New Online Visa System for South Africans Visiting UK

South Africans applying for UK Visit visas are now able to make use of a new online system called Access UK, as part of the British Home Office’s commitment to making the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) service quicker, easier and more convenient for applicants.

As part of a global rollout, Access UK (formerly know as the Online Application Service) was launched in February 2016, beginning in mainland China, India and then Turkey by the end of March.

After successful trialling, the service became available to South Africa and several other countries such as Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Benin a couple of weeks ago.

The UK Home Office reported that “over 270,000 applicants have already used Access UK and feedback is really positive.”

The service is being offered to customers applying for a Standard Visitor visa, Visitor (Marriage & Civil Partnership), or Visitor (Permitted Paid Engagement) visa.

South African customers can now use Access UK to apply, book an appointment and pay for their application through the standard, priority or super-priority visa service (where applicable).

The global rollout is expected to be completed in the British summer.

According to a press release from the British High Commission in South Africa, Access UK is “designed to provide a simple and intuitive customer experience”.

Within South Africa, applicants will need to attend an appointment at one of the following visa application centres:

• Cape Town
• Durban
• Pretoria
• Johannesburg
• Port Elizabeth

The service is still in Beta mode.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) application system has been expanded to South Africa https://t.co/jpZ60cMc2P pic.twitter.com/sObxZcijtp

— UK in South Africa🇬🇧🇿🇦 (@ukinsouthafrica) April 22, 2016

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https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa