British MPs visit UK High Commission

Harry Cohen MP (left) and Brian Jenkins MP (right), members of the UK delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, visited the immigration section of the British High Commission in Dhaka recently. In the middle is Lawson Ross, head of the immigration section.

During the visit, parliamentarians Harry Cohen and Brian Jenkins saw the improvement the British High Commission has introduced over the past year to its visa issuing section.

Lawson Ross, head of the immigration section, explained to them that the number of Bangladeshi applicants for British visas has risen by 28 percent compared to the previous year, with 68 percent rise in student visa alone.

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Despite the increasing number of applicants, the streamlined service at the immigration section has helped the British High Commission maintain its target, he said.

The MPs were also shown the new service for students, introduced earlier this year in association with the British Council. The E.DoCs service speeds up the processing for their UK visa applications.

The MPs also saw the Visa Express facility in action. Under the scheme, frequent travellers to the UK do not have to come to the high commission in person but can submit their applications through a courier or representative.

The British High Commission website (http://w-ww.ukinb-angladesh.org) contains further details on criteria that must be fulfilled to benefit from the Visa Express facility. Under normal circumstances, this facility also provides for a same day service.