Thai Consulate in Kolkata outsources visa application service to VFS Global

[george]

Thailand outsources visa application service to VFS Global in Kolkata

KOLKATA, India: -- The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata today officially launched visa application service at a VFS Global centre in the city, stated a release. For the first time, applicants in Kolkata will be able to submit their visa applications at a modern facility with five dedicated counters.

The important changes to the Thai visa application process, other than location and facility, are the opening time, which is being extended to 3 pm every weekday. Also, with prior appointment, bulk applications will be handled by specially appointed staff. These changes have been made to cope with the increasing visa demand, especially during the peak seasons.

Inaugurating the visa application centre, Pattira Chiempricha, Acting Consul-General, The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, said, “Ties between India and Thailand are closer than the distance in between. The Consulate strives to facilitate this thriving relationship. And today marks a great milestone in achieving this goal.”

Vinay Malhotra, COO - South Asia, VFS Global added, “We are honoured to support the initiatives of the Government of Thailand in India to facilitate the visa application process. The introduction of this service in Kolkata extends the convenience of a seamless visa application process to the travel trade fraternity and intended travellers to Thailand. We will continue to work together to deliver a professional and well-appointed end-to-end service.”

According to the release, the Consulate grants “as many as 60,000 visas” on an average, every year.

Following this, applicants in Kolkata will be able to submit their visa applications at a modern facility with five dedicated counters. Utmost convenience to applicants is assured by VFS Global, world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, and all personal information is guaranteed to be handled with highest confidentiality.

According to Pattira Chiempricha, acting consul-general, The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, "Ties between India and Thailand are closer than the distance in between. And the consulate strives to facilitate this thriving relationship."

-- 2015-03-20

[Thian]

They should set the opening hours for all Thai consulates and embassy's worldwide from 9 am to 6 pm.

And also make them in real buildings, not basements or other crappy small rooms. Also we deserve privacy when being served, especially if we have to show large amounts of money for a visa.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

What could possibly go wrong???

[paz]

They should set the opening hours for all Thai consulates and embassy's worldwide from 9 am to 6 pm.

And also make them in real buildings, not basements or other crappy small rooms. Also we deserve privacy when being served, especially if we have to show large amounts of money for a visa.

I have been and have seen some Thai consulates in the world and none were as you described. In my country is an upscale building worth many millions.

Also, I'm not aware of the need of showing cash money to get a Thai visa.

[noahvail]

When they say "five dedicated counters" I would have preferred that they say how many employees are working at each one.

If we assume that it takes the same amount of time to process each visa, which og course it does not, and there's one emplee per counter, then

60,000 apps per year

/ 5 emloyees =

12,000 apps per employee per year

/ 50 weeks (their holidays, our holidays =

240 apps per employee per week

/ 5 days in a week =

48 apps per employee per day

/ 8 hours per day=

6 apps in an hour

So, 10 minutes per app!

As a brilliant mind once said, "What could possibly go wrong?"

[ChrisY1]

When they say "five dedicated counters" I would have preferred that they say how many employees are working at each one.

If we assume that it takes the same amount of time to process each visa, which og course it does not, and there's one emplee per counter, then

60,000 apps per year

/ 5 emloyees =

12,000 apps per employee per year

/ 50 weeks (their holidays, our holidays =

240 apps per employee per week

/ 5 days in a week =

48 apps per employee per day

/ 8 hours per day=

6 apps in an hour

So, 10 minutes per app!

As a brilliant mind once said, "What could possibly go wrong?"

Add to that .....it's in India.......yes...what could possibly go wrong?

[Dogbarker]

YES this be the same VFS service that is handling the British Passport in Bangkok ..... nuff said ...

[gk10002000]

India outsourced its visa application process, at least that is what I run into here in the USA when I started to apply. I am not surprised that the Thai embassy in India is now doing it.

[thaiguzzi]

I pity the Indians who now have to use VFS. Outsourcing again, cost cutting, less of a personal touch through direct contact with embassy staff...

VFS would have trouble organizing a piss up in a brewery.

[Benmart]

They should set the opening hours for all Thai consulates and embassy's worldwide from 9 am to 6 pm.

And also make them in real buildings, not basements or other crappy small rooms. Also we deserve privacy when being served, especially if we have to show large amounts of money for a visa.

I am not in charge of the setting of business hours or locations. Perhaps directing these concerns to the appropriate authorities may help.

[Benmart]

What could possibly go wrong???

I prefer to look at it in a more positive light. But then, many have no flashlight to see the light switch on the wall.

[Benmart]

When they say "five dedicated counters" I would have preferred that they say how many employees are working at each one.

If we assume that it takes the same amount of time to process each visa, which og course it does not, and there's one emplee per counter, then

60,000 apps per year

/ 5 emloyees =

12,000 apps per employee per year

/ 50 weeks (their holidays, our holidays =

240 apps per employee per week

/ 5 days in a week =

48 apps per employee per day

/ 8 hours per day=

6 apps in an hour

So, 10 minutes per app!

As a brilliant mind once said, "What could possibly go wrong?.

Assume is sometimes a replacement word for guessing.

The figures seem to be hypothetical. What could go wrong? I wouldn't know as I cant look into the future.

[noahvail]

When they say "five dedicated counters" I would have preferred that they say how many employees are working at each one.

If we assume that it takes the same amount of time to process each visa, which og course it does not, and there's one emplee per counter, then

60,000 apps per year

/ 5 emloyees =

12,000 apps per employee per year

/ 50 weeks (their holidays, our holidays =

240 apps per employee per week

/ 5 days in a week =

48 apps per employee per day

/ 8 hours per day=

6 apps in an hour

So, 10 minutes per app!

As a brilliant mind once said, "What could possibly go wrong?.

Assume is sometimes a replacement word for guessing.

The figures seem to be hypothetical. What could go wrong? I wouldn't know as I cant look into the future.

The post was intended to be humorous. The words "if we assume" were put in there as a setup to go through the litany of numbers to reach AllSeeingEye's comment of of "What could possibly go wrong?"

I hope that provides you with a flashlight.

Here's another bit of humor: many of us have heard or been victims of out-sourced customer service. Many of these outsourcings have gone to India. I wonder where VFS is doing its outsourcing from - the Philippines?