The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is going to be the biggest show on the earth this year. Millions of visitors from all over the world will be converging towards London to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012. The majority of spectators will be entering the UK as a tourist to view the Games. However, if you don't want to miss the opportunity to spectate this mammoth sporting event, make sure that you have the appropriate visitor visa with you. The Opening Ceremony for the Games is on 27th July 2012. Though there may be time left for the event, but it's high time that you start your preparation and wrap the visa formalities. If you have already bought the tickets for the Olympic/Paralympic events, the last thing you want is a visa to thwart your plan. However, getting a visa may be a bit tricky. First of all you need to acquaint yourself with the procedures and the formalities which you will have to go through before being issued a visa. Go on and find all the necessary information regarding the visa procedures.
Visa Application Process
If you have already made your plans to watch the 2012 London Olympic Games with your friends and family members, then it is critical that you secure your visa as soon as possible.
Visa For England
- First of all you have to submit your application and your biometric data at one of the 12 Visa Application Centers (VACs) in India managed by VFS. The VACs are located in the cities of Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai North, Mumbai South, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Cochin and Kolkata.
- The UK Border Agency has already made it clear that their processing time for visitor visas is 15 working days.
- However, considering the volume of applications that the UK Border Agency is going to be processing in the run-up to the Games, don’t be surprised if it the processing takes a bit longer.
- You can apply for your visitor visa up to 3 months prior your date of travel. For instance, if you are planning to watch the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, make haste, the time is running out to make the application.
Some Travel tips
- Make sure to travel as light as possible
- Get a complete idea of the transport system and the route leading to the Olympic events
- Use public transportations
- Book your tickets in advance and don’t leave them for the last minute
- Explore the information available online to fetch yourself the best deal regarding fooding and lodging.
Do not try to Visa Departments at the British High Commission and Deputy High Commissions without appointment. These are usually given for the purpose of visa interviews only.