Starting September 1 2008, customers applying for visas at the British embassy in Sofia will have their visa applications processed by the British embassy in Bucharest, under the new Hub and Spoke arrangement, the embassy wrote in an August 19 press release.

Applicants will continue to apply online using the visa4UK application service, and schedule an appointment at the Sofia office to present the paper copy of their application, passport and other supporting documents, as well as to pay the required fee and have their finger scans taken. All documents should have copies attached, together with their English translations. No certified or official translations will be required; however, the translations will be checked for accuracy by the British embassy in Sofia.

Once the decision has been taken on whether a visa should be issued, the applicant's passport and documents will be returned to the British embassy in Sofia for collection by the applicant. The whole process should take no more than five working days. If an interview is required, the applicant can arrange it in Sofia within 10 business days.

Applications may be made to the British embassy in Sofia by applicants of any nationality holding a current valid Bulgarian residence permit, or they can be sent directly to Bucharest.

The embassy in Sofia can be reached at 02/ 922 92 22.