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28 March 2024

UK visa alert: UAE's business elite first in line for super fast-track? India, China next…

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By Majorie van Leijen

A select elite of business executives will soon enjoy fast and smooth visa services to the UK, UK Home Secretary Theresa May has promised.

The beneficiaries of the exclusive service will collectively be called ‘The Great Club’.

In response to complaints of long visa processing times particularly in India and China, the UK government has sought to introduce a world-class visa system providing the best services to those who use it most.

Pilot scheme

Initially run as a pilot, 100 business people with strong links to the UK from outside Europe will be invited by the Home Office to become members of the Great Club, free of charge.

The invitees will be provided with a personal account manager to ensure a fast and smooth procedure applying for the visa.

The account manager will be able to arrange visa services tailored to each individual's needs, same-day visa processing and a mobile to your office service at standard visa fees.

The Home Office said that the new premium visa service is being introduced as part of the government's economic growth plan to attract the brightest and best to work, do business and invest in the UK.

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.”

The pilot will be run next year for a period of 12 months and if successful, will be expanded.

The Home Office also plans to improve visa services for business users around the world by setting up a business and growth network, identifying priority businesses and providing them with access to a quick, responsive service.

The current GBP100 (Dh590) fee for an extra priority three- to five-day visa service will be made available to 23 more countries, adding up to a total of 90 by next spring.

Same-day visa

The same-day visa service currently available in India at a rate of GBP600 (Dh3500) will become available in others countries by the end of 2014.

A new mobile VIP visa service is also to be introduced in India.

Currently a premium service is available to tier one visa applicants for GBP1,920 (Dh11,300).