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The visa processing company VFS Global stated that the demand for doorstep delivery visa services in a period of one year grew by 144 percent in India in 2018.

Began in 2016, the VFS’ on-demand service allows enrolment of biometrics and document submission at the applicant’s doorstep instead of visa application centers.

According to VFS Global, Goa, Lucknow, Shillong, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Mangalore, and Gurgaon saw more than 100 percent increase in the number of ‘doorstep’ applications and the highest number of such applications were processed in Nagpur and Indore.

VFS Global said 2018 not only saw an increase in applicants from India’s metros but also witnessed first time demand for doorstep visa services from the cities of Allahabad, Amravati, Trivandrum, Erode, Surat, Nagercoil, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Tiruppur, Muzzafarpur, Indore, Palakkad, Guwahati, Jodhpur and Chattarpur. 

The doorstep visa application in Shillong increased from 2 applications in 2017 to 150 in 2018. 

VFS Global said the trend of consumers wanting to seek convenience, even at an additional cost, indicates the potential for growth of personalization and customization in government-to-citizen services. 

“While VFS Global has an extensive physical network of Visa Application Centers in 17 cities across India, this service exponentially increases the reach of visa services to every corner of the country. It is significant to note that there was high growth in doorstep application numbers even in cities where there are physical centers present. Flexibility and superior customer experience are top priorities of customers in any sector, and the visa industry is no different," said Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, South Asia, and China, VFS Global. 

Smaller states like Mizoram, Telangana, and Chattisgarh, along with countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka, entered the demand circle. Corporates, large groups of travelers, film crews, celebrities, travel agencies and high net worth individuals were among the majority of those who used these services. 

VFS Global offers this service for 12 client governments, namely the United Kingdom and the 11 Schengen governments and this service is available across the globe where VFS Global manages visa services. 

-Sowmya Sangam