Dhaka: Visa seekers in Bangladesh will now be able to apply for their UK visit visas in an easier way as a new online application form has been introduced.

The new form, called ‘Access UK’, offers customers a number of benefits, including a shorter form, with questions ordered logically, a mobile friendly format and the ability to download a pre-populated Schengen visa form.

The form will also be available in more local languages making it easier for more customers to understand the visa format.

UK Visas & Immigration Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia, Nick Crouch said: ‘The UK remains committed to improving the visa service for customers and making it quicker and easier for customers to apply for UK visas.

‘The new form, known as Access UK, successfully launched in China in 2014 and received excellent feedback from customers. We’ve further refined it and are now rolling it out globally. We look forward to hearing further feedback on the form, and hope that it will encourage more customers from Bangladesh to visit the UK,’ Crouch added.

Following the successful launch of the ‘Access UK’ in China in June 2014, UKVI is rolling it out globally to customers applying for visit visas.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Alison Blake said Britain is open for business and they encourage legitimate visitors to the UK. ‘I hope Bangladeshi visa applicants will find the new form ‘Access visa’ easier and quicker to use.’

Access UK is available at www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa. However, the Visa4UK website will continue to be available for visitors and for applicants applying visas on other routes.

Plans are underway to launch the form in Bengali to make it easier for customers to apply, however answers will need to be provided in English.

Applicants will continue to be able to pay for their visas in cash at the Visa Application Centres in Dhaka and Sylhet.