FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2006
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
A SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING VISA APPLICATIONS
VFS GLOBAL SERVICES PVT. LTD.
an Indian Company
of 9th Floor, Tower-A, Urmi Estate, 95, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg,
Lower Pare] (W), Mumbai- 400 013, Maharashtra, India
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION DESCRIBES THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure relates to computerized kiosks. Particularly, this disclosure relates to computerized kiosks that process the information fed thereto by users through a user interface. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a computerized kiosk that is used to process and verify visa applications.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Whenever a person intends to travel abroad, he or she is required to obtain the necessary permission by compieting the necessary administrative and legal formalities. However during the process of completing the necessary legal and administrative formalities, the person traveling abroad has to prepare and subsequently submit a large number of supporting documents along with the application form. Subsequent to filling a large number of forms, the traveler is often required to visit the concerned foreign consulate in order to submit the filled up application forms. The traveler is required to follow certain pre determined criteria while preparing the necessary documentation and the applicant often feels burdened during the process of ensuring that all the necessary criteria for preparing the documentation are met.
Typically, the documentation that needs to be provided to a foreign consulate includes a large number of pages and it is often difficult for a person traveling abroad for the first time to get familiarized with the purpose and meaning corresponding to all the rows/columns of the documentation. It is also difficult for a person who is traveling abroad for the first time to fill

all the rows/columns of the documentation without making any errors. A person who is preparing the visa related documentation would normally require assistance in answering various questions provided in the documentation and also in providing all the necessary details in an error free manner. But it is difficult for a novice user or a person traveling abroad for the first time to get necessary help in completing the documentation due to the fact that the foreign consulates do not normally employee any personnel for the purposes of assisting the visa aspirants.
The visa documentation often includes a large number of sheets and the visa aspirant is required to put his/her signatures on multiple pages and at multiple locations and there is a possibility that the person completing the documentation might miss out on a few columns wherein his/her signatures are required. In the event that the visa aspirant leaves any columns of the visa application or the corresponding document unanswered or misses out on certain specific technical documentation, his/her visa application would be rejected and he/ she will be asked to re-initiate the process of completing all the necessary formalities., which in turn would result in visa aspirant loosing his/her precious time and in some cases such a delay in completion of necessary formalities might culminate in visa aspirant postponing or altering his/her travel schedule. Any alteration or postponement of traveling plans normally involves paying certain amount of money as extra fee or penalty and the visa aspirant will have to bear those expenses in case of alteration or postponement of travel plan due to non availability of visa.
Since the process of applying for and obtaining a visa seems complicated for

a person who is traveling abroad for the first time, such travelers normally approach travel agents in order to easily get through the process of applying for and obtaining a visa. The travel agents normally succeed in lessening the burden of the visa applicant but in the process extract a large sum of money from the visa applicant as the professional fee. Moreover, travel agents may not be fully competent with all the aspects governing the process of obtaining a visa. Moreover, a travel agent may not be fully aware of the minute technicalities involved in applying for a visa. The rules and regulations governing the grant of a visa to a particular country change from time to time and a travel agent may not be fully aware of the prevailing rules and regulations corresponding to every country. Therefore, the method of approaching a travel agent and making him complete all the necessary formalities on behalf of the visa applicant is an easy but expensive process and in following such a process the visa applicant is bound to invest a large amount of money which he could eventually have saved, had he not approached the travel agent.
Foreign consulates are often crowded with visa aspirant all throughout the year and most of the consulates witness an unprecedented increase in the number of visa applicants during holiday seasons. The consulates are normally not equipped to handle such a sudden increase in the number of visa applications and such ill preparedness on the part of consular staff makes the visa applicants wait in long queues just to submit their visa applications. Moreover, under such workloads the consular staff will not be able to provide any sort of assistance to people who are unaware of the procedure for obtaining a visa or the people who accidentally make mistakes in completing the necessary documentation or the people who are flying

abroad for the first time.
Therefore there is felt a need for a system that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks and through which
• paper based visa applications can be quickly processed and subsequently verified;
• visa applicants can be efficiently assisted in completing the formalities in respect of obtaining visas;
• one stop solution in respect of processing and submission of visa applications can be provided; and
• the errors entailed in the submitted visa applications can be effectively identified;
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that facilitates quick processing of paper based visa applications.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computerized kiosk that is user friendly.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a computerized kiosk that efficiently assists the users in completing the formalities in respect of obtaining a visa.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a computerized kiosk that provides a one stop solution in respect of processing and

submission of visa applications.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a computerized kiosk which efficiently identifies the errors entailed in visa applications.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computerized service kiosk which effectively illustrates to the user all the steps involved in submission and subsequent processing of visa application.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system that offers paperless solution involving a completely automated process which not only detects frauds but seamlessly interacts with the visa applicants, computerized kiosks, travel agents, consulate offices in order to issue visas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic of the system for processing visa
applications, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 illustrate a schematic of the system for processing visa
applications, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a schematic of the system for processing visa
applications, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention;
FIGURE 4 illustrates a schematic of the system for processing visa

applications, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGURE 5 illustrates a schematic of the system for processing visa applications, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The present invention envisages a system and method for processing visa applications. The system envisaged by the present invention includes a software application, typically a software application that can be accessed using the internet connectivity. In accordance with the present invention, the computerized kiosk can be operated in modes selected from the group of modes consisting of offline mode and online mode.
Further, the computerized kiosk is adapted to be operated in at least one configuration selected from the group of configurations consisting of semi automatic configuration, partially automated configuration, fully automated configuration and fully automated configuration with biometrics. Further, these configurations can be achieved with the computerized kiosk being operated in both online mode as well as offline mode. In online mode the user applying for a visa is required to fill up his/her visa application form using a computer connected to the internet and thereafter makes use of the computerized kiosk to fill up rest of the required forms and submit the filled

up forms whereas in offline mode, the user makes use of the computerized kiosk to fill up all the required forms and subsequently submits the filled up form at the kiosk.
When operated in semi automated configuration, the computerized kiosk executes an online application which provides users with a complete application form, all the relevant legal declarations, visa information form, visa checklist and the facility to upload the photograph through the computerized application. When operated in partially automated configuration, the computerized kiosk provides only the visa information form and the visa checklist but does not provide the visa application form and the necessary legal declarations. When the computerized kiosk is operated in partially automated configuration, the users would be instructed to procure the visa application form and necessary legal declarations from the relevant government websites. In fully automated configuration the computerized kiosk allows the user to fill up his/her visa application online. The online application can be made available in semi automated manner wherein all the sections of the application form along with mission legal declarations, checklist and the like are available online. Additionally, the online application can be provided in partially automated mode wherein the application form, mission legal declarations are not available online and are required to be procured either in the form of paper copies or downloaded from the respective government websites. Additionally, the online application can be provided in fully automated mode wherein there is no necessity of submitting any sort of paper based documents. In fully automated mode, documents such as passport, social security cards can be converted into digital format and subsequently uploaded. Additionally, when

online application is made available in fully automated mode with biometrics, the biometric signature or digital signature of the user can also be captured at the kiosk itself.
When the visa applicant completely fills up the visa application, an observation page corresponding to the visa applicant is automatically generated by the computerized kiosk. The visa application form has to be filled manually by the visa applicant. The observation page thus created by the kiosk includes a barcode that incorporates a unique numerical value. The visa applicant is subsequently identified based on the unique numerical value. The visa applicant is also required to fill up an online checklist. The comments provided by the applicant during this stage also get inserted in the respective spaces, so that the visa granting office could review the same. Subsequent to filing the online checklist, the visa applicant will be instructed to fill up two sets of questions, with one set of questions being mandatory and the other being optional. However the visa applicant is provided with the option of viewing both mandatory and optional questions on a single page on the display screen of the kiosk.
The documents uploaded on to the computerized kiosk are required to be digitally signed by the visa applicant using signature module selected from the group consisting of digital certification, two factor authentication, one factor authentication and biometric signature.
Subsequent to signing the documents, the computerized kiosk automatically verifies the submitted documents. The computerized kiosk verifies the submitted documents to identify any possible fraudulent entries and/or partial forgery. In case the computerized kiosk detects any fraudulent

activity, it immediately generates an alert to caution the concerned security official. The computerized kiosk also provides visa applicants with the facility of photograph capturing, image capturing and submitting their passports for further verification.
When operated in fully automated configuration with biometrics, the computerized kiosk provides users with the facility of enrolling themselves biometrically. The application of the computerized kiosk is not restricted only to processing the visa applications. In this specification, processing of visa applications has been considered as an example for explaining the function of the system envisaged by the present invention. However, the system can be accordingly modified to process and subsequently verify other types of paper based documents without departing from the scope of the invention. The computerized kiosk, in accordance with the present invention is designed to process all the types of visa applications. The computerized kiosk, irrespective of its configuration and mode of operation allows users to fill in multiple visa applications at a particular time and also reduces the amount of human intervention required.
As a part of the processing of the submitted visa applications, all the submitted documents will be provided to visa officials for further scrutiny. The office scrutinizing the documents submitted at the computerized kiosk can make use of third party databases to verify the biometric identity of the visa applicant. At the end of the processing step, the scrutinizing officer assigns a status to the scrutinized visa application. Soon after the completion of the above mentioned step, all the documentation is forwarded to a final visa officer. The final visa officer is typically presented with a

dashboard view of the documentations submitted by the visa applicant. The final visa officer is also provided with the views/comments provided by the scrutinizing officer. Once the final visa officer completes the step of scrutinizing the visa application, the type and nature of the visa to be issued will be specified and subsequent to this step the visa can be printed either automatically or manually or in the form of a vignette or in an electronic form.
The computerized kiosk, in accordance with the present invention includes a reporting module which is adapted to provide the details including the number of visa applications submitted, total fees collected, total service fee collected and the like. The reports generated by the computerized kiosk also include the comments provided by the visa scrutinizing officials. The reports are provided by the computerized kiosk on a daily, monthly, weekly and yearly basis. The reports provided by the computerized kiosk typically include views such as financial view and mission view. The financial view depicts the financial data such as cost for processing a visa application, margin of profit corresponding to a visa application and the like. The mission view depicts the visa application related information including the status of the visa application and the like.
FIGURE 1 illustrates, by the way of example the first embodiment of the present invention which includes a standing computerized kiosk denoted by the reference numeral 100. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, prior to approaching the computerized kiosk, users are required to fill up a form asking for his/her basic information through a computer connected to the internet. As soon as they fill up the visa

application form using a computer connected to the internet, they will be provided with a user identification page that includes a unique barcode. The user makes use of the computerized kiosk 100 to prepare and submit other visa application related documents. Along with the other visa application related documents, the user is also required to submit his/her unique identification page containing the unique barcode. The computerized kiosk 100, in accordance with the first embodiment includes a touch screen denoted by the reference numeral 1. The touch screen module 1 provides the user with appropriate instructions and also provides the user with the facility of entering the required personal details. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a document holder denoted by the reference numeral 2. The document holder 2 provides the user with the facility of storing all the necessary documents such as visa envelope, passport return envelope and the like. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a user workspace denoted by the reference numeral 3 which is adapted to provide users with the space to place his/her documents and also provide the user with the facility of performing tasks such as arranging the documents in the required order, affixing the necessary labels and the like,
The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a camera denoted by the reference numeral 4. The camera 4 is utilized to capture the photograph of the user for the purpose of processing the corresponding visa application. The camera 4 is also utilized to capture and record the activities of the user. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a finger print capturing device denoted by the reference numeral 5 adapted to capture the finger prints and thumb impressions corresponding to the users. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a telephone denoted by the reference numeral 6. A user can

make use of the telephone 6 which acts as a hotline, in case of any emergency or in case of need of assistance in relation to completing any of the formalities corresponding to submission of visa applications.
The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a barcode reader denoted by the reference numeral 7. The barcode reader 7, in accordance with the present invention is adapted to identify the users based on the user identification page which is provided to the user soon after he/she completes filling up the visa application form. The barcode reader 7 scans the user identification page and identifies the corresponding user based on the barcode imprinted on the user identification page. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a microphone and headset unit denoted by the reference numeral 8 which is adapted to administer a biometric voice analytics test on the user. The microphone and headset unit 8 is also utilized to capture the voice of the user for the purpose of biometric identification and verification. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a label printer denoted by the reference numeral 9. The label printer 9, in accordance with the present invention is utilized to print the labels that can be affixed onto the visa dockets. The labels are primarily utilized to differentiate between individual visa applications. Typically, the labels are affixed on the visa docket and passport return envelope. The label affixed on the visa docket identifies the visa applicant whereas the label affixed on the passport return envelope is utilized to identify the applicant to whom the passport needs to be returned along with the visa.
The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a receipt printer denoted by the reference numeral 10. The receipt printer is utilized to print the relevant

payment receipts. The computerized kiosk 100 also includes a conventional document printer denoted by the reference numeral 11. The document printer 11 can be utilized to print any of the documents that are required to be furnished along with the visa application. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes an envelope printer denoted by the reference numeral 12. The envelope printer 12 prints applicant related details including but not restricted to identification barcode pattern, passport number and address of the applicant. The envelope printer 12 is further adapted to print color codes and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. Envelops, with applicant details printed on them will be utilized to secure the documents submitted by the corresponding visa applicant. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a cheque collection means denoted by the reference numeral 14. The cheque collection means 14 is adapted to receive the cheques from applicants. The cheque collection means 14 also acknowledges the payment made by the applicants by issuing payment receipts. The cheque collection means 14 also prints the corresponding observation barcode on cheques submitted by applicants and is also adapted to create a timestamp on the cheques submitted by applicants.
The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a card reader (not shown in figures) which collects the debit card and credit card payments from visa applicants. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes an envelope detector denoted by the reference numeral 17. The envelope detector 17 is adapted to identify the envelope containing the necessary visa documents based on the barcode affixed on the envelope containing the visa documents. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a vandal proof mail box (not shown in figures) wherein the visa applicants are required to submit their

respective visa related documents.
The computerized kiosk 100 further includes a KSO (Kiosk Submission Officer) desk which can be utilized to scrutinize the documents submitted by the applicants. The KSO desk typically includes a mini laptop which executes a verification application logically linked to the application executed on the computerized kiosk 100. The KSO desk is primarily utilized to check the veracity of the documents submitted by the visa applicants. The computerized kiosk 100 further includes an enquiry desk which can be either manned or computerized. Typically, the purpose of the enquiry desk is to provide answers to the queries raised by the visa applicants.
FIGURE 2 illustrates, by the way of example, a second embodiment of the present invention which includes a computerized kiosk 200 operated in fully automated mode. The computerized kiosk 200 described in FIGURE 2 includes most of the features of the computerized kiosk 100 described in the above paragraphs, but with certain dissimilarities. The features that the computerized kiosk 200 has in common with the computerized kiosk 100 are denoted using the same reference numerals as in FIGURE 1. This convention is continued in the remaining figures and in the remainder of the description. One of the differences between the computerized kiosks 100 and 200 is that the computerized kiosk 200 includes a passport reader denoted by the reference numeral 21. The passport reader 21 is utilized to scan the passport corresponding to the visa applicant. The passport reader 21 also checks the veracity of the passport submitted by the applicant. The passport reader 21 also compares the photograph of the applicant uploaded through the online application, with the photograph of the applicant available in the

passport. The computerized kiosk 200 further includes a passport detector denoted by the reference numeral 22. The passport detector 22 is used in those cases where it is necessary to acquire the original passport of the visa applicant. The computerized kiosk 200 further includes a signature pad denoted by the reference numeral 23. The signature pad 23 is typically a biometric signature pad which is used by the visa applicant to electronically sign the necessary documents/applications. The signature pad 23 also provides visa applicants with the facility of signing the necessary documents using a digital certificate using a smart card. The computerized kiosk 200 further includes a micro kiosk, which typically is an extension of the computerized kiosk 200. The micro kiosk is typically a mobile tablet PC which is utilized to obtain the signatures of visa applicants.
FIGURE 3 illustrates, by the way of example a third embodiment of the present invention which includes a computerized kiosk 300 being operated in fully automated biometric mode. The computerized kiosk 300 is similar to the computerized kiosk 200 described in the above paragraphs. The computerized kiosk 300 differs from the computerized kiosk 200 in that it includes the biometric enrollment facility. The computerized kiosk 300, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention includes a finger print enrollment means denoted by the reference numeral 25 which is used as a self service device via audio/visual instructions to obtain the finger prints and thumb impressions of visa applicants. The computerized kiosk 300 further includes an iris scan enrollment device denoted by the reference numeral 26. The iris scan enrollment device is also used as a self service device via audio/visual instructions to obtain the image of the iris of the visa applicants. The computerized kiosk 300 further includes a teleconferencing

means denoted by the reference numeral 27. The teleconferencing means 27 includes a CCTV (closed circuit television) which monitors and records all the activities taking place at the computerized kiosk 300. The CCTV installed at the computerized kiosk 300 also ensures that no one other than the genuine visa applicant operates the computerized kiosk 300. The teleconferencing means 27 also provides authorized people with the facility of monitoring the entire process.
FIGURE 4 illustrates, by the way of example, a fourth embodiment of the present invention which includes a computerized kiosk 400 operated in offline mode. With the computerized kiosk operated in this mode, the visa applicant will have to approach the computerized kiosk 400 in person to fill up and submit the visa application. The computerized kiosk 400 is a seated kiosk and includes all the features provided in the earlier variants of the computerized kiosks. The computerized kiosk 400, in addition includes a document scanner denoted by the reference numeral 28 which is a self loading bulk document scanner utilized by visa applicants to upload the documents necessary for obtainment of visa.
FIGURE 5 illustrates, by the way of example, a fifth embodiment of the present invention which includes a computerized kiosk 500 operated in offline mode but with the facility of biometric enrollment. The computerized kiosk includes all the features described in earlier embodiments of the present invention. In addition to the features mentioned earlier, the computerized kiosk 500 includes the biometric enrollment facility as described in the third embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the computerized kiosks explained in the above paragraphs also include additional functional modules such as CCTV systems (not shown in figures) which are utilized to monitor and video record the activities taking place at the computerized kiosk on a continuous basis. The computerized kiosks further include trip wire motion detectors (not shown in figures) which ensure that no fraudulent activities take place and that in case of biometric enrollment, the person undergoing the process of enrollment does not move out of the stipulated location, Additionally passport casings and passport tracking tags are utilized to secure the passports submitted by visa applicants.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The technical advancements of the present invention include the following:
• present invention provides a system that facilitates quick processing of paper based visa applications;
• present invention provides a computerized service kiosk that is easy to use and user friendly;
• present invention provides a computerized service kiosk that efficiently assists users in completing the formalities in respect of obtaining a visa;
• present invention offers a computerized service kiosk that provides a one stop solution in respect of processing and submission of visa

applications.
• present invention provides a computerized service kiosk which efficiently identifies the errors entailed in visa applications.
• present invention provides a computerized service kiosk which effectively illustrates to the user all the steps involved in submission and subsequent processing of visa applications.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.