From 17 July 2023, those applying for a UK visa in Shenzhen will have the option of paying to get a faster decision on their application, according to the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou.
A Super Priority Visa (SPV) is an optional, paid service that customers in select locations around the world can purchase, in addition to the visa fee, to receive a faster decision on their visa application.
The service is already available in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, but this is the first time that it’s available to the applicants in Shenzhen. Those who choose SPV will be able to receive a decision on their UK visa application by the end of the next working day.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
The fee for the SPV is currently £956, plus the standard fee for the type of visa being applied for.
The processing time for a standard UK visa is 15 working days, although this excludes evenings, weekends or national and public holidays, and applications may take longer in some instances.
Applications for Standard Visitor visas can be submitted up to 3 months before the intended date of travel. The earliest people can apply for a Student visa is 6 months before the start of their course.
Today also coincides with the opening of a new UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Shenzhen.
As of 19 June 2023, the UK VAC has relocated to a new location which can be found at:
Unit 2302, Floor 23, East Tower, C Future City,
No. 9285 Binhe Avenue, Futian District,
Shenzhen, China
Full details, including opening times, can be found on the VFS website.
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/chn/en/gbr/attend-centre/shenzhen
(Photo provided to GDToday)
During an inaugural visit to the new VAC location, Mike Lutz, UK Visas & Immigration’s Regional Manager, said: “We’re proud to be opening a new and improved visa centre here in Shenzhen, and the expansion of our Super Priority Visa service to customers in this important city is the latest in a series of changes we have made to create a quicker, easier and even more convenient process for our customers.”
He added, “We expect this summer to be extremely busy, and we are encouraging those who are looking to travel to the UK to plan early and apply for their visa well in advance. Having the option of paying for a Super Priority Service provides extra flexibility to customers should they need it.”
Sarah Mann, British Consul-General in Guangzhou, said: “I am delighted to see the Super Priority Visa service being launched for customers in Shenzhen. This, together with the opening of a new Visa Application Centre in the city, underlines our strong commitment to making an already excellent visa service even better, particularly for our customers in southern China.”
Author | Hannah
Editor | Olivia, Steven, James
