Manila new regional UK visa hub

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

Philippines -- Starting this month, the British embassy here will issue visas not just to applicants from the Philippines, but also from Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea, according to an embassy statement released Tuesday.

The directive came after the United Kingdom Border Agency designated the British Embassy in Manila as a new regional hub for visa processing; other regional offices might also be sending visa applications here for processing later in the year.

British Ambassador Peter Beckingham welcomed the new developments in the British embassy's Manila post.

"This expansion spells a big vote of confidence in Manila as a major hub for business process outsourcing," Beckingham said.

"The development reinforces the sizeable outsourcing to the Philippines by UK companies and organizations, ranging from financial services to publishing and the media," he added.

In preparation, the embassy is re-structuring its visa section and hiring additional staff to accommodate the expected increase in the volume of work.

On its new location on McKinley Hill, Taguig City, construction is now being done to enlarge the office space.

In reaction, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed delight that the British embassy was joining many other major organizations and companies in entrusting and transferring their operations to the Philippines.

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