New Delhi: Visa-seekers for Britain, used to spending long hours in queues outside the High Commission in New Delhi, will no longer have to face the ordeal as new and improved visa services and facilities are being introduced from February 3.

The High Commission on January 24 announced that new visa application centres are being opened on February 3 in New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh. More such centres would be opened across the country over the next month, it said.

"The new services will make applying for a UK (United Kingdom) visa much easier. From February 3, applicants from Northern India, for all categories of UK visas, should lodge their applications at one of the visa application centres, rather than at the British mission."

Those desiring to visit Britain could conveniently submit their applications at any one of application centres close to their home instead of travelling all the way to Delhi.

In many cases, the application will be approved and the visitor's passport endorsed with the appropriate UK visa, returned to the application centre by courier, or sent to his home or office address directly.

Those who would still require an interview will be called for one at a time which suits them, a Commission statement said, adding, "Queuing for a visa outside the High Commission will now become a thing of the past."

PTI