Summary
The Home Office’s multi-year project to transfer overseas UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) from TLScontact to VFS Global is entering its final stages and immigration advisers are urging travellers and HR teams to double check appointment details following a bulletin issued today by consultancy Five Star International that highlighted common pain-points.
The changeover, which began in September 2024, is now live across most of Africa, the Middle East and mainland Europe and is slated to be completed early next year.
Core visa regulations and processing dates are unaffected, but applicants can only start an application on the older TLS site to conclude it with VFS — a formula for missing e-mails and multiple “user-pay” booking costs if vigilance falls.
The key operational changes are that confirmation e-mails will now be sent from @vfsglobal.com addresses and the process for uploading documents has been altered.
Where VFS has taken over in nations, applicants who booked through TLS but have not yet submitted supporting proof will be required to pay for aided scanning at the VFS centre on the day.
Mobility managers are recommended to white-list VFS domains, budget for re-booking charges, and inform employees on alternative in-centre biometrics workflows.
The Home Office believes the measure will slash average passport-collection times to 20 minutes and widen the network of “on-demand” mobile visa clinics.
But early feedback from corporates indicates teething concerns with customer care hotlines and refund demands.
Companies with a large number of Tier 2/Skilled Worker and Visitor visa applications should review pending applications this week to ensure data is migrated efficiently and travel dates are not impacted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is changing at UK Visa Application Centres?
The Home Office is transferring overseas UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) from TLScontact to VFS Global in phases.
Will visa rules or processing times change?
Core visa regulations and processing dates are unaffected.
What should applicants check?
Applicants should carefully check appointment details, confirmation emails, and document upload procedures.
What should employers do?
Companies should review pending visa applications, whitelist VFS email domains, and inform employees about the updated appointment process.