Key Takeaways
- Lucknow’s new VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre facilitates visa applications for multiple European countries and Saudi Arabia.
- Capable of processing 120,000 applications yearly, it reduces travel hassles for residents, eliminating the need to visit New Delhi.
- The center collaborates with IHCL to host the VFS Global Academy, offering hospitality skills training, and enhancing local employability.
Expansion in Lucknow: Enhancing Accessibility
Uttar Pradesh, India–VFS Global, formerly known as “Visa Facilitation Services Global,” has announced that they have launched a visa application center in the state’s capital city, Lucknow, in a press release published on February 4.
Per the release, the VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre (JVAC) is capable of processing an estimated 120,000 applications a year, catering to travelers in the region bound for Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Italy and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (read: Digital nomad visas 101).
Also, VFS Global has partnered with the Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL) to launch the VFS Global Academy on the same premises. This coaching center would train interested applicants in an international standard of hospitality skills, “enabling employability.”
“The new Lucknow VAC would augment our commitment by significantly easing visa accessibility, empowering local youth through skilling and job creation, and contributing towards making Uttar Pradesh shine on the global map,” said Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VFS Global in the release.
The launch of VFS Global in Lucknow would mean that residents no longer had to travel to New Delhi (500 km away) to submit their applications.
Convenient Location and Comprehensive Services
The new facility spread over 24,000 sq. ft, is strategically located in the same building as Lucknow’s interstate bus terminal in Alambagh (Shalimar Gateway Mall) to make it easily accessible to those traveling from remote parts of the state. It also lies near the airport, railway, and metro station (Alambaug).
Established in 2001, VFS Global has become the leading enterprise in the field, with branches in all the major metropolitan areas across India and 3000+ offices in 145 countries worldwide.
“We have worked with the Ministry of External Affairs Government of India, for nearly 15 years supporting inbound tourism to India as well as aiding overseas travel for millions from the country,” added Karkaria in the release.
The new branch would have the following facilities:
- 11 submission counters
- Three biometric enrollment stations
- Premium Services (and lounges)
- Courier services
- Insurance (courier and travel medical)
What We Think
The introduction of the VFS Global Center in Lucknow signifies a significant stride in decentralizing visa application processes, offering convenience to residents and potentially boosting local employment through the accompanying hospitality training initiative.
This move aligns with the broader trend of simplifying administrative processes and empowering regional accessibility to global opportunities.
