Ugandans travelling to UK to pay for Visas online

This is meant to cut costs in the management of the visas operation, according to a press statement by Mr Samuel Paice, the Consul and Head of Communications at the British High Commission in Uganda dated February 4.

It is also meant to “reduce the risk associated with handling large amounts of cash”.

Previously, only the application process had to be done online.

Applicants now have to use either their Visa or MasterCard credit and debit cards or the Skrill e-wallet computer application to pay for the visas.

Mr Paice said: “The move to online application and payments will deliver a streamlined application process and is consistent with a wider global trend towards online transactions and payments.”

Critics say the move could make it harder for more Ugandans to travel to the UK because, one, few have such cards and two; access to the Internet is still limited to mainly a few urban centres with cheaper and reliable Internet connection.

According to the Visa Group Africa 2011 figures, 700, 000 of the 34 million Ugandans have visa credit cards compared with about 3, 000, 000 in Kenya, which has a population of 40 million people.

The group said then that the uptake of these cards is on the rise because of among, other reasons, the online discounts that the card providers offer.

Mr Paice the UK’s decision to consider online payment for visas would “help cut costs in the management of the visas operation, which in turn helps to keep visa fees down”.

The new policy comes against the background plans last year to have the applicants deposit about Shs10 million with the high commission to prove that they (applicants) would return to Uganda upon the completion of either their studies or visit.

In the region, the deposit is already being required of Kenyans who intend to travel to the UK; Kenyans have to deposit KShs400, 000 (Shs12 million).

Critics say such moves are in response to the ever-increasing number of applicants seeking visas to the West in pursuit of greener pastures.

Sidebar

Shs360, 000 – cost of a visa to the UK