UK to ease visa rules for Ukrainians?

I'm reading on other (non-immigration) forums about a rumour that it will soon be easier for UKrainians to get VV etc to UK, much along the lines of the system now in place in Russia, where the 'pre-processing' is done by couriers and mostly now no interview required.

Anyone heard?

Steve

..... much along the lines of the system now in place in Russia, where the 'pre-processing' is done by couriers and mostly now no interview required.

I think you misunderstand the system in place in Russia, and indeed in place in an expanding list of other countries.

In Russia the outsourcing company, VFS, to not make the decision about whether the visa should be granted or not. That task is still clearly in the hands of the staff at the British Embassy/Consulate.

All VFS do is an initial check, to ensure that all the correct supporting documents are in place and then transmit the application etc on to the British staff for a decision.

Ukraine? There is nothing on the website of the British Embassy, Kiev, website about an outsourcing arrangement. However there is now the ability to make an application online. Hopefully an arrangement with an outsourcing company such as VFS will follow in due course.

John wrote:

..... much along the lines of the system now in place in Russia, where the 'pre-processing' is done by couriers and mostly now no interview required.

I think you misunderstand the system in place in Russia, and indeed in place in an expanding list of other countries.

In Russia the outsourcing company, VFS, to not make the decision about whether the visa should be granted or not. That task is still clearly in the hands of the staff at the British Embassy/Consulate.

All VFS do is an initial check, to ensure that all the correct supporting documents are in place and then transmit the application etc on to the British staff for a decision.

Ukraine? There is nothing on the website of the British Embassy, Kiev, website about an outsourcing arrangement. However there is now the ability to make an application online. Hopefully an arrangement with an outsourcing company such as VFS will follow in due course.

But it's true now that in Russian cases it's not often an interview is required, this is not anecdotal, we've had three visitors from Russia here, via the Courier system, none interviewed, all single girls under thirty. I'm certain they would have been interviewed under the 'old' system.

My Russian girlfriend, now here on student visa was interviewed everytime for previous visas...

It's my mates in the FSU gf/wife sphere of things, they've heard about this 'relaxing' for ukr as well, so I thought I'd ask here....

Steve

Wanderer wrote:I'm reading on other (non-immigration) forums about a rumour that it will soon be easier for UKrainians to get VV etc to UK, much along the lines of the system now in place in Russia, where the 'pre-processing' is done by couriers and mostly now no interview required.

Anyone heard?

Steve

To be fair if you meet the requirements it's not exactly difficult to get a tourist visa to the UK. Most people get denied visas because they do not follow the instructions and fail to provide all the documentation required.