Mandatory online payment for UK visas announced in the Philippines

[rusty]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2012/december/03-online-philippines

From 17 December 2012 all UK visa applicants in the Philippines will be required to pay for their visa online, in US Dollars, as part of the online application process using either a Visacard or Mastercard. Other methods of payment will not be accepted from this date.

Once you have applied and paid for your visa online you will still need to visit the visa application centre to submit your documents and provide your biometrics (fingerprints and digital photograph). Appointments to attend the visa application centre should be booked online when you are completing your online application form.

If you completed your online application form prior to 17 December 2012, you will still be able to pay for your visa application using one of the current methods of payment available until 13 January 2013. From 14 January 2013 only applications where the payment has been made online will be accepted.

The integration of payment into the online system will provide a more streamlined visa application process for customers and is part of a wider move to allow almost all of our customers to apply and pay for their visas online by 2013/14.

[melovesengland]

That'll be more easy to pay now I suppose. I like it.

[rusty]

Yes easier to pay but why in US dollars?

[lastlid]

WOW. It was mandatory "offline" before.

Yes, strange that it is in US Dollars. I presume none of the visa fees paid come back to the UK?

I often thought that when we paid our fees into the local bank there - that the monies don't go back to the UK and are utilised for something else over there?

To pay the staff wages presumably and to pay VFS but maybe also to pay for the new Embassy building? :biggrin:

[melovesengland]

Yes easier to pay but why in US dollars?

Aint sure about that but there is no changes on the fees which is good.

I wonder why most banks in the PI dont change GBP? Been to quite few but they dont accept GBP?

[rusty]

WOW. It was mandatory "offline" before.

I think it was mandatory to submit the application online but up till now, not the payment. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Arjie]

That's a good news!!:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[bhem_bhem]

that's good,, :Jump::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[BoholoX]

Yup I approve! That is until my bank declines the payment...