Chongqing - on May 29, according to British Consulate-General in Chongqing, UK Visa Application Centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing will resume services on June 1. Priority and super-priority services will not be offered at this time. In addition,

the UK will implement a new tariff system called "UK Global Tariff (UKGT)" from January 1, 2021.

On May 26, the UK government Home Office announced that UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) globally would resume services in a phased manner, where local restrictions allow. In the 1^st phase of UKVI reopening services, VACs in 4 Chinese cities – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing - will reopen on June 1.

Some UKVI services will remain closed under ongoing global restrictions. For more updates, customers are encouraged to contact VFS Global to find out the latest status.  

UK VAC 

Her Majesty's Ambassador to China, Dame Barbara Woodward said,

"Today, we reopen our Visa Application Centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing, as well as a number of the English Testing Centres. This is an important milestone in the resumption of our people to people exchanges. Thank you for your patience during the temporary closures. We look forward to gradually welcoming more Chinese people to visit, study, and do business with the UK and continuing the fight against this global pandemic together."

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all UKVI services. Customers are reminded that there may be delays as the operation restarts and that priority or super-priority services will not be resumed at this time.

More VACs will reopen in a phased approach under constant review and evaluation of locations. Please pay attention to the most updated information on UK.GOV's guidance on visa applications.

Some English Testing Centres are also resuming services. Visit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 's website, the Pearson Test of English website, or the LanguageCert website or contact your test center for more information on where we are reopening and how you can book your Secure English Language Test.

UKGT will be implemented on January 1, 2021

Last week, for all Chinese companies that willing to export to the UK, there was outstanding good news: The UK will implement a new tariff system called "UK Global Tariff (UKGT)" from January 1, 2021, replacing the original EU's foreign tariff system. This is the first time the UK has formulated its tariff policy in nearly 50 years. This means that from January next year, the UK will reduce and simplify tariffs on more than 3,500 products, including Chinese products so that global companies can export to the UK. For products exported from China to the UK, the new UK global tariffs will reduce cost pressures by reducing the tariffs imposed on imported products when they enter the UK. The UK's global tariffs ensure that from January 2021, 60% of trade will enter the UK tax-free under the terms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or through existing preferential access.

This link can directly inquire about the tariff changes of specific products under the new system.

John Edwards, Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner

John Edwards, the new Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner to China, hopes that this new tariff system will increase trade with China after the new coronary pneumonia pandemic.

"The British Department of International Trade under my leadership, will support British companies and organizations to enter the exciting market of China and help Chinese investors develop their businesses in the UK. I am very pleased to have ushered in the new tariffs system when I took office, which will be a welcome development for traders. "