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Making Visa Information Accessible

The Challenge

At Roam, we help people navigate the complex world of visa applications. One of our biggest challenges was getting accurate, up-to-date visa information from hundreds of different sources. With visa rules changing frequently across 195+ countries, manual research wasn't cutting it anymore. We needed a better way to keep our users informed.

System architecture diagram showing data pipeline flow

A visual overview of how we collect and process visa information.

The Solution

Building Smart Data Collection

I led the development of a custom tool that automatically gathers visa information from government websites worldwide. Think of it as a smart assistant that works 24/7, constantly checking and updating visa requirements so our team doesn't have to do it manually.

Terminal output showing the scraping process with progress bar and error handling

Our data collection tool in action, showing real-time progress and error checks.

Making Sense of the Data

Raw data isn't very useful if it's messy or inconsistent. We built a system that cleans and organizes the information as it comes in, making sure everything is standardized and easy to understand. When we found gaps in the data, we used AI to help fill them in, always making sure to verify the accuracy.

Project plan showing the stages of the data pipeline build

Breaking down the project into manageable phases.

Keeping Everything Up to Date

Visa rules change often, so we set up an automated system that regularly checks for updates. This means our users always have access to the latest information without our team having to manually check hundreds of websites every day.

The Impact

Better Information, Happier Users

This project transformed how we handle visa information at Roam. We now maintain accurate data for over 195 countries, and our users can trust that they're getting up-to-date information. The automated system saves our team countless hours of manual work, letting them focus on helping users with more complex queries.

Data in the Google Sheet showing the coverage of visa information across countries

Tracking our progress: visa information coverage across different countries.

What I Learnt

This project taught me invaluable lessons about leading digital transformation in the public sector. I learnt how to balance innovation with security, how to bring stakeholders along on a journey of change, and how to deliver complex technical solutions whilst keeping the focus on improving people's lives.

Key Skills Used

  • Digital transformation strategy
  • Stakeholder management
  • Agile project delivery
  • User-centred design
  • Technical architecture
  • Information security and GDPR compliance