February 27, 2017 TnH Global 0

Consul General of France inaugurates France Visa Application Centre in Pune at spacious new premise serving multiple countries under one roof

State-of-the-art new Joint Visa Application Centre will house visa application centres for 25 diplomatic missions, for enhanced services to applicants!

The newly relocated France Visa Application Centre was formally inaugurated by Mr Yves Perrin, Consul General of France in Mumbai, on27 February 2017. Residents of Pune can now apply for visas to multiple countries, including France, under one roof, at the modern and centrally-located Joint Visa Application Centre launched in Viman Nagar, Pune.

The Centre also serves 15 other Schengen countries besides France, including Italy, Germany, Austria, Greece, Latvia, Sweden, Swiss, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Estonia. In addition to this, the centre will also cater to the client governments of Australia, UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. Many of these centres were earlier located in Tadiwala Road and Kalyani Nagar areas of the city. With the launch of the new Joint Visa Application Centre, VFS Global has consolidated all visa requirements under one roof.

With a larger space and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the new Joint Visa Application Centre has an increased number of application counters making the visa application process quicker and more convenient for applicants. The centre is equipped with dedicated counters for individuals, representatives and travel agents making the visa application experience hassle-free and convenient for all.

Speaking at the inauguration, Yves Perrin, Consul General of France in Mumbai, said, “I am indeed pleased to inaugurate the new French desk of VFS in Pune. Cooperation between VFS and the French Consulate has always been excellent and we are most grateful for this valuable contribution to the development of closer ties between India and France. France has a lot to offer to the discerning traveler, be it in education, business or pleasure. I would like to highlight the impressive rise of 261% in the number of visa applications between 2015 and 2016 in Pune with almost 6000 applications. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to VFS for their efforts in always finding the most attractive locations and their dedication and continuous efforts to satisfy customers.”

Commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Joint Visa Application Centre in Pune city that will cater to visa requirements for multiple countries. Through this modern and spacious visa application facility, VFS Global will serve the ever-increasing volumes of visa applications from the city, maintaining best-in-class standards of service quality. At VFS Global, we are committed to providing professional and convenient services to applicants in a manner that is safe and secure, ensuring a smooth travel experience.”

VFS Global started operations in Pune in 2003, and currently serves 25 client governments in the city.

Key features of the centre include:

Central and convenient location
Multiple support services under one roof including huge waiting area, meeting and conference rooms
Photocopy and photo-booth facilities
Premium Lounge for personalised service
Housed in a building which is pre-certified for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with a Platinum rating. The building also has special provisions providing easy access to differently abled applicants
The building houses a food court, restaurants and cafes
Dedicated counters for individuals, representatives and travel agents
Registration counters at the entrance for smooth flow of applicants and crowd management
100% secure handling of documents and personal information
Convenient and secure return delivery of visa documents