JEDDAH: A number of expatriates in Saudi Arabia adopt illegal ways to get immigration visas to European countries as they approach some brokers and hand over huge amounts of money to them in order to get visas.
The brokers, who claim connections with European embassy and consulate employees, receive big amounts of money, which varies depending on countries that people intend to visit.
Although there are ambiguities on the identity of these brokers, many expatriates believe that they can help them to get into Europe. One broker, who requested anonymity, said to Arab News that the amount for a Swedish visa is around SR 38,000.
According to the Schengen visa agreement, a person who receives visa of a EU member country can visit all member countries. This is why many expatriates in the Kingdom are trying to get Swedish visas. However, the broker refused to disclose details about officials who assist them to get visas.
Most expatriates would not get visit or tourist visas to European countries in a legal way, as they cannot fulfill the necessary visa conditions set by those countries.
Expatriate workers, who hail from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan and other countries pay not less than SR 30,000 to get visas to European countries. After arriving in a European country these migrants apply for the refugee status, so that they would not be send back to their home countries. Most EU states consider migrants holding passports of politically unstable and poor countries as refugees.
Abu Hussain, an Eritrean who has migrated to a European country and got refugee status, paid SR 38,000 to a broker to get visa.
People pay a huge amount of money to an unknown broker on the assurance of his connection with embassy officials without any proof.
Abu Hussain said these brokers cheat visa aspirants to make huge amounts of money.
“Most expatriates do not care how a broker gets the visa. What is important for them is to get the visa by any means,” he said.
There are a number of conditions to issue visa by EU countries such as a bank guarantee to prove the applicant’s ability to meet travel expenses, hotel booking and a certificate proving the visa applicant earns an above average monthly income.
In order to be more aware about the measures that are taken by Schegen representations to avoid possible frauds, Arab News contacted the
Consul General of Italy in Jeddah.
Italian Consul General Simone Petroni said all EU embassies and consulates have to stick to the Union’s rules for the issuing of visas for intended stays in the territory of member states. The clerks at the window of the missions or of any outsourcing office do not have authority over the decision-making process. Such authority belongs solely to the Head of the Visa Office, besides the Head of Mission or his Deputy.
“We take maximum care to avoid mistakes. No visa would be issued until the applicant fulfills all the required conditions” Petroni told Arab News.
The Italian Consul General added, however, that there are cases in which applicants misguide Embassies or Consulates regarding one or more of the requested requirements.
“For example, there are applicants providing fake air tickets or hotel bookings in order to prove they are going to a specific destination, or do not actually possess the amount declared in the bank statement. The Consulate can eventually realize that there is something suspicious by checking the applicant’s current account statement and movement of money. If we notice any discrepancy we’ll ask the applicant to have a personal interview,” he said.
Expats manipulate the Schengen visa system
