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Withers
Global law firm Withers is one of a number of firms trialling a new in-country electronic streamlined UK visa application process.

It is intended that from September 2018, the Home Office will be rolling out a simpler, digitised application process. 

Applications for UK visas will be submitted online, with individuals invited to attend kiosks (for those submitted overseas) or enhanced service points (for those submitted in the UK), in order to upload their documents electronically for submission to the Home Office. 

Depending on the level of service chosen, individuals will then need to attend a premium service centre or a local post office to enrol their biometric information. It will no longer be necessary to submit original documents (including original passports) to the Home Office for applications to be processed.

As part of this trial, Withers submitted a client's tier 2 (work authorisation) extension application online, paying all the required fees. Its client's documents were then scanned and sent to the Home Office electronically for processing. 

Once the application had been considered in principal and approved subject to their biometric data being provided, the Home Office sent an invite for its client to attend the premium service centre in Croydon with their passport to have the required biometric information taken.