AHMEDABAD, APRIL 28
Globe-trotting Gujaratis’ visa application volume has gone up by whopping 285 pc against the national average of 133 pc in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, says a senior official of VFS Global, the world’s largest visa outsourcing and technology specialist working with governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.
Stating that with the opening of international borders, relaxation on travel restrictions and resumption of flights, there has been upsurge in visa seekers, Ramita Vyas. Head –Western India, VFS Global, said there has been 285 percent increase in the volume of applications being filed from the Ahmedabad office in Q1 of 2022 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
The centre manages administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport and consular for various diplomatic missions (i.e., embassies and consulates).
Vyas, said, “The increase in the volume of visa applications from Ahmedabad, which covers entire Gujarat, is more than the national-level volume increase which stands at 133 percent. More people are coming out for seeking student and tourist visas. Volumes in Q1 2021 were significantly less as many international borders were closed with pandemic-induced travel restrictions. Ahmedabad office receives between 250 and 350 visa applications for the UK and up to 500 for Canada daily. Further, for the convenience of visa seekers, the staffers from Ahmedabad visit other cities on weekends. With the help of tour agents, the company offers onsite service to them in a hassle-free manner.”
Vyas said the demand of new facility started post Covid of ‘Visa at your Doorstep’ too had increased by six times in Ahmedabad as compared to the same time in 2021.
“Customers have shown an increased interest in our more innovative and sophisticated services, such as the premium lounge, which offers a convenient experience within the visa application centre, and visa at your doorstep, which enables people to submit their visa applications from the comfort, convenience and safety of their home or office. The doorstep service alone has observed a 6X increase in demand since 2020, a trend we expect to grow with travellers prioritising safe travel in the future. Changing customer expectations have fuelled the emergence and acceptance of contactless and do it yourself technologies. Services like visa at your doorstep, digital application submission, digital document check, eVisa solutions, AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) products have seen higher acceptance with customers,” she said.
