From: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and HM Passport Office

1. PRIORITY VISA (PV) SERVICE

From November 1st 2013 UKVI extended the categories for our existing PV Service. For an additional fee priority visa applications that meet the criteria will be processed within 3-5 working days.

The PV Service is now available to all Business Visitors, including their spouse and accompanying children (under 18), and to applicants applying under Tier 1 (investor, entrepreneur or exceptional talent visa), and Tier 2 (General) or Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) of the Points-based System, their spouse and accompanying children (under 18).

The priority service is already available for customers applying for:

- Business visas if they are an employee of a company in our Business Select Scheme

(including spouse and children up to age 18)

- A general of family visitor who has travelled in the previous 5 years to the UK, the

USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or to a country in the Schengen Area (including

spouse and children up to age 18)

- Permanent residents of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or a Schengen

Area country

- Seafarers applying to join a ship in the UK, if they have previously travelled to the

UK for the same reason in the last 3 years

- Operational aircrew in Thailand (pilots/stewards/stewardesses) applying as visitors or

business visitors

- Tier 4 (General), Tier 4 (Child) and Tier 4 dependants

If customers wish to use the priority service when applying in Thailand, they must pay the fee when they visit the visa application centre (VFS Global) in Bangkok; the payment must be made in cash when submitting the application.

Please note that UKVI is not able to accept requests to use the priority service after applications have been submitted at the visa application centre in Bangkok. This service does not imply or guarantee in any way that applicants will be successful in their visa application. All visa applicants who use this service must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. It is strongly recommended that applicants with any form of adverse immigration history do not use this service.

For more information - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/premium/?langname=UK%20English">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/premium/?langname=UK%20English ">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/premium/?langname=UK%20Englishhttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/premium/?langname=UK%20EnglishON-LINE">

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2. ON-LINE PAYMENTS FOR VISA FEES

UKVI is embarking on a programme of modernisation, which includes moving to an online application process where almost all customers around the world will apply and pay for their visas online.

Customers in Thailand already apply for their visa online. From 16 December 2013, Thai customers (and all those applying in Thailand) will also be required to pay for their visa online, using either a MasterCard or Visa card or e-wallet where available. Additional online methods of payment are expected to become available over time, including other payment cards and e-wallets. Online payment will be mandatory for all customers and other methods of payment, including payment at the visa application centre, will no longer be accepted.

Whilst we recognise that this limits the payment options for our customers, it will be a much more streamlined application process and is consistent with a wider global trend to online transactions and payments. It meets the requirements of the UK Government's Digital by Default initiative and will help cut costs in the management of the visas operation, which in turns helps to keep visa fees down. It will also be a safer system for both customers and staff as it reduces the risk associated with handling large amounts of cash during the visa application process.

The new system will also streamline our own services and deliver operational efficiencies and savings. The Home Office is moving towards online being the basic service offered worldwide - providing consistency across the world and preventing any countries from being "left behind". We are committed to the FCO's One Government Overseas agenda and these projects contribute to the further harmonisation and rationalisation of support services, enabling economies of scale and Spending Review savings, while focusing on delivering excellent customer service and secure decisions.

In Thailand, customers will pay for their visa in $US dollars although we expect further currency options to be made available, including sterling, at a later date.

For more information -

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/december/05-payment-thailand">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/december/05-payment-thailand

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3. OVERSEAS PASSPORT APPLICATIONS - UK PROCESSING

From 10 December 2013 the transition from the local passport processing office in Hong Kong back to UK will be complete. Listed below is how specific countries are affected. There are 26 countries transitioning - information on how to apply for each country will be available here: http://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports">www.gov.uk/overseas-passports.

The main change from the existing process is that British Nationals in 16 countries must apply using the online application service. The countries are: Bhutan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam.

In the other 10 countries the process will be to apply using the paper application form downloaded from gov.uk.

- Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste - the process

is to send the application form to HM Passport Office in Liverpool.

- North Korea - apply in person, and also collect the new passport in person at the British

Embassy in Pyongyang.

- Thailand - submit passport renewals to HM Passport Office in Liverpool. First

time passport applicants continue submit their application to the British

Embassy in Bangkok. Their application will then be sent on to the UK for

processing.

There are a few pointers which have emerged from the online customer trial

- Be aware before you start that you will need to print, sign and post your declaration

form at the end of the online process

- Print your declaration form on good quality white paper (we scan it) - this will help to

ensure it is accepted first time

- Get the declaration form that you print to us as soon as possible - we don't start to

process the application until we get the declaration form

- Ensure there's no red-eye on photos as they will be rejected

- If we don't ask for documents you don't need to send them - the documents you

print out at the end give guidance on what has to be sent to us

- Be ready to write down or print off the username and password given to you - you can

use that to track the progress of your application

- Consider saving the application before you pay - if there's a delay at the payment

screen your details will have been saved

- Have your old passport and overseas-registered credit card at your side when you start

the application along with any passwords set up for online transactions - this will avoid

those annoying trips away from the screen when there's a risk of timing out.

"In Thailand, customers will pay for their visa in $US dollars although we expect further currency options to be made available, including sterling, at a later date."

Anyone else find this crazy!

You have to pay for a British Visa at the British Embassy in dollars, not even Thai Baht.

Has sterling sunk so low that not even the British Government will accept it.?

Who will fix the exchange rate? will it be the dollar against the baht or against the pound.

There is also a hidden cost as most UK debit/Credit cards charge a currency exchange fee on transactions made abroad.