MOSCOW, February 17 (RAPSI) – The list of documents required of Russians for all types of UK visas, including tourist, will increase as of February 17, VFS Global said on its website.

These changes only affect the Visa Application Centre in Moscow and do not apply to VACs in other cities.

In addition to the standard list of documents, applicants for all types of visas (excluding the Tier 4 student and Tier 1, 2 and 5 working visas) will need to provide a copy of the front page of the application form, a full copy of the valid passport (and the old passport, if it is provided) with stamps and visas, two identical color ‘passport’ photographs which meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, and a copy of all supporting documents, which are attached to the visa application (both in Russian and in English).

The reason for the change is that the Moscow Visa Application Centre will send all original documents, including passports, to the British Embassy in Moscow, and that the copies of application forms, passports and supporting documents will be then sent to UKVI in Sheffield.

The changes do not affect applicants who use the priority visa service (PVS). This service was made available in November 2013 for all Russian applicants for a temporary working visa under Tier 5 of the points-based system, which includes creative and sporting workers, as well as for six-month and one-year tourist visas.

Before November 2013, PVS was only available to the applicants who demonstrated previous travel to the UK within the last five years.

This service costs 7,560 rubles ($214) beyond the visa application fee.