Mukesh’s unusual request gives UK visa authorities revenue ‘ideas’

If you are stashed and want to get a UK visa with minimum fuss in the comfort of your home it may just be possible in the days to come.

BFS Global, an international facilitation centre dealing in UK visas was recently stumped by an unusual request from India’s richest man. Mukesh Ambani and his entourage were planning <g data-gr-id="31">an UK</g> visit and wanted the agency to block a date where no other visa seekers would be entertained. 

“A UK visa applicant needs to shell out around Rs 8,000, and on an average around 150 visa seekers show up at our office” a source confirmed. Ambani’s office offered to fully compensate the agency for any loss in revenue for extending the special favour.

This request was forwarded to Immigration authorities in <g data-gr-id="39">UK</g>. Instead of being ticked off, it got them thinking. According to sources, UK immigration authorities are seriously considering an option to offer special facilities to high net worth individuals like Mukesh Ambani. For a premium fee, these super rich individuals can dispense with visa formalities at their homes. Under the <g data-gr-id="37">arrangement</g> some visa representative will show up at their homes to enable <g data-gr-id="28">finger printing</g> and retina tests. 

This will spare  a top honcho the trouble of having to show up at a visa centre and jostle with ordinary citizens to fulfill visa formalities. Such a system is already in place for China for tycoons seeking speedy UK visas.

Mukesh Ambani has postponed his UK trip for now. But this unusual request has opened up a world of opportunities for <g data-gr-id="34">UK</g> to maximise revenues through premium visa fees. Ambani may just have made it easier for fellow industrialists to get UK visas.