UKBA Opens Biometric Clinic in Western Kazakhstan for UK Visa Applicants

The UK immigration authorities have established a new ‘mobile Biometric Clinic Service’ in the western region of Kazakhstan which started its operations on August 17^th, 2012.  The mobile service will mostly accommodate people living in the western city of Atyrau, which is on the Caspian Sea.

This service, as per UK border Agency (UKBA) officials, was established in partnership with VFS Global. The agency stated that the service will enable the Atyrau and other neighboring city’s citizens to submit their biometric details in these mobile centers and avoid expensive trips to the capital Almaty to do so. Submitting their biometric information is important and necessary if a person wants to apply for a UK visa.

The UK Immigration department said that the service was particularly created to accommodate people in this region, who will no longer have to make trips to the Almaty offices of UKBA to submit such details, which will save their precious time and hard earned money. However, there is a fee for using the service which the applicants must pay before submitting their information, which they can only do if they have procured a prior appointment with the department.

As per the guidelines issued by UKBA for using the service, the applicants must pay a sum of 37,888 tenge [US $256] in advance after booking an appointment for the service. The service will be provided by the department once a month. This amount is exclusive of the visa application fee which the applicants have to submit separately to the UK immigration authorities.

Furthermore, the UK visa applicants must possess complete and signed visa application forms, a photograph, a valid passport with at least one page blank on both sides, appointment confirmation for mobile clinic appointment, a bank receipt verifying that the applicant has paid for the service and all other supporting documents that the department may have required when they arrive for the appointment. In addition to this the applicants must arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment times. Details of the particulars required by the agency and VFS Global for the application purpose can be found on the official UKBA website.

The Border Agency also clarified that the mobile service is not authorized to accept visa applications from the applicants. It is only established to receive their biometric information, which is mandatory under the UK immigration laws. For visa applications the applicants must travel to the UKBA visa application centers in Almatey.

For convenience of the applicants, the UKBA also issued a list of supporting documents that are generally required by the authorities. The list includes a valid passport, verification documents of online visa application fees payment, previous passports, if any, to verify any previous international traveling, courier receipt provided upon completion of biometric detail submission and recent passport sized photographs. Those who are applying under the point based system must also bring a ‘completed self assessment form’ with them. Other than these, any other supporting documents mentioned on the UKBA website will also be required by the application centers. The applicants must complete all requirements prior to submitting their applications for the visa. Details for fees structure of Tier 1 and Tier 2 work visas, Tier 4 study visas and other visit visas to the UK are also provided on the UKBA website.

Tags: mobile Biometric Clinic Service of UKBA, UK Border Agency, UK immigration, UK visa applicants, VFS Global