NEW NEWS ITEMS

On 8 March 2012 we will be closing our visa application centre at the British Embassy in Helsinki. This will be replaced with a visa service which will be available weekly from 8 March 2012, in partnership with WorldBridge Service.

On 5 March 2012 we will be closing our visa application centre at the British Embassy in Oslo. This will be replaced with a visa service which will be available 3 times per week from 5 March 2012, in partnership with WorldBridge Service.

From 5 March 2012 all visa applications in Papua New Guinea must be completed online.

Our online service to book appointments in the UK will be unavailable between 19:00 and 21:00 on Tuesday 21 February 2012 while we carry out essential maintenance.

The companies providing our courier services in Russia - DHL and Pony Express - will not operate on 23 February 2012.

From March 5, all visa applications must be completed online. At the same time, you will need to make an online appointment to attend the visa application centre, at the British High Commission in Suva. You will then need to submit your application and provide biometric information.

An Essex woman who tried to smuggle 9 kg of high purity cocaine through Gatwick airport has been jailed for 4 years.

Following the temporary suspension of services from 30 January, we will resume normal service at the visa application centre in Damascus with effect from Thursday 16 February 2012.

Following the temporary suspension of services, we will resume normal service at the visa application centre in Damascus on 16 February 2012.

The UK Border Agency in the Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait will introduce a priority visa service in all visa application centres on 27 February 2012.

From 27 February 2012 all applications for a UK visa made in Madagascar must be completed online.

From Wednesday 29 February, all applicants in the UK will need to obtain a biometric residence permit if they are applying to stay here for more than 6 months. To obtain a permit, they will need to enrol their biometric information (fingerprints and facial image).

Our employers and education providers' helpline and Accession State customer contact centre are currently experiencing technical problems, which means that our staff cannot answer your calls.

All applications for a UK visa made in Armenia must be completed and paid for online from 27 February 2012.

From 27 February 2012 all applications for a UK visa made in Morocco must be completed and paid for online in euros.

From 27 February 2012 all applications for a UK visa made in Azerbaijan must be completed and paid for online in US dollars.

One of the largest hauls of cocaine ever found inside passenger luggage at Gatwick airport has been seized by our officers.

Two men from Thanet have today been sentenced at Canterbury crown court after pleading guilty to importing controlled drugs and possessing class B drugs.

A Glasgow restaurant is facing a large fine after 4 Indian men were found working illegally there.

Ten men are in detention following a series of UK Border Agency raids at businesses in Caerphilly and Newport.