London: To tackle the surge in visa applications, the Indian High Commission here will outsource their processing from next year.

"The outsourcing of the processing of visas here is being carried out as a pilot project, and based on its success, it will be extended in Europe and other countries," Ranjan Mathai, Deputy High Commissioner, said.

On an average the High Commission here issued about four lakh visas per annum, Mr. Mathai, who would take up his new assignment as the Indian Ambassador to France succeeding T.C.A. Rangachari in January, said.

Three companies have responded to the Ministry of External Affairs' circular on the outsourcing and discussions were on for the award of the contract.

Mr. Mathai said the outsourcing would help to prevent the long queues at the centrally located India House at Aldwych, which has been renovated.

"Our idea is to outsource visa processing the way countries like the United States and the U.K. have done in India," a senior official at the High Commission said.

The surge in Indian travel has forced countries such as the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Italy and Ireland to outsource their visa processing to private companies.

PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail