CAIRO: The United Kingdom has launched new modifications to the visa application system that are gradually taking effect around the world and will be introduced in Cairo on July 5, said British Ambassador Sir Derek Plumbly at a press conference on Monday. Changes to the system include introducing Visa Applications Centers where individuals applying for a visa can submit their application, without having to go to the embassy itself. The embassy has hired commercial partners in all capitals to carry out this procedure. For Egypt, the chosen company is WorldBridge in Zamalek, Cairo and Alexandria. Visa applications will be transferred from the center to the embassy to be processed. The whole operation will take three days, after which time the individual will be notified of whether or not they were approved. The center is also responsible for collecting biometric information from the visa applicant by taking their digital photo and fingerprints. The biometric system has already been introduced in the United States, France as well as in Egypt, and will be introduced in other European Union countries. The new biometric system will help prevent passport fraud or duplication of visas by registering the individual s unique characteristics through scanning. Sir Plumbly stressed that all applicants of different nationalities, including the EU, will go through the same procedures. This even extends to British people applying for a passport renewal. This is part of a program for the British government and most European Union governments to improve the section of our borders, said Mark Sedwill, head of UK Visas, the British government agency responsible for the UK s visa regime globally. He added, Our goal is to protect the genuine passenger, and to prevent those who wish to damage the UK from entering. Sedwill said that 90 percent of Egyptians who apply for a British visa are granted one, while only a few applicants are rejected. According to Sir Plumbly, there has been an increase in visa demand from applicants in Egypt. With the new system we will be able to give applicants longer durations for their visas, before we wouldn t give more than two years but we will be able to give visitors five to ten years, he said. UK Visas is currently involved in discussions to set up a database shared by the countries using the new system whereby information about applicants can be shared and used when they are applying for visas in different countries, according to Sedwill. However, he added, this process might take two or three years before it is fully implemented as they must first be certain that the same security system is being used in all countries. Finally, Sir Plumbly added that in preparation for the launch of the new system, the embassy cannot accept visa applications between July 1 and 4 except in the case of extreme life or death situations.
