Crowds thin with the introduction of biometric visa services

As more countries jump onto the biometric visa bandwagon by making them compulsory for passengers travelling overseas, more industry honchos, large organiations, HNIs (high net worth individuals), among others are availing these services right from their homes or offices through their mobile phones. Right now, it is being offered in India by VFS Global, a certified technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions across the world.

Biometric visa is a personal service customized to meet requirements of visa applicants. Aimed at applicants staying in remote locations who have to travel to cities to apply for visas, it collects details and information of applicants from wherever they are. Presently, the service is offered in India to visa applicants headed to the United Kingdom.

To address safety concerns, as the data brought forth from the applicants of visa could be misused by mischievous elements, it is required that the biometric kit is validated by a Consulate/High Commission. Representatives of VFS Global need to call their office before they open the kit. Only after they get a go-ahead from the office is the kit opened to collect information from the visa applicant. The VFS Global kit can be audited at any point of time by any of the Consulates/High Commissions.