United Kingdom is back to processing visa applications within 15 days

The United Kingdom is back to processing visa applications within the standard of 15 days, with priority visas being processed within five days.

With an unprecedented surge in travel demand post-pandemic, the UK, like many other countries, has been grappling with immigration backlogs- forcing thousands of students, workers, and tourists to reschedule their travel.

"Good news for those traveling from India to the UK- visit visas now within the standard time of 15 working days (with a small number of trickier cases taking longer)," British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said in a tweet.

Extra slots for student visas have also been opened, to keep up with the January 2023 intake, Ellis added, "Please apply as quickly as you can because there is a lot of demand."

"Make sure you provide the right information. Check what information we are asking for, and make sure you provide it."

Ellis said that Indian student numbers are up by 89 percent since last year and skilled workers' visas bring processed faster with a focus on improving visitor visa processing times.

The latest UK Immigration Statistics published in August show that nearly 118,000 Indian students received a Student visa in the year ending June 2022 - an 89 percent increase from the previous year.

India has now overtaken China as the largest nationality being issued sponsored study visas in the UK.

The UK continues to be a popular destination for Indian holidaymakers too. Indian nationals accounted for the highest proportion (28per cent) of Visitor visas granted.

More than 258,000 Indian nationals received visit visas in the year ending June 2022 - a 630 percent increase compared to the previous year (when travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were still in place).

In the year ending June 2022, Indian nationals also received nearly 103,000 Work visas (which includes skilled and seasonal workers) - a 148 percent increase over the previous year. Indian nationals continue to be the top nationality granted Skilled Worker visas, accounting for 46 percent of all skilled work visas granted globally.