Immigration Update: Home Office Targets Business Travellers with New Premium Visa Services

On 6 November, the government announced the launch of the GREAT Club, an invitation only service providing top business executives with bespoke support from UK visas and Immigration (UKVI). The Club will start initially in the New Year as a 12 month pilot aimed at around 100 global business leaders who use the visa service and have strong links to the UK. They will be provided with an account manager to ensure their visa and immigration service is swift and smooth. The account manager will also be able to arrange visa services tailored to each individual’s needs at no extra cost during the pilot.

Over the next 12 months additional improvements will include:

• Expanding the priority (three to five day) visa service from 67 countries to over 90 countries by spring 2014
• Expanding the same-day visa service, currently available in India and soon to be available in China, to several further key locations by the end of 2014
• Introducing a VIP mobile visa service to India and piloting the passport back service* in southern India with a view to expanding countrywide if successful

*This is currently available in a few countries, including Russia whereby the passport is returned to the applicant on the same day of submission of the application, enabling the applicant to travel whilst their application is in progress. The passport is then re-submitted when the British diplomatic post is ready to make a decision on the application.

We will update you with further details as they emerge from the government.