UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decides to operate UK's annual temporary visa service in the Maldives in August and to provide a more streamlined visa process that will require Maldivian students to submit a fewer number of documents with their Tier 4 visa application.
The Temporary Enrolment Location (TEL) will operate on August 7 and 8 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, according to UKVI and applicants wishing to use the temporary VAC will follow the normal application process by submitting forms, paying for visas and booking appointments online via its website.
UKVI have agreed to waive routine interviews for customers applying for a Tier 4 student visa via TEL, making the process more convenient to those who use the service. This is an optional service and those in Maldives are free to travel to the nearest visa application centres in Sri Lanka or India.
Maldivians will also have access to a streamlined application process, announced by the UK Home Office in early July.
Maldives was added by UKVI to a list of countries known as Appendix H. This means Maldivians, along with other applicants from Appendix H countries, who are applying for Tier 4 visas will not be required to provide evidence of finances, qualifications or evidence of English language ability with the application, although applicants must still meet these requirements with UKVI reserving the right to request the documents in certain cases.
The UK welcomes students from Maldives, and recognises the contribution made to the UK, both intellectually and culturally.
The streamlined visa processes hopes to provide greater access to Maldivian students as they access the UK's internationally recognised higher education system.