VFS biometrics appointment - how to book the "premium lounge service"?

K has her appointment in seven days' time. I have been trying to book the "premium lounge service" for her but after finding the page once I have never managed to find it again!

Help!

I phoned them directly. Piece of cake. But that was back in ancient times, ie 2011. In fact I used bush telegraph back then. Seriously though I phoned them. Am not sure if you can do that now.

http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/philippines/user_pay_services.html

Yes, but that only takes you to here:

https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/welcome

What next?

It says.....


BETA: This is the new UK visa application website. We are testing it. It is designed to make the application process simpler and clearer.

Looks like you need to register, Andrew....

Well, it doesn't !

Agreed. Thats progress for you.

Am re

Then you should be able to log in...

Hopefully once you have logged in you will see before you a pandora's box of "goodies"!

It reminds me of applying for the wifes Schengen visa where we used a "suck it and see" approach.

Yes, I can log in just fine. It then tells me that my application is complete and that is all.

There does not seem to be any sort of contact number.

Grrrr

Sorry Andrew, I missed your request. I got confused over this too but somehow I managed to book the Premium Lounge Service..

BTW, did your Mahal to to Cebu or Manila? My wife went to VFS Global, Cebu for a 10am appointment today.

Sorry Howerd - all sorted out - I changed the appointment to Thursday, from today, as her new CENOMAR is only available tomorrow. In doing so I noticed that I had in fact booked the Premium Lounge Service anyway - I had forgotten and the website did not tell me until I changed the appointment.

I think K will have to tell them to send the passports and papers back to her by courier and pay for that on the spot, as originally she had planned to pick them up but now she plans to go home to Mindanao and see her parents.

So the Master Plan is that she sees VFS , gets her "biometrics", done, hands over the papers and then towards the end of August goes back to Mindanao to await the arrival of the passports and, we hope, visas, then gets the CFO done in Cebu and flies out from Cebu.

You should have received an email saying that you have paid for the Premium Lounge. She will have to take that email to VFS Global to prove the Premium Lounge Service has been paid for.

The Premium Lounge service is supposed to include snacks, but wife was not offered any, even though she showed them the Premium Lounge paid-for email.

From recent UK Visa Processing times, I notice that applications made via Cebu are processed much quicker than those made direct via Manila.

No, no such email.

This is the only email that K got:

quote:

Dear Krian ___

We confirm your appointment with us at our Manila office on 27/07/2015 10:30 . The full office address is

VFS Manila Visa Application Centre
Mezzanine Floor, Unit M01 Ecoplaza Building
2305 Chino Roces Ave. Extension
Makati City 1231
Manila
.

The appointment should last approximately 10 minutes.

On the day of your Appointment

Please bring these documents with you:
• a print out of your appointment and visa application form
• your passport
• any documents that you want to provide in support of your application
About your supporting documents:
• You can visit www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration for information relating to your visa category
• You need to provide photocopies of all your supporting documents. If your documents are not in English, you must provide a certified translation
• You need to submit a Tuberculosis certificate issued from approved clinic in the Philippines if you’re going to the UK for more than 6 months and you live in the Philippines
• If you are under 18, your parents or guardians must give their permission in writing for you to travel to the UK
We offer a range of User Pay services. Details are found at www.vfsglobal.co.uk/philippines.
Please arrive at the visa application centre 15 minutes before your appointment time.

After your Appointment

Processing times

We aim to process Non Settlement applications within 15 working days (unless you have opted for the Priority Visa service), and Settlement applications within 60 working days. We will let you know if for any reason we cannot meet these timescales.

Collecting your passport once a decision has been made

You will be able to collect your passport from the visa application centre. For an additional fee, you can choose to have it couriered to your address, which may be more convenient. Further details can be found at www.vfsglobal.co.uk/philippines.

Please do not respond to this message, as this service does not accept replies.
unquote

For some reason although the fees were taken and the confirmations were printed out - both for this, the original appointment and the changed date, no other emails were received.

You should have received the following email (with an attachment receipt) You have to show this to VFS Global.


Fwd: Online payment for UK Visa Additional Service(s)


Visa Application
x


xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx <xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx>
21 Jul (6 days ago)



to me





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <donotreply@vfshelpline.com>
Date: 21 July 2015 at 14:59
Subject: Online payment for UK Visa Additional Service(s)
To: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx


Dear xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx,
Thank you for payment through VFS website.
Please print the attached online transaction receipt and carry the copy to the UK Visa Application Centre.

Kind Regards,
VFS Visa Application Center

Nope.

And there seems to be no way to contact them by telephone.

Are you sure that you paid on the VFS Global website?

https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/ShoppingCart/Pages/Authorization.aspx