Commercial partners outside the UK
This page explains who our commercial partners are, and the work they do to help us provide a service to visa applicants.
We work with VFS Global and CSC (operating under its WorldBridge Service brand) at British visa application centres around the world, providing services to help people apply for UK visas.
What do our commercial partners do?
VFS Global and WorldBridge Service manage visa application centres on our behalf in 48 countries. They provide a range of administration services to visa applicants across their global networks. These services include:
- providing information through websites, email and telephony;
- checking (but not processing) visa application forms and the presence of supporting documents;
- collecting visa application fees and biometric information (fingerprints and facial image);
- entering data onto our casework system; and
- submitting the application to us for a decision to be made.
Do commercial partners decide visa applications?
UK Border Agency staff process and decide all visa applications. VFS Global and WorldBridge Service staff do not play any part in or influence the outcome of visa applications. If any member of staff employed by our commercial partners claims to be able to influence a visa application, you should inform the nearest British embassy as soon as possible.
Can commercial partners' staff give advice?
VFS Global and WorldBridge Service staff cannot give you advice about how to complete your application, or the type of visa that you should apply for. If you need help with your application or advice about the UK's Immigration Rules and requirements, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser (see below).
More information
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Where can you get advice?
UK Border Agency staff are not able to give help or advice on how to complete your application, or what type of visa you should apply for.
If you need help with your application or advice about the UK's immigration law and requirements, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser. This will ensure that your representative meets approved standards and is properly qualified to advise you.
In the UK, immigration advisers are regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). If an adviser (or the organisation that the adviser belongs to) is regulated by the OISC, it should display the OISC logo. The OISC website contains:
- a list of regulated immigration advisers who do not charge for their advice or services; and
- a register of regulated immigration advisers who charge clients for their advice or services.
You can also obtain advice from legally qualified professionals regulated by designated professional bodies. A list of legally qualified professionals who can advise on immigration matters is available from:
- the Law Society of England and Wales
- the Law Society of Scotland
- the Law Society of Northern Ireland
- the Institute of Legal Executives
The Law Societies of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Institute of Legal Executives cannot provide direct help or advice on visa applications. They can only provide a list of law firms who can advise on immigration matters.