Doha: Visa applicants are required to make an appointment before visiting the visa application centre from September 9, British Embassy in Doha said in a statement issued yesterday.

This will allow applicants to arrange an appointment at their own convenience, will significantly reduce the amount of time an applicant spends in the Visa Application Centre and will avoid crowding at the facility.

Beginning September 9, only those with confirmed appointments will be able to submit an application. The only exception to this will be those applying in a genuine medical emergency and will be at the discretion of the UK Border Agency.

The embassy’s customer service targets to process 90 percent of non settlement applications within 15 working days.

Over 25,000 visa applications for the UK were processed by the British Embassy in Doha during 2011. Of those, 15,800 were made by Qatari nationals, and the embassy provided visa delivery for them and other residents within 5 working days of application submission.

The embassy also offers prime time appointments for those unable to attend the visa application centre during normal working hours and a priority service for those requiring urgent processing of their application.

THe Peninsula

Qatar to launch re-insurance firm

DOHA: Keeping in view the growing demand for re-insurance services in the country, Qatar is set to launch a giant national re-insurance company with a huge capital.

The proposed company will be established in association with Qatari national insurance companies with a majority stake of the government, Al Sharq reported yesterday.