Technical problems in the VFS Global system (the new operator of British visas) continue to create serious obstacles to obtaining visa slots. As of April 2025, the situation remains critical. The platform demonstrates systematic failures, blocking access to personal accounts and the booking process, even if there are available seats.
The scale of the problem and the consequences
According to numerous reviews on relevant forums, applicants face 2 key difficulties: an extremely limited number of available slots and technical malfunctions of the VFS Global interface. The system issues the error “Unfortunately, there are no available appointment slots at this time” even when trying to record several months in advance. The situation affects almost all categories of visas, including tourist, work and student visas.
Official statistics show that the review period for standard applications is about 3 weeks for most categories when submitted from abroad. However, for Russian citizens, this period has been significantly extended to 6-8 weeks.
The special situation with Tier 4 student visas
The problem is becoming particularly relevant for applicants to British educational institutions. Tier 4 student visas (required for studies lasting more than 6 months) have their own processing features. In the period from June to October, UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) observes the so-called “student visa season”, when a significant part of the staff switches to processing this particular category of applications. However, due to technical failures of the platform’s system, the number of specialists processing applications will not affect the speed and efficiency of submitting requests.
It is important to remind that late submission of documents creates a high risk of missing the start of the training course. According to university admissions committees, about 5-7% of international students fail to start classes on time every year due to delays in obtaining a visa.
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Professional problem solving
Our company offers a comprehensive approach to overcoming current visa problems. Using special technical solutions for working with VFS Global, our specialists guarantee that they will receive a document submission slot as soon as possible. The service includes full support throughout the entire visa processing process. From monitoring and booking available slots to the final submission of a set of documents.
In the face of technical failures, it is especially important to properly prepare and structure documentation. Statistics show that 23% of refusals are related specifically to design errors or insufficient submitted materials.
For Tier 4 student visa applicants, it is recommended to start the registration process at least 12 weeks before the planned start date. Given the standard review period of 3 weeks and possible delays, this amount of time will ensure that you receive a visa before classes begin.
Professional support will ensure a guaranteed visa slot and increase the chances of a positive decision on the application.
Leading expert on visas and residence permits in the EU. Since 2016 I specialize in the development and coordination of programs for digital nomads. Comprehensive support at all stages of the migration process.
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