UK Embassy Announces Visa Changes Affecting All Kenyans
In a significant update for prospective travelers, the United Kingdom Government revealed on Monday that it is altering the visa application processes for foreigners, including Kenyans, who have either applied for or intend to apply for visas to the UK. The announcement comes as part of a broader shift aimed at streamlining the application process.
According to the UK High Commissioner in Nairobi, the key change involves transitioning from the current visa printing commercial partner, TLScontact, to VFS Global. “Between September 2024 and January 2025, the commercial partner will change from TLScontact to VFS Global in some locations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia,” the UK High Commission shared.
This change will require Kenyan visa applicants to initiate their applications with one commercial partner and complete them with another, leading to potential confusion.
The Embassy reassured applicants not to be alarmed by the process changes, citing necessary security considerations as the driving force behind the shift.
“Applicants in Kenya will receive emails from both TLScontact and VFS Global,” the Embassy noted. It urged applicants to read all communications thoroughly, as they may contain essential steps needed to advance their applications.
“If your application is affected, you will get emails from TLScontact and VFS Global. Read all emails you receive from TLScontact and VFS Global. They may have actions you need to take to continue your application,” the advisory emphasized.
The Embassy also highlighted the importance of checking email folders to ensure no critical updates are missed. “Check your junk folders to make sure you have not missed anything. To confirm the email is genuine, check if the sender’s email address ends in either: @tlscontact.com or @vfsglobal.com,” it added.
For those who already have appointments scheduled for visa interviews, the Embassy has confirmed that these appointments should proceed as planned. However, applicants wishing to reschedule their interviews will need to repay the mandatory user pay (MUP) fee and can request a refund from TLScontact for previously paid fees. “Attend your appointment as normal. If you change your appointment, you may need to pay the mandatory user pay (MUP) fee again,” it cautioned.
Despite these changes, the Embassy clarified that the duration of the application process would remain unchanged, even as the new commercial partner begins operating from October 22 in Kenya.
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UK Embassy Announces Visa Changes Affecting All Kenyans
