Visa Application Via BLS International Manchester

With VPN disabled you’ll be displaying a Spanish IP address.  I would suggest that is what is frustrating your attempts to upload.  As you are unable to apply for an NLV from outside your country of residence, you may have to wait until you return to the UK to book your appointment

Thanks Dario,

Back in UK now and still will not upload photo. Their system checks the photo by getting you to take a selfie with the laptop camera whilst on line to them - except in my case it does not. It just wont upload the photo?

I have disabled the VPN and all the anti virus software that might stop them accessing my camera. I have rung them but they say "dont know - send an email" Have sent two but have not had a reply.....

If anyone has managed to book a appointment with BLS could they please let me know how.

Thanks,

Hi, the image you need to upload is a "selfie" while you are actually online,  not one you have taken previously.

I know this to be the case, I have not done it personally but I took someone to do this.

You also need a passport style image to take with you, as part of your application. However since BLS now act on behalf of the Consulate, things are changing all the time. I overheard the person you was completing the appointment application, say that they now take a digital image for your application/Visa once your there and they also mentioned it was very important that you had proof of residency in the UK that corresponded to the "catchment" area of the Consulate to which you are applying. That was not the case when I first applied.

Thanks for the reply.

I think the system must have changed since your application. The on-line tutorial tells you to upload a photo taken within the last 6 months and then take 2 selfies nodding your head in between them. When I reach the photo part the only option it gives me is a browse button which opens my documents folder allowing me to select the photo - but then the system just gives me the spinning wheel as it appears to be trying to upload but I have waited 20 mins and it just will not upload.

I have reduced the kb of the photo to less than their 200kb limit by reducing the pixilation, swiched off VPN and AVG anti virus.

Just wondering if trying at 3am when their site my by less busy may help?

Might also try re taking the photo but the one I am using uploaded fine to Police check website.

All this to arrange a appointment..........

All I can tell you is what I observed. I only took my friend last week, the person who is arranging the appointment completed the application while my friend and I waited. Then my friend was asked to sit in front of the computer and the image was taken. I believe it has to a computer, not a tablet or phone apparently. Although not sure why.

Thanks for your help and the reminder to take proof of residency in the juristiction - I have a water bill and HMRC letters so that should do.

We were both right about the photo - you do have to take 2 selfies using the PC camera but before this it just asks you to upload a recent photo from your documets/photo file. What it does not say is that this photo must be taken with the PC and cannot be a photo taken on any other device.

Trial and error got me there in the end.

Thanks,

Brian

👍

Hi Brian I have just gone through the process with BLS & the Spanish Embassy in Dublin I'm a British passport holder lived in Ireland for 18yrs & was looking for NLV,it  was frustrating the whole process especially uploading pdf files & pics I contacted the Embassy & they made appointment at BLS for me once paperwork submitted & checked it took another 7 wks to obtain visa also had to provide ticket copy of when I'd be travelling to Spain & collected visa/ passport 3 days before travel

Just to add ,I provided 2 passport photos with application & when at BLS they took another set of face pics that were used on visa