UK to open new visa application center in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines – The United Kingdom (UK) will be opening a new Visa Application Center (VAC) in the country, its embassy in Manila said in an announcement Tuesday.

In its advisory, the embassy said that British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lilllie would be going to Cebu on Wednesday to lead the opening of the VAC, the second in the Philippines.

It described the opening of the new VAC as a “reflection of the increasing ties between the Philippines and UK, particularly in the business and tourism sectors.”

It said that the new VAC would be run by the British government’s commercial partner, VFS Global.

Lillie would be accompanied by UK Border Agency’s International Operations and Visas Director Jonathan Sedgwick and VFS Global Chief Executive Officer Zubin Karkaria during the opening.

It said that during his visit to Cebu, Lillie would also be meeting with local leaders from business, government and civil society to further bolster Philippine-British ties.

The first UK VAC in the Philippines is located in Chino Roces Avenue Extension in Makati City.