The French Embassy in Ghana on Monday said it would on November 15, this year, join the Joint Visa Reception Centre which currently was operating for Germany, Spain and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A statement issued in Accra said the Centre would be run by VFS Ghana Private Limited on behalf of the Embassy which is at the premises of the Joint Visa Reception Centre with the aim to further improve the service to the Ghanaians seeking either a transit or a short stay non resident visa. The Joint Visa Reception Centre provides counselling services to visa applicants and also operates as a Call Centre for information on Schengen visa rules and regulations. It said the Centre pre-screens documents submitted by the applicants together with their visa applications and offers advice on which additional documents need to be obtained, thus enabling the applicant to attend an interview at the respective visa section with a well prepared visa application. The Centre offers a range of opportunities to applications for short term non resident visas to France as well as transit visas which should be submitted to it Applicants do not have to submit their applications in person but may choose to send a representative to the Joint Visa Reception Centre instead, to submit their documents and to arrange interview appointments at the respective visa section. It said for the interview itself every applicant without exception will continue to be required to come personally to the respective visa section after which applicants would be given appointment for an interview. The VFS Ghana Private Limited will collect a service charge of 17,USD plus VAT or its equivalent in cedis for their services. Any questions for further details and questions concerning types of visa needed or visa rules and regulations can be addressed to the call service of the Joint Visa Reception Centre or via e-mail. Detailed information would also be available on the following website: www.vfs-fr-gh.com. The Joint Visa Reception Centre is located within a short drive from the French Visa Sections and is signposted from Ring Road Central and Kanda Highway. Address: Joint Visa Reception Centre, No. 19, 2nd Crescent, Asylum Down, Accra.