'More enhancements to the UK visa service in China'
英国内政部强调中国作为一个旅游与商务访问者优先发展市场的重要性，并推出了一系列进一步改进英国签证服务以满足高价值客户需要的改进措施。
对签证的持续强劲需求表明英国在中国访客心中作为旅游和经商之地的受欢迎程度。自2009年以来，访问者签证需求上涨了约80%，且随着后奥运时代的效果显现，无任何迹象表明该增长放缓。
面对该增长及中国客户的反馈，在未来6个月内将推出一系列特别定制的更完善的措施，来改进签证服务，其中包括：
快速签证服务资格范围扩大，将包括Tier 4学生签证，而在符合快速签证服务要求的各类申请中，曾获得申根签证的申请现也可使用该项服务。
为商务旅行人士和ADS旅行人士提供护照返还服务，即允许客户在签证处理过程中，保留自己的护照。这意味着，如有需要，他们可去他地旅行或申请其他签证，减少申请两个签证所花时间。
简化ADS过程，包括缩短在线申请表格、简化要求。
针对商务访客和ADS授权旅行社及其客户提供了两份新的中文版本签证指南，介绍签证步骤。
在中国成立了一个商务网络，使馆设专门的工作人员协助商务人士处理他们的赴英签证需求，并与商界更加密切地合作，以保证我们提供的服务满足其需求。
为在华的“英国旅游专家在线培训网站”（Brit Agent network）提供一个新的在线培训项目，从而使他们能更好地帮助想要前往英国旅行的中国客户。
上门采集生物信息服务，使申请者在对自己更便捷的地点采集生物识别信息，而无需再前往签证申请中心。
改进在线申请程序，包括提供可选式在线支付以及中文翻译过的申请表格。
这些改进措施将在未来6个月内逐渐实施，它们反映出英国尤为重视来自中国的访客和投资者。这些措施是在英国边境管理局首席执行长官罗伯•怀特曼（Rob Whiteman）上周访华后提出的。怀特曼先生在北京和上海分别会见了众多来自企业和旅行社的人士，与其讨论签证服务。这些措施还进一步完善了过去18个月中已经实施的改进措施，诸如快速签证服务、在线申请以及部分签证申请中心的扩大和翻新。
英国签证服务在其服务标准范围内一直表现优异，50%的签证在5日内处理完毕，97%在15日内处理完毕。而且，与通常认为的情况正相反，前往英国的访客签证申请并不困难，95%的申请人成功获签。
英国边境管理局首席执行长官罗伯•怀特曼说：“我们已经实施了诸多改进措施，而我们的签证处理时间位列最快服务国家行列。但是，我们也要认识到我们还有许多能做的事情。我们致力于确保中国客户在签证申请程序的每一步都能享受到最佳服务，而这也是我们在未来几个月内进一步推出改进措施的原因。”
英国驻华大使馆公使安勇先生（Andrew Key）表示：“中国已经成为英国旅游和商务旅行的一个重要市场，而且其重要性与日俱增。我们热烈欢迎中国访客到英国从商、旅游、学习和探亲。我们也将持续努力为越来越多的中国游客提供更好的服务。”
The UK Home Office has confirmed the importance of China as a priority growth market for tourism and business visitors with the introduction of a package of further enhancements to the UK visa service to meet the needs of these high value customers.
Continuing strong demand for visas underscores the UK’s popularity amongst the Chinese as a place to visit and do business. Demand for visitor visas has increased almost 80% since 2009 and there is no sign of this growth slowing as the post-Olympic effect begins to take hold.
In response to this growth and feedback from Chinese customers a further, specially tailored, package of visa service enhancements will be introduced over the next 6 months including:
- Priorityvisa eligibility has been expanded to include Tier 4 students and across all eligible categories those with previous Schengen travel may also now use the service.
- A passport pass-back service for business travellers and ADS tourists which allows customers to keep their passport while their visa is being processed. This means they can travel or apply for another visa if they need to, reducing the time it takes to get two visas.
- A simplified ADS process, including shortened on-line application form and streamlined requirements.
- Launch of two new step-by-step Chinese language visa guides for Business Visitors and ADS agents and their customers.
- The establishment of a Business Network in China with dedicated Embassy staff to assist businesses with their UK visa requirements and to work more closely with the business community to ensure our service offer meets their needs.
- A new online visa training module for the Brit Agent network in China so they can better assist Chinese customers wanting to travel to the UK.
- A mobile biometric service which will be available to applicants who wish to have their biometrics taken at a location more convenient to them, rather than visiting a visa application centre.
- Improvements to the online application process including the introduction of optional online payments and translated application forms.
These improvements reflect the special importance placed on visitors and investors from China and will be rolled out over the next 6 months. They follow a visit from the UK Border Agency’s Chief Executive, Rob Whiteman to China last week where he met a range of businesses and tour agents in Beijing and Shanghai to discuss the visa service. They also further complement a range of enhancements already implemented in the past 18 months such as the express visa service, online applications and the expansion and refurbishment of several visa application centres.
The UK visa service is already delivering well within its service standards, with 50% of visas processed within 5 days and 97% within 15 days. And, contrary to popular belief, it is not difficult to get a visitor visa to the UK with 95% of those who apply being successful.
UK Border Agency CEO, Rob Whiteman said:
“We have already introduced a number of enhancements and our processing times show we provide amongst the fastest service of any country but we recognise that there is always more we can do. We're committed to making sure customers from China get the very best service possible at every step of the process and that is why we are introducing a further package of enhancements over the coming months.”
British Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission, Andrew Key said:
“China is already a key market for tourism and business travel to the UK, and is growing in importance by the day. We warmly welcome Chinese visitors to the UK for business, tourism, study and family visits. We are working continually to provide an ever better service to the growing number of Chinese travelers”.
