UK Fastens Visa Application Process For Kenyans
On Wednesday, January 25, the United Kingdom announced improvements in the visa application process for Kenyans who wish to travel to Great Britain.
The waiting time for visa applicants has been shortened from months to just three weeks.
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, stated that they have fulfilled the promise of providing normal customer service standards and that decisions on visa applications will now take just three weeks, with faster priority services available.
“Six months ago, I promised we would get our visa service for Kenyans travelling to the UK back on track.
On July 2, 2022, Marriott International issued an apology to Kenyan citizens for the delays in processing UK visa applications.
Marriott acknowledged that the backlog of visas, which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, had contributed to the delays.
However, Kenyans who are looking to travel to the United Kingdom can now look forward to a smoother and more efficient visa application process.
According to Ambassador Marriott, the visa application process will be faster for both student and child visa applicants.
The decision on the visa application will be made within 3 weeks of the applicant’s appointment at the visa application center.
Marriott also noted that the process may be faster for applicants from certain countries, and encouraged applicants to check with their local visa application center for more information.
To qualify for a student visa, an applicant must be at least 16 years of age, must have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor, and must have enough money to support themselves and pay for their course.
The amount of money required will vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Additionally, student visa applicants must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
The cost to apply for a student visa from outside the UK is £363 (Ksh56,000), and £490 (Ksh75,000) to extend or switch to a student visa from inside the UK.
Kenya and the United Kingdom have a strong relationship, with both countries being members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The two countries engage regularly on matters of military, economic, and cultural importance.
In recent years, Kenya has seen a change in its visa ranking on the global stage, with a number of countries now allowing Kenyan citizens to enter their countries without a visa requirement.
For example, Kenyans are currently allowed to visit South Africa without a visa requirement, following a deal between Presidents William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa.
UK Fastens Visa Application Process For Kenyans