Nearly 75% of Visa Application Centers have restarted operations since the disruption caused by COVID-19
RIYADH: Ahead of worldwide travel restarting in Saudi Arabia next yr, facilities for processing work and travel visa functions have begun to re-open for enterprise throughout the Kingdom, after the disruption attributable to the influence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Now we have seen a gradual rise within the variety of our Visa Utility Facilities (VACs) re-opening globally, together with Saudi Arabia, which has been very reassuring for us. Out of 28 governments that we serve within the Kingdom, we’ve resumed operations for 20 nations as of November 2020,” Sumanth Kapoor, regional head for Saudi Arabia at VFS International, advised Arab Information.
VFS Global is the world’s largest visa outsourcing and know-how provider specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. Headquartered in Switzerland, the corporate has 3,430 VACs in 144 nations throughout 5 continents, and as of September 2020, it has processed greater than 225 million functions.
Kapoor mentioned that whereas VFS Global’s enterprise has begun to return to regular, it was vital to notice that the official re-opening of VACs relies on approval from each native authorities and the embassy in the query.
Moreover, being able to apply for a visa doesn’t essentially imply that an applicant will mechanically be capable of travel to their desired nation. “We advise that every one traveler test official authorities advisories of the vacation spot nation and airways’ necessities, so they’re conscious of the present standing regarding worldwide travel,” he mentioned.
Forward of all facilities reopening, the corporate earlier this summertime launched a brand new service referred to as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD), the place a VFS International govt travels to an applicant’s dwelling to course of the visa software documentation and perform the biometrics.
Kapoor mentioned the VAYD service was an instance of how their enterprise has adjusted to the challenges presented by COVID-19. “Well being and security earlier than and through the journey will play away from a more vital position, and we’re observing a step by step altering buyer requirement development in direction of extra customized, digital and at-your-doorstep providers,” he mentioned.
“Though we’ve reopened around 75 % of the VACs throughout the nation, the circumstances are new to all people concerned — prospects, consumer governments, native authorities, and ourselves,” he added.
On which nations are proving hottest with Saudis for visas, Kapoor mentioned it was troublesome to determine particular developments: “Europe has all the time been a favorite journey vacation spot for Saudis. Nonetheless, due to the unprecedented occasions this yr, developments inside the Kingdom will not be as conclusive as earlier years.”
Whereas Saudi authorities are planning to reopen worldwide borders at the finish of the yr, Kapoor mentioned that freedom to journey would nonetheless be constrained: “Travel plans additionally rely upon the quarantine guidelines and flight availability of the vacation spot nation.”
VFS International’s places of work abroad have begun accepting functions from these wanting visas to journey to the Kingdom.
“Now we have begun accepting visa functions for all accessible classes, except for Vacationer Visa. Our facilities are accepting functions for biometric enrolment which is a compulsory step for all work visa candidates,” Kapoor mentioned.
Regardless of disruption to providers because of COVID-19, Kapoor mentioned its passport processing providers had not been considerably affected. “All through the current difficulties, there has not been an important influence on our passport and consular providers that we provide to Indian and Philippine residents within the Kingdom,” he mentioned.
“Our facilities providing passport and consular providers have remained operational even in the course of the pandemic with all security and preventative measures in place.”
In addition, the corporate additionally performed particular excursions across the Kingdom to gather Indian passport renewal functions in varied cities and cities, as a result of excessive demand from Indian nationals. These befell in Bisha, Jizan, Madinah, and Najran within the western area, in addition to in Sakaka, Arar, Hafr Al Batin, Khafji, and Wadi Dawasir.
VFS GLOBAL FAQS
To stipulate the modifications applied because of COVID-19, VFS International has compiled the next incessantly requested questions:
1. Do I have to carry a COVID 19-related medical certificate once I go to the Visa Utility Middle?
VFS International doesn’t search for any COVID-19-related medical certificates. Medical certificates could also be required for visa functions for some nations as per the official guidelines.
2. If the visa I acquired for a rustic earlier than lockdown has expired, do I want to use it once more?
Sure, in case your visa has expired for any nation or is because of expiring quickly, you might have to re-apply for a brand new visa for that specific nation. If you’re already abroad and your visa is because of expiring, go to the related visa or immigration authorities of that nation for help.
3. Can I apply for my visa at my dwelling or workplace to take care of bodily distancing precautions?
Sure. Select our Visa At Your Doorstep service for a handy visa software course from the protection and luxury of your property or workplace. Out there to choose vacation spot nations.
4. Do I have to observe well being, security, and bodily distancing norms on the Visa Utility Facilities?
Sure. On your security and that of our workers, it is very important to adhere to the well-being and security pointers issued by native well-being authorities resembling temperature checks, bodily distancing, and different security norms.
5. Can I ask for my passport to be delivered to my handle?
Sure. You’ll be able to select our non-obligatory Courier Service to get your passport delivered to the doorstep for any new visa functions submitted at re-opened facilities.
