August 17, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Saani 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The British High Commission here has decided to start visa service for all Pakistani students with immediate effect.

Due to the reduction in tensions with India, a number of staff to Pakistan, and spouses have returned.

The Britain had currently reduced visa service for Pakistan. In May and June it withdrew a number of staff and dependants from Islamabad and Karachi, and shut down its office in Lahore.

Currently the British High Commission is allowing visas in the following categories; - A visitor who has travelled to the UK within the last three years in the same category as now applying (eg, as a visitor). - All student applications. - Returning residents with evidence of their current status in UK. - A visitor or a person wishing to settle with an urgent and compassionate reason to travel and prior agreement from the British High Commission that the application will be accepted. - Someone wishing to undertake urgent medical treatment who has prior agreement from the British High Commission that the application will be accepted. - A business visitor with a letter of invitation from a company in the UK who has travelled to the UK within the last three years and has evidence of this travel. - Holder of a valid UK work permit. - A member of an airline crew on a route which passes through the UK. - A seaman with a previous visa for the same purpose. Applications must be accompanied by the seaman’s book and a letter from a recognized shipping company. - Highly Skilled Migrant (HSMP) - A visitor or a person applying for direct airside transit visa (DATV).

Evidence of confirmed bookings both in and out of the UK must accompany applications. - A person who is entered for a professional medical exam including PLAB2. - The spouse or child (under 18) of one of the above categories, and accompanying the main applicant to the UK. - A person being sent by his employers to attend a short professional training course. - According to the High Commission, the applications should be made through local offices of Gerry’s FedEx. - The High Commission has advised all those interested to get details about application procedures on its web site; http://www.britainonline.org.pk—APP