PUNE: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on Thursday announced the extension of its Super Priority Visa (SPV) service to Pune and Bengaluru from May 1. This means more Indians can get avisa decision in 24 hours or less.
SPV is an optional service for Indian citizens who need to travel to the United Kingdom urgently.

Pune and Bengaluru have been added to the three locations that already offer this service in India — Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.

SPV applications are assessed to exactly the same high standard as all other applications, but are handled by the UKVI at the highest priority, with dedicated staff members processing cases at the front of the queue and an express courier service ensuring quick return to the customer, said a statement issued by the British deputy high commission, Mumbai.

“I am pleased that the Super Priority Visa service is being extended to even more Indian cities, giving many more UK visa customers the opportunity to receive a visa decision in 24 hours or less if needed. India was the first country in the world to receive this service in 2013 — and is once again leading the way as two more cities — Pune and Bengaluru — receive this first class visa service. This is further proof of the strength of the UK-India relationship and of the focus by UKVI on providing a convenient, world-class experience for Indian visa applicants,” said immigration minister Caroline Nokes in the statement.

The extension of this service aims to support the UK-India Technology Partnership, which will include establishing “technlogy clusters” in strategically important cities.

This announcement is part of a wider package of measures from UKVI as it seeks to transform and improve the visa service, including greater use of digital technology and additional optional services for customers to tailor and improve their experience.