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snuggels
960 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jun 2008 : 05:56:41
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Having recently got involved with the saga of visa applications I came across the following artical. Food for thought!!!
Gambia: The Endless Visa Denials - The British High Commission Should Explain - Part Two
Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
EDITORIAL
6 February 2008
Posted to the web 7 February 2008
Many Gambians called to support the editorial we published On Wednesday, about the visa problem at the British High Commission in Banjul. They said the Editorial represents the true realities on the ground. That our people are being made to pay D3000 Dalasis visa fees, without visas issued to them. That the British High Commissioned, like any other Foreign Mission in the country had no refund policy for visa fees. The most hard hit are students, married couples and the sick.
It's very painful for people to use their hard earned money to finance their visa applications only to have their applications turned down. It's heart-breaking. Such denials must be supported by solid evidence to allay public fear that the British High Commission is out to exploit poor Gambians.
Local Missions should consider doing what we call " application evaluation" before inviting prospective visa applicants for interview. During such reviews, applicants who do not meet the necessary requirements, should be advised to provide more evidence to enable the processing of their applications. If the Consular officer believe that a certain applicant failed to meet the visa requirements, he should advise the applicant to provide more evidence that would warrant the issuance of visa. This would go a long way in minimizing visa denials.
Applicants who had their applications returned for insufficient evidence should be made to pay a reasonable service fees and not D3000 Dalasis.
What's happening right now is what we call win or loose situation. People applied for visas without having proper counseling. They gambled to get that famous British visa. Some succeed, while a good number of the applicants had their applications denied.
The British High Commission should also consider opening a visa counseling section. This unit should help provide counseling to frustrated visa applicants. It's not enough to say that Momodou Sanneh does not meet the visa issuance requirements, without giving him tips and recommendations as to how he should redress the denial. Rejected applicants should be provided with relevant information by the High Commission in order to avoid future denials.
As we penned this editorial, the average Gambian believe that the visa regime at the British High Commission tantamount to "economic exploitation." That the High Commission is collecting several thousands of dollars from Gambians without issuing them with visas. Whether true or false, the High Commission needs to explain.
While it's a known fact that most foreign Missions relied on Visa revenues to take care of their local budget, it's imperative to note that increment on visa fees are determined by the pace of a particular economy. When prices went up, visa fees are also likely to be increased.
If the recent economic statistics issued by the Central Bank are to go by, we still cannot fathom the recent hikes on visa fees. According to the Central Bank, there is seven percent economic growth. It also reported about low inflation.
In view of the above, we believe that the British High Commission should allay the fears of Gambians about this talk of economic exploitation. What the High Commissioner said on that press release is not sufficient.
It was interesting to read the High Commissioner's press release. The High Commissioner says the UK Parliament determines visa fees for its Missions overseas. He also sympathizes with Mr. Sanneh's conditions and thus advised him to reapply for visa.
Agreed, visa fees are determined by Governments, but it's also important to bear in mind that the people paying for such fees came from different backgrounds. Students, disabled individuals and senior citizens should be provided with reasonable fees.
Having said that, it's also unfair to heap the blame squarely on the British High Commission without weighing the story. It takes two to tango. The problem at hand is a diverse one and should be thoroughly scrutinized before passing judgments.
Our only concern right now is the increasing number of visa rejections at the British High Commission. We are also alarmed by the mass deportation of Gambian immigrants from the UK.
It would be interesting if the British High Commission provides statistics to Gambians about the number of Gambian visa applicants rejected every year and the number of visas issued. This would go a long way in restoring public confidence.
Sometime last year, the US Embassy summoned a press conference to shed light on the number of applicants denied and visas issued in the past fiscal year. The Embassy also informed the press about visa frauds its uncovered during the period in question.
The British High Commission should also consider doing the same thing. It would help to educate Gambians about their visa programs. The High Commission should read and digest these proposals we are making.
Based on the information we gathered, the British Government allocates certain number of visas to be issued each year in The Gambia. We are still not told how many visas the British Government so far allocates to The Gambia. Gambians want to know these statistics in the interest of transparency.
On a final note, we call on the British High Commission to help issue visas to genuine Gambian students, businessmen and travelers.While, we are not in the position to dictate to the High Commission as to how it should run its job, it's our firm belief that the press has its on stake in shaping the affairs of the nation. Our primary task is to serve as social watchdogs. The tight visa regime needs to be revisited. Issue visas to legible applicants. We rest our case!!!
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