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ABU DHABI / WAM
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has received a note from the British Embassy about launching the UK’s upgraded electronic visa waiver scheme (EVW2) by the end of May 2016, to make travel to the UK even easier for Emirati passport holders. Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the ministry, Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri, said the note explains the procedures involved in the upgraded scheme in which applicants should upload a copy of the page showing personal details on their passports to enable the staff to ensure accuracy of the data typed in the application. In case the data does not exactly match, the applicant will be notified to make the necessary changes.
Starting at 13:30 hours local time, May 23, a fee of 15 British pounds will be collected online for each EVW2 application to cover the cost of improvements to the new system, he noted.
He said the note has retained the minimum period of 48 hours during which an application must be completed before departure to the UK.
This document can be used only once for a visit of up to six months to the UK for tourism, business or training purposes.
EVW2 forms can be filled online at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk.
EVW2 is an upgrade of EVW1 which was launched in early 2014
to make travel to the UK easier for Emiratis.
Al Dhahrei noted that the UK embassy and consulate in the UAE introduced a fast visa service whereby a separate form should be filled in online after the application is completed. A fee of US$1,140 will be levied for this speeded up service.
Applications can be made between Sunday-Thursday, from 8 to 10 am at https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/ShoppingCart/Pages/Authorization.aspx
On the same day, applicants will be handed their visas or a note of rejection after 4 pm.
If an application is completed after 10 pm, it will be processed after 4 pm the next day.