They are facing a major issue. Many countries around the world are shilly-shallying with respect to visa issuance. The developed countries take two to six months’ time to issue visas. They examine the situation of infectious diseases in the country from which people have applied for visas. Every precaution is taken before a visa is approved.
We may brag about how strong our passport has been recently, but for the world the infectious disease still exists in our country. Hence, countries like Canada, Britain hesitate to issue visas to Indians. They are delaying the visa. During the pandemic, most of the countries were reluctant to allow entries to foreigners. Now, since the pandemic has subsided, restrictions on international flights are being relaxed. The process of issuing visas has also begun, but in short order. No country issues visas promptly.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
They also examine if the person is coming from a developing country or would stay permanently or go back. His bank balance, property in developing countries are also scrutinised. Kith and kin details are also checked. The visa is issued only when it is confirmed that the person does not intend to stay forever in the developed country. An interview is arranged after an application for visa is received by embassies of such major countries. The interviewer seeks to read the mind of the applicant. Though information such as the applicant’s reason for travel, destinations and stay, who will pay his bills, whether he has insured himself is provided in the application, an interview is arranged to know his exact reason behind the travel.
As of now, the interviewers are applying their skills to collect info about infectious diseases during the conversation. Therefore, it has been an uphill task to travel abroad not only for education and jobs, but also for tourism purposes. These countries have a surveillance mechanism to keep an eye on tourists. Hence, it is difficult to stay in such countries after the expiry of visa. Some find a loophole, but developed countries are vigilant enough not to allow such illegal stays. This is the situation throughout the world including our own country. Indians have to wait for a year to get an American visa. It takes almost six months to get a Canadian visa, and six weeks to get a British visa.
Students seeking visas to these countries also face uneasiness. Indian students used to go to Ukraine in large numbers. But after the Russian attack Ukraine is reduced to ashes. There is an uncertainty about when the education system will be back on its feet. Students are exploring the opportunities in other countries. But delay in getting visas has escalated their worries. Our embassy officers have begun a dialogue with their counterparts in Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, England, and America. They are primarily stressing on sorting the student visa issue. The problem can be resolved only if additional assurances are given to prioritise students’ visas.
The American embassies in Delhi and Mumbai will start accepting new applications for visas. As of now, slots for visa interviews are booked till April 2023. Duration for completion of the visa process for Britain is six weeks, while that of Canada is four months. Since the Germans initiate and complete the visa process in minimum 15 days, a declaration is already to be made, asking travellers to make plans accordingly. In the post pandemic era, aspirants are facing the visa speed breakers on their way to foreign countries.
Embassy officers handling visa applications have returned to their home countries, and most of them have preferred to switch their jobs and stay in their native countries. The embassies are facing manpower issues, and this is a major problem. The coming months will see 20,000 to 25,000 visa applications being kept pending, and we may have a new breed of people labelled as Foreign Tour Aspirants.
