British Envoy Clarifies Visa Fee Increase

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The increase in the visa fee, from 220
British pounds (RM1,085) to 255 British pounds (RM1,259) effective April 6, for
Malaysian students going to Britain corresponded with the actual cost of
processing the visa application, British High Commissioner-designate to Malaysia
Simon Featherstone said Monday.

"I hope the relatively modest increase won't disturb the people," he told
reporters after visiting Scope International (M) Sdn Bhd at Technology Park
Malaysia, here.

Scope International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank in
the United Kingdom, has been recognised as the first Global Shared Services hub
of an international bank in Malaysia.

On the United Kingdom's move to process all visa applications in the region,
including student visas, in Manila, Featherstone said the decision was not
specifically directed at Malaysia but also 10 other countries in the region.

Starting November last year, the decision to grant or reject British visas
for Malaysians was made by the British visa centre in Manila.

"We have decided that it makes economic sense to process all the
applications from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore
and other countries in the region, all in Manila," he said.

He said the applicants would not see any difference in services, and when
they applied to the visa application centre, they got the documentation and visa
back within the same deadline.

He explained that visa applications in Malaysia would be collected and
couriered to Manila at no extra cost to the applicants.