The Home Office has announced that between September 2024 and January 2025, several visa application centre locations, including some within the UK, will experience a change in commercial partner providers.
For visa applications submitted outside the UK, the commercial partner in certain regions – specifically parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia – will switch from TLScontact to VFS Global. Other regions will not be affected by this change. If the change occurs while an application is in progress, applicants will receive emails from both TLScontact and VFS Global, providing instructions on any additional actions required to continue processing their application.
For applications submitted within the UK, the commercial partner for UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services will transition from Sopra Steria to TLScontact in Autumn 2024.
Details about when and where these commercial partner changes will take place overseas will be regularly updated on the Home Office website here. A link to register for email alerts about these updates is available on the same page. It is important to note that changes to a commercial partner are not expected to affect application processing times or decisions.
Visa applicants should monitor their emails closely during the transition period for communications from both TLScontact and VFS Global. It's advisable to register for email alerts on the Home Office website to stay informed about specific changes. Employers should ensure that their employees or prospective hires are aware of these changes and encourage them to keep the employer updated on any additional requirements. Although processing times and decisions should not be impacted, it would be sensible to plan for potential minor disruptions during the transition.
For more information, please contact a member of our Immigration team.
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