UK to close Colombo visa section; Chennai to process all forms

COLOMBO: Britain today said the processing of all UK visa applications submitted by Sri Lankans in Colombo will be shifted to its Deputy High Commission in Chennai from November 1.

"From 1 November, all visa applications submitted in Colombo will be processed by the UK Border Agency at the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai. The visa section in the British High Commission (here) will close on 31 October," the UK mission in Colombo said in a statement.

Applicants will continue to submit their visa applications at the visa application centre in Colombo and collect their documents from the same location, or request return by courier.

Visa applications, including passports and supporting documents, will be transported by secure courier between the visa application centre in Colombo and the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai.

The British mission said that a majority of Sri Lankan visa applications since mid 2008 had been processed in Chennai.

In spite of the closure of its visa section, the High Commission would continue to function as normal in Colombo, the statement said.