UK Visa service in Saudi Arabia disrupted by computer fault

A major computer fault has disrupted the issuing of UK visas from the British Embassy in Riyadh and led to the closure of three visa application centres in Saudi Arabia.

The computer fault affects all applications from Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar and prevents any UK Visa from being issued at the present time a spokesman for the British Embassy in Riyadh said.

The three UK Visa application centres will continue to process applications from people who have appointments, and the British Embassy website will have more information and updates on the issue as the IT team works to clear the problem.

Saudi Arabia is a major tourist source country for the UK, with ninety-four thousand Saudis and residents visiting the UK in 2009 , spending an estimated £200 million.

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodging their applications for UK immigration with the British Embassy.