British Foreign Office suspends working holiday visas

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 April 2005, 17:03 GMT]
The British Home Office said Friday that it’s High Commission in Sri Lanka will cease to accept working holidaymaker visa applications until further notice from 2 April. The same will apply to Malaysia, Botswana and Namibia. The British High Commission in Colombo said that the service is being suspended in these countries because a “significant and unprecedented” rise in the number of applications has resulted in demand outstripping capacity, which has adversely affected the wider visa operations.

The release said the situation would be relieved in six months. In Colombo, the UK visa application centre is contacting everyone who has submitted an application form before the suspension.

All those who have paid a fee but are waiting for an interview will have their fee refunded.

If applicants wish to travel when the service is resumed, they will need to reconfirm their interests at the UK Visa application centre, the Mission said.