CSC unveils visa centers for U.K. visitors

As the United States and other nations tighten visitors' entry requirements, Computer Sciences Corp. has unveiled WorldBridge, a new outsourcing service that will provide applicants wishing to enter the United Kingdom with comprehensive visa information and process their biometric data.

The program stems from CSC's February 2007 business process outsourcing contract with UKvisas to provide visa services for Britain around the world. All applicants for a UK visa must now apply in person at a center or microcenter.

Under the WorldBridge program, CSC will establish visa application centers in 15 countries in Europe, the Americas and North Africa and Middle East. Worldbridge also will provide information services through the Internet, e-mail and multilingual call centers to an additional 87 countries.

The first visa application center is in Dusseldorf, Germany, and two small microcenters are located in Berlin and Munich.

Visitors can provide their biometric data and seek general immigration information at the centers, which will also process their applications. At microcenters applicants can provide their biometric data after first having completed their application online at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk.

The British diplomatic mission in each country will be responsible for adjudicating all applications and issuing visas.

CSC of El Segundo, Calif., ranks No. 11 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.