New Delhi
11 December 2007
All applicants for British visa will need to get their fingers scanned
and digital photograph taken from December 12, the British High Commission in New
Delhi said.
Britain has decided to introduce biometric data collection as an integral part of the UK
visa application process in India. Accordingly, applicants will need to attend a "VFS Visa
Application Centre" where trained staff will take finger scans and a digital photograph.
The British High Commission performs its visa services in collaboration with VFS Global
Services Limited. The UK Visa Application Centres are in 12 locations: Ahmedabad,
Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai
(north and south) and Pune.
British Deputy High Commissioner Creon Butler on Tuesday said that biometric data is
unique and allows the British Government to fix a person's identity. "It provides a
number of advantages for customers and our visa operation ... it makes it easier for UK
Visas to identify its valued customers, it better protects UK Visas's customers from
identity fraud and it strengthens the UK's borders," he said.
The collection of biometric data is quick and simple and should take applicants a few
minutes. However, visa applications might take longer to process than at present.
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