Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Biometric data mandatory for British visa application

CHENNAI: Indians seeking British visas will be required to submit biometric data in support of their application from December 12, as part of the U.K. government’s drive for secure borders.

However, Indian candidates can apply for visas of up to 10 years once the new system comes into force.

Applicants will need to have a painless, ink-free, ten-finger digital scan, which will be taken with a photograph at collection points in all U.K. visa application centres across the country.

However, because Indian legislation restricts the electronic transfer of encrypted data, applicants should expect a longer visa turnaround time of five days to allow the British High Commission to transfer the data to the U.K. by hand.

The pitfalls of data transfer by hand were illustrated last month when the unencrypted personal details of 25 million Britons were lost between government departments in the north of England and London.

In order to avoid identity theft, the British High Commission will encrypt all bio-data and send it without personal details through a robustly audited delivery process.

Deputy High Commissioner for South India Mike Connor said the new system was driven “by the desire to help genuine applicants get speedy and efficient visas.” He said biometric data collection, which is already in effect for U.K. visa applicants in 130 countries worldwide, had proved successful in detecting applications under fraudulent identities. The U.K. government would collect biometric data from its own citizens applying passports from 2009.

U.K. visa centres will be closed from December 7 to 11 to prepare for the introduction of biometrics, allow technical upgrades and train staff.

Applicants with specific queries about temporary enclosures should contact VFS helplines in Chennai on 044 4287788 or 42858514. For more information, see www.ukinindia.com

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