UKvisas is a joint Directorate of the Home Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. We manage the UK's entry clearance (visa) operation from our visa offices at UK Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad, collectively known as UK missions. Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) based in our visa offices overseas decide visa or entry clearance applications. We work closely with the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) of the Home Office, the government department responsible for immigration policy.
We deliver a world class visa operation by balancing effective control of UK borders with a quality service to our customers. We use biometrics, an intelligence-led risk assessment process and enhanced training and supervision to improve the quality of decisions made by ECOs. Use the following link to view our Mission Statement and a message from the Director of UKvisas, Mark Sedwill:
