From October 22, 2024, the UK’s third-party visa application centre supplier in Ghana has switched to the outsourcing company, VFS Global from the previous TLScontact, Visa.
The move has been explained to be a new change to improve the services in the visa application centre.
The development means that applicants in Ghana will need to complete their visa applications with VFS Global, even if they began the process with TLScontact as the previous supplier.
In a press statement, the UK government said the new changes would improve the services, including, on average, shorter biometric and application submission times in the visa application centre.
The new location for the UK visa application centre in Ghana is the Mezzanine Floor, Grand Oyeeman Building, South Liberation Link in Accra.
The British global network of visa application centres is managed by third-party suppliers under the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
The UK government emphasised that applicants would be informed if they would be affected by the new changes.
Additionally, applicants will be contacted by email if this change affects them. However, there is no need for concern as it will not affect visa application decisions, processing times, or prices.
UK government’s statement
The improved services mean shorter biometric application submission times in the visa application centres, as well as a new average passport collection time of 20 minutes and more comprehensive information for persons to distinguish free services from paid services.
Subsequently, the UK government has ensured that the recent changes will not affect the visa process, nor immigration rules, or visa fees.
TLS Visa Application Center to close on November 15.
Ghanaian nationals planning to submit new visa applications on the UK Visas and Immigration website will be automatically addressed to the VFS Global company in order to make an appointment for submission of their biometrics.
The current TLScontact visa application centre, located in Accra, will be officially closed on November 15, 2024, with the visa application services transferred to VFS Global.
Applicants that have already submitted their application at the TLScontact centre on or before November 15, 2024, and have not received your decision will have their files and any associated documents securely transferred to VFS Global by the TLScontact centre.
VFS Global in a statement noted that no change to their appointment will be applied to those who booked an appointment with the TLS contact centre for this month.