VFS Global, a leader in the outsourced visa and consular services space for governments say they will soon introduce one of its newest innovations, the Mobile Visa Application Centre to the Ghana market.
The Mobile Visa Application Centre – a highly flexible mobile visa application facility (TEL) offers enhanced customer convenience, security features, and enhanced network reach.
Addressing the press in an engagement on Wednesday in Accra, Mr. Hariprasad Viswanathan, Head -Sub-Saharan Africa, announced that the service will be based on demand, stressing that if they get requests from a larger group or a centre they will be eager to implement it in Ghana.
He maintained that the company continuously transforms its business model with secure and efficient processes, market offerings and advanced technologies including Ai/Analytics, making people’s cross border mobility simple and convenient through highly secure, reliable, efficient and innovative technology solutions such as Visa at Your Doorstep -technology-enabled service enabling collection of a visa customer’s application and biometric from their location of choice.
Other service includes Form-filling Assistance, personalized assistance from professionally trained staff to complete and submit visa applications at the centre and/or online.
He also asserted that artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics will fundamentally change border management, enabling Smart Borders a few years from now.
The need for safe travel have led to greater acceptance of contactless and Do it Yourself(DIY)technologies.
For those planning their holidays this year, VFS Global shared some tips to avoid the peak season travel rush in visa processing, advising tourists to apply for visas at the same time as making travel and lodging arrangements. Applications for visas are generally accepted up to 90 days (3 months) prior to the intended departure date.
Mr. Viswanathan said “don’t wait till the last moment, otherwise you will get the disappointment of not getting an appointment.
The VFS Global boss, also urged applicants to ensure that all their documents are ready and added that applicants should continuously monitor the vfs website for announcements as well as their social media handles.
The travel trends in Ghana last year witnessed a strong outbound travel, with total visa volumes in 2023 nearly double of 2022 volumes.
Passport applications processed at the Ghana Passport Premium Application Centres run by VFS Global saw a 30percent increase in 2023.
For Mr. Viswanathan, he was confident that this positive travel momentum will be sustained in 2024.
Locations like Canada,The Netherlands and Saudi Arabia continue to witness positive trends in application volumes for outbound travel in the year.
VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 67 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,300 Application Centres in 150 countries. The company has processed over 280 million applications since its inception in 2002. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland.
VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global.
By Eugene Davis
