Visa applications went up 66% in Jalandhar alone last year

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Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 13

The figures are astounding: 66 per cent more visa applications were processed in Jalandhar last year than in 2017. Even Chandigarh recorded a spurt of 54 per cent visa applicants.

Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global, that manages visa and passport-related administrative tasks for the governments of 48 countries, said the company processed 52.8 lakh applications last year in India. 

The highest upward trend of 66 per cent was from Punjab, followed by 45 per cent from Goa and 43 per cent from Puducherry.

Elizabeth Samuel, Head Operations, North and East, added, “The applicants from Punjab are choosing between the centres of Jalandhar and Chandigarh. On an average, 2,000 to 3,000 visa applicants come daily to VFS Global in Jalandhar alone since we are the exclusive service provider for countries like Canada, US, UK and Australia.”

Though the company officials refused to share any data related to categorisation of visas, they said, “Our peak season for tourist visas is from March to June and for student visas from July to September. Students are showing more craze for courses in management, medicine and specifically herbal medicine.”

The experts said Canada was the favourite destination  of the visa applicants and some of the new destinations included Japan, Turkey, Czech Republic and Estonia.

Doorstep assistance too for applicants

VFS Global said it was even offering doorstep assistance. “This, of course, comes at an additional cost. The applicants are calling our assistants home for helping them arrange documents, prepare their applications and do all paper work,” said Elizabeth Samuel, Head Operations, North and East.

Some key facts

• In India, VFS Global witnessed 16% increase in number of visa applications processed in all countries of operation
• 52.8 lakh applications last year