New UK visa application centreAs of May, new procedures will be introduced for the handling of visa applications for the United Kingdom (UK), according to the British High Commission. Applications will be made through a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) based in Kingston and run by the Commission's commercial partners, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). The new centre will provide comprehensive application and information services, as well as undertaking electronic fingerprinting in line with the new requirement for visitors who need visas, and those planning longer stays in the UK.

Responsibility for the issuing of visas will remain with the British High Commission.

All existing visas will remain valid until their expiry date.

Details about the new visa application process will be made public as soon as possible.

These changes flow from the UK's Managed Migration Strategy and global Commercial Partnership Programme. A contract was signed in late February with CSC to provide outsourced visa services for the UK around the world, including Jamaica.

Information on the Global Commercial Partnership Programme, Fingerprinting and Biometrics can be found at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk