RIYADH, 20 May 2007 -- The British Embassy here will issue biometric visas through its new Visa Application Centers (VACs) that are to be established in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar beginning September this year.

Announcing the proposed visa scheme, Brian Hefford, consul at the British Embassy, told newsmen that the new system is to be introduced for the convenience of the hundreds of applicants, who visit the British missions in Riyadh and Jeddah to obtain entry visas. Currently, visas to the UK are only issued at its missions in Riyadh and Jeddah.

Hefford was speaking at a press conference, which was held at the British Embassy in Riyadh, to announce the new system. Andrew Turner, Charge d'Affairs of the mission, also attended the event. The British mission in Riyadh issues around 57,000 visas per year with an annual increase of 14 percent. Some 12,000 Saudi students are currently studying in the United Kingdom.

"The aim of the new service is to ensure that visiting the United Kingdom becomes a stress-free, enjoyable and memorable experience for people from the Kingdom starting the minute that they apply for a visa," the consul explained.

To issue a biometric visa, Hefford said, applicants have to visit the VAC in their particular region and provide a fingerprint scan, a digital photo and application form. The fingerprint scan requirement does not apply to children under the age of five. "This scan will be valid for a period of 10 years and even the visa can be issued for the same period depending on the type of visa required by applicants," said Hefford, adding that the biometric system will prevent the abuse of passports, fraud and misuse of travel documents. "It will also provide the mission's staff with better information to support the visa decision process," he said.

Speaking about the VACs, Hefford said that they would accept and check visa application forms, collect fees, input data entry and enroll biometrics. He added that they would only serve as data input centers and that UK visa officers would be the ones making the visa decisions.

"The centers will be open for eight hours a day and people can submit their applications at their convenient time. During the holy month of Ramadan, they will be open at night also," he said, adding that separate arrangements for ladies would be made in accordance with the host country's regulations.

Visas will be issued within 24 hours for applications submitted at the Riyadh and Jeddah offices. Applications at the Alkhobar center would take at least three days.

Answering a question from Arab News, Hefford said that the British Embassy is considering issuing special visas for guardians of students, who travel to the UK for higher studies. He added that such visas would be issued for a limited period of three to six months and could be renewed according to individual requirements. "This arrangement will be finalized soon, since the Ministry of Higher Education is insisting on a guardian to chaperon female students when they go for higher studies," he said.

By Mohammed Rasooldeen & Najah Alosaimi

© Arab News 2007