy:
- Apply and pay online at www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
- Create or log in to your account at TLScontact - Russian Federation, to pay for a Prime Time Appointment
- Attend your appointment at the UK Visa Application Centre with your documents
- You will receive an email once your application has been processed.
For further information please visit Country Selection / TLScontactor contact the International Enquiry Service.
Communications
Enquiries from customers should be directed to the International Enquiry Service.