Applying for a UK visa in Belize

The UK Border Agency has announced that on 11 January 2012; it will close the UK visa section at the British High Commission in Belmopan.  

This change is part of a worldwide programme by the UK Border Agency to deliver efficiency savings following the outcomes of the 2010 spending review.

From this date, it will no longer be possible for UK visa applicants to enrol their biometrics at the British High Commission in Belmopan.  

Instead, anyone applying for a UK visa in Belize may attend one of the mobile biometric enrolment clinics that will be operated in Panama City by the UK Border Agency’s Commercial Partner, CSC.

These clinics will operate monthly and anyone wishing to take advantage of this option will be required to pay an additional service fee of USD$150. Details of when and where the clinics will take place will be publicised on the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/belize.

Alternatively, applicants can enrol their biometrics free of charge at the UK Border Agency visa section at the British Embassy in Bogota.

Also from January 12, 2012, the UK Border Agency will move the processing of UK visa applications lodged in Belize from New York, USA to Bogota, Colombia.  By default, those applying online will be instructed to visit the Visa Section of the British Embassy in Bogota for their biometrics to be enrolled free of charge, or to a monthly mobile clinic in Panama City at a cost of $150.  However, because of the number of direct flights, applicants may wish to travel to the US to enroll their biometrics.  The procedure for doing this is:

- Select USA when you begin the online process

- Enter a US address – perhaps a hotel where you will be staying

By following these two steps the system will auto-generate an appointment time slot a the nearest US Department of Homeland Security Centre for the applicant to select.

UKBA is unable to assist applicants with obtaining a US visa.

Belize passport holders continue to be able to visit the United Kingdom for up to 6 months without having to apply for a visa before travelling. For more information on what activities you can undertake as a visitor to the UK, take a look at the UK Border Agency website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting.

These changes will not affect the UK Border Agency’s customer service standards;

• The UK Border Agency aims to complete 90 per cent of visa applications (except settlement categories), in not more than three weeks, 98 per cent in six weeks and 100 per cent in 12 weeks.
• For settlement categories, the UK Border Agency aims to complete 95 per cent of applications in not more than 12 weeks and 100 per cent in not more 24 weeks.

The UK Border Agency in the Americas regularly exceeds these customer service standards. For up to date information about processing times, go to: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/beforetravel/visas/processing-times.

For more information about how to apply for a UK visa in Panama, go to: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/belize.

For information on applying for a UK Visa, visit www.visainfoservices.com.