On October 22, 2024, the UK Embassy announced the transition of its visa application services from TLSContact to VFS Global for some locations. Some of these locations are in Africa, Europe, Middle East & Central Asia.
This change will impact Nigeria as well with effect from November 19, 2024. This change marks a shift from the current partner, TLScontact, as part of a broader global effort to streamline visa application services and improve customer experience.
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
The switch means that all visa applicants in Nigeria will now interact with VFS Global for appointment scheduling, document submission, and payment processing. However, the decision-making process for visa applications will remain unchanged, and applicants should not expect any modifications to the requirements for obtaining a UK visa or processing time.
VFS Global, a well-established name in the visa services industry, will handle operations in several African countries, including Nigeria.
Key Changes to Expect
- New Visa Application Centres: VFS Global will operate the new visa application centres across Nigeria, and all processing will be done through their platform.
VFS centers in Nigeria include;
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- Lagos (Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, Opposite Treasure Garden Estate, Third Roundabout, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, Nigeria)
- Abuja (Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor, Plot 1083 Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District Abuja Nigeria)
- Port Harcourt (Vineyard Shopping Centre, 88 Woji Road, GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria)
- New Email Correspondence: Notification emails will no longer be from @tlscontact.com but from the ***@vfsglobal.com email domain—take note to avoid falling victim to scammers.
- New Portal Interface: while it is unclear how the interface for booking appointments may look, we guess a new interface may be utilised. Pay attention to instructions when filling your application.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
While the switch is not expected to cause any disruptions in the visa application process, applicants are encouraged to take action.
Those who have already scheduled appointments with TLScontact may need to reschedule or transition their application to the VFS Global system, depending on the specific instructions provided by the UK Visa and Immigration service.
Visa applicants are urged to regularly check their email for updates from both TLScontact and VFS Global, as these communications will provide detailed information about any necessary actions they must take. For more information, you can visit the official UK government website here.
Conclusion
From November 19, 2024, UK Visa applications in Nigeria will now be managed by VFS Global. Applicants who have scheduled appointments on TLSContact will follow the schedule and appear at the TLSContact address provided in their email.
If you paid a mandatory user pay (MUP) fee when booking an appointment with TLScontact, you will need to pay the MUP fee again if you:
- change your appointment
- the new appointment is with VFS Global
If this happens, ask TLScontact to refund your MUP fee via https://pos.tlscontact.com/contact
Applicants should keep an eye on official communications and visit the new VFS Global application centre or website for guidance on the next steps.
For assistance with UK Visa processing, contact us today for professional consultation and assistance. To know more about our visa assistance services, please visit https://afaritravels.com/visa
