Embassies and VFS Global, which offers solutions to visa application processing, must work with transparency to cut the delay in settling visa-related issues, say migration experts.

“VFS Global is taking more time in processing visa applications as people are submitting more applications which is beyond its capacity to deal with,” migration expert Asif Munier told Daily Sun on Monday.

While the company can recruit more manpower to expedite the work, directives should come from embassies as well as they also come under pressure to deal with a huge number of applications in time, he said.

“As VFS Global works under contract with the embassies, the latter should ask the company to receive a fewer visa applications or fix a daily quota to receive those,” Asif Munier said.

He said embassies must ensure transparency first in handling applications and thus issue a directive to the company to work accordingly, and the company should disseminate the necessary information to visa seekers.

“Both embassies and VFS Global must work with transparency. People will have to be informed of the visa processing before they get frustrated,” the migration expert said.

“In the case of allegations of irregularities against VFS Global, each embassy must investigate those sincerely and monitor the work of the company whether they are performing its duties properly,” he said.

Asked what should be the government’s role in dealing with such allegations, Asif Munier said the authorities concerned must approach the embassy that has hired VFS Global and seek reports on their handling of visa applications to check the authenticity of the allegations.

Meanwhile, various allegations surfaced in the media that there is a syndicate in the VFS Global office in Dhaka that arranges visa appointments available for individuals who pay a huge amount of money, while others have to wait for months.

Migration expert Tasneem Siddiqui said there is no logic that visa applications and passports should get stuck for months. “Here, online tracking has to be made effective. Then it’ll be known why and where these passports are stuck.”