CKGS opens Italy visa application centre in Dubai

The Consulate General of Italy in Dubai has appointed Cox and Kings Global Services (CKGS) as the new service provider for processing visa applications for travel to Italy. CKGS opened a new visa application centre in Dubai dedicated exclusively to applicants who wish to travel to the Schengen area and have Italy as their main destination.

The Italy Visa Application Centre, was inaugurated today by Consul General Mr Giovanni Favilli and the CEO of Cox & Kings Global Services, Mr Sanjay Bhaduri. The centre is located at Al Deyaar Building, Office # 310, Al Barsha 1 - Next to Mall of Emirates Bridge, Dubai.

The Italy Visa Application Centre will process all categories of visas such as tourist, business, transit, work/employment, student, family reunion and medical visas. Applications will be received from UAE nationals and residents living in the Emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm al-Quwain.

Commenting on this association, Mr. Giovanni Favilli, Consul General of Italy in Dubai, said: "We are pleased to appoint CKGS as our representatives to manage the Italian Visa Application Centre in Dubai. We want to strongly encourage travel to Italy and make the procedures simple and hassle free. While the rules governing Schengen visas remain the same for all countries participating in the agreement, we believe that information should be clear, communication with operators should be easy and appointments to apply should be given within a short time frame. The visa facilitation centre will be a one-stop centre able to provide visa services to residents of UAE planning to visit Italy." Mr. Favilli also mentioned that the Consulate General has already issued 10,550 visas in 2013, an increase of 130% over 2012. The visas issued in the same period (1 January - 25 June) were 4,603 in 2012 and 5,141 in 2011.

According to Mr. Sanjay Bhaduri, CEO - CKGS, "We are happy to partner with the Italian Consulate General in Dubai to enable those living here the convenience of submitting and collecting their Italian visa at this centre. We are certain that, with the support of the Consulate, this tie-up will provide great assistance and convenience to travellers who want to visit Italy."

CKGS and Italian Consulate have partnered in order to ease and speed up the application process for visitors to Italy. In this regard applicants will be able to book the appointment via web site, toll free telephone number 800 ITALY (48259), web chat as well as email (italyvisa.dubai@ckgs.ae). Additionally CKGS will accept walk-in customers without an appointment, although the waiting time for those applicants might get extended.

CKGS will provide appointments for visa submission within three working days from the received request. The ordinary processing time for a completed visa application with all the required documents ranges from 3 to 20 days. It varies according to the nationality of the applicant and the period of the year in which the application is presented, pre-summer period being the slowest. Applicants are advised to apply on time, ideally 45 days before their scheduled departure date.

Additionally CKGS will offer various additional services such as SMS updates, courier delivery of passports, SIM Cards for Italy, assisted form filling, travel insurance, photocopies and photo processing as part of enhanced service for travellers to Italy.

Applicants will be able to pay for the visa and service fees by cash, debit or credit card at the Visa Application Centre or online. Moreover, applicants will be able to view the status of their applications online.

The Italy Visa Service Centre can be contacted on 04-3992466 from 08:00 am - 05:00 pm from Sundays to Thursdays or by e-mail italyvisa.dubai@ckgs.ae.

Source : Equity Bulls

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