New visa center promises streamlined service to Pinoys bound for UK, 3 other countries

Filipino applicants for visas in Canada, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom can now expect a less complicated process with the establishment of a new visa application center in Makati City.

The center, located at the second floor of the EcoPlaza building along Don Chino Roces Extention, is established with the partnership of VFS Global, an international outsourcing company which deals with governments and diplomatic missions.

“It's a great facility for our customers to get the best and they sort of see that on their trip to the UK,” said Steven Thompson, an official from the UK Embassy in the Philippines.

The center has different rooms for each country, and a waiting area for those who cannot be accommodated in these rooms.

Senora Pilar Villanueva Romero, consul general of the Spanish embassy, said the center complements a special ruling regarding Filipinos with resident visas.

“A couple of months ago, a new law was approved that encourages Filipino investors, artists, researchers to go work in Spain. It facilitates resident visas for those kinds of activities, so that's really a big change,” said Romero.

She added that before the law was passed, immigration relationship between Spain and the Philippines was already good, since Filipinos could avail of dual citizenship within a year of residency.

Neil Reeder, the newly appointed Canadian ambassador, said the new facility would give various countries the opportunity for a “streamlined and efficient service” for Filipinos who want to work or study in Canada, or even join family members who are already there.

“We have a long history of keeping ties between the Philippines and Canada, and this will provide us the opportunity to have a pre-screening of candidates, to vet their documents, and do all the administrative work for the applicant before the embassy gets involved,” he said. — KBK, GMA News