Editor,
I read with disappointment the article in East African Business Week on 31 March (‘Tanzania not happy with UK Visa processing’) which regrettably misrepresents the high quality visa service we offer in Dar es Salaam.
The UK welcomes genuine visitors from Tanzania and in 2013 we received over 5000 applications from Tanzanian nationals – issuing visas to over 80%.
Applications from Tanzanian nationals are assessed against the same immigration rules as all other nationalities. The immigration rules require customers to provide evidence of their own personal and financial circumstances in their country and sponsorship (if required) to satisfy the visa officer that they will leave the UK at the end of their visit.
Applications from Tanzania have been decided by UK Visas Immigration staff in Nairobi since 2008, over five years ago. Our customers do not need to apply six weeks in advance.
Our customer service standard for visit visas remains at a 15 working day turnaround regardless of our internal process to transfer applications to our decision making hub in Kenya.
Any suggestion that our staff in Nairobi refuse applicants from Tanzania based on any perceived national tensions is wholly inaccurate. We do not discriminate against applicants from Tanzania, or any country, based on their nationality. The Hub and Spoke programme does not just affect Tanzania. It was part of an ongoing global strategy to improve the efficiency, consistency and productivity of the UK’s visa operation.
This helps us to keep our visa fee competitive and invest in improvements to customer service. At the same time as we have reduced the number of places where we make decisions, we have increased the number of places where an application can be made. And we continue to be responsive in compelling cases where individuals need to travel at very short notice.
We have recently opened a new Visa Application Centre in Dar es Salaam with our Commercial Partner Teleperformance Limited.
The new application centre at Viva Towers, 294-295 Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, provides improved customer facilities including longer opening hours and a premium visa service for those who wish to expedite consideration of their application.
Applications are received at this centre and then transferred to UKVI staff in Nairobi for consideration.
I think it is important that your readers know that the UK is indeed open for business and we welcome genuine visitors.
Kashif Chaudry
Regional Director Africa
UK Visas
source: businessweek