Indian Students to Get Priority Visas, Says British High Commission

Indian students traveling to the United Kingdom will be granted visas on a priority and super priority basis to help them follow the college timelines. Making the announcement in a tweet, the British High Commission in India advised outgoing students to apply for their visas as soon as possible. 

“Good news, Priority and Super Priority visas are available for Student visas. We anticipate high demand over the next few weeks so recommend that you apply for your visa as soon as possible. Remember, it can take time to prepare your supporting documents so start this now (sic),” tweeted the British High Commission. 

Last week, in a press conference, the UK High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis addressed the visa delays that the Indian citizens have been facing for a while and apologized for the same. Highlighting some factors responsible for this delay, he stated that one of the primary factors is the remarkable rise in the demand for UK student visas after the COVID-19 relaxations. Moreover, the suspension of UK visa priority services amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis has also led to a significant delay in the visa process. 

Elaborating on this matter via a video post on Twitter, Ellis said, “We want to see an unprecedented number of Indian students coming to the UK this year, and we will do everything we can to ensure that you get your visa on time. But again, follow the guide to the letter.”

The UK High Commission expects large numbers of Indian students this year and is planning to dedicate enough resources to make the priority visa services accessible. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) of the UK, during 2020-21, over 82,000 Indians studied in UK institutions.