Govt to ease visa process from third countries instead of Delhi
NN Online:
India has suspended its tourist visa services, though limited options are still available for urgent medical cases and students through third countries. However, many are facing difficulties in securing appointments for Indian visas, with students particularly affected by the disruption.
Similarly, obtaining work visas for various European countries has also become challenging. In light of these ongoing issues, the interim government has taken steps to facilitate the process of acquiring visas from third countries, offering an alternative to the traditionally required visas from Delhi.
Bangladeshi citizens typically obtain visas for most Western European countries directly from Dhaka, while visas for many Eastern European countries require processing through Delhi.
On August 5, following the change of government, India’s suspension of tourist visas has caused significant disruptions. Only limited third-country visas for urgent medical cases and students are being issued. As a result, many students are facing difficulties in reaching their destination countries in Europe due to the unavailability of Indian visas.
Bangladeshi citizens typically travel to Delhi to obtain visas for Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland, as these countries do not have embassies in Dhaka. Every year, a large number of students head to these nations for higher education, and Romania, in particular, has seen an increase in Bangladeshi workers. However, the limited visa issuance by the Indian high commission has created significant challenges for students hoping to travel to these destinations.
Students seeking a Romanian visa can now apply at the country’s embassies in Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, those looking to apply for a Bulgarian visa can do so in Vietnam, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan, offering more options for applicants in the region.
In an effort to help students bypass Delhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken steps to facilitate visa applications from various countries. As part of this initiative, 86 Bangladeshi students have already applied for visas at the embassies in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Foreign Secretary M Jashim Uddin on Sunday went for a visit to three European countries—Germany, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. During his bilateral meetings, he is expected to discuss measures to make it easier for Bangladeshi citizens to obtain visas for the Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina.