Sri Lankan missions getting stripped of authority in issuing visas

6 June 2024 08:39 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 27 Bookmark

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Colombo, June 6 (Daily Mirror) - Overseas Sri Lankan missions are in the process of being stripped of their authority to issue different categories of visas for foreign nationals including resident visas with the introduction of online application, an official said.

Sri Lanka has now introduced acceptance of online visas from foreign nationals intending to visit Sri Lanka. As a result, the Sri Lankan missions virtually lose their authority to accept document and issue visas.

Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration retains the sole authority to issue visas in partnership with VFS Global for processing applications. Asked for a comment in this regard, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya said there is no need for any foreign national to reach the nearest Sri Lankan mission to apply for visas now.

“It is possible to be done online for anyone. Currently, the missions are authorized to accept documents from resident visa applicants. We will introduce online system for resident visa applicants soon. Then, the missions will naturally lose the authority to accept documents for resident visa as well,” he said.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration reserves the power of approving, issuing or rejecting visas under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948.

VFS Global only receive the documents related to sending the relevant documents for online visa approval from applicants and send them to the department.

Comments - 27

Yohan Thursday, 06 June 2024 08:55 AM

Bond scammer to visa scammer. VFS is a big scam that rip off customers unnecessarily. It has a very low reputation globally. Already the tourism sector has affected . The no of tourists coming to the country has gone down after vfs scammers came in.

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Suhada malli Thursday, 06 June 2024 11:56 AM

Tourism always goes down after the November to March April season is over. A more constructive criticism and suggestion would be for Sri Lanka ITC sector to be tasked with developing their own online visa granting system that will one day (say in 2 years) replace the VFS Global system. There is a massive amount of secure logistics also involved in processing visas. VFS has more organised processors and stable structure to make the visa processing faster in a short period. However a more locally developed system should eventually replace it.

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siebvan doorn Thursday, 06 June 2024 02:47 PM

now it is for people from holland nearly inpossibly to come to srilanka it is very expensive and nearly inpossible to come to this webside so my daugher want to go to srilanka now she go to bali with her fam to stupid

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Mila Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:01 AM

Why do we want our personal documents to be in the hands of an Indian company?? We don't want VFS Global! Why do these people not understand this? I don't want Indians or anyone else to have my personal document. Only Sri Lankan people should do this. When will Sri Lankans stand up against these VFS scammers?

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Mila Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:06 AM

Do they really think we need VFS to process all this? There are no Sri Lankans who can do this?? We want everything to be the way it was. VFS must leave now! Corrupt people are behind all this to make life more miserable for Sri Lankans. I can't stand it when I call and I get an Indian person. Its so strange to me.

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BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:14 AM

This is the way forward. We do not need political sponsored clerks and other henchies manning foreign missions at great expense for something that can be done and scrutinized online. Earlier, these appointees were all wives and daughters and sons of Ministers.

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Mohamed Adham Thursday, 06 June 2024 10:27 AM

Absolutely, but, it should NOT benefit private organizations

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Christo255 Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:34 AM

So what's wrong with that? Worldwide visa applications are accepted online and the only time they need to go to a Embassy/ High Commission is when they need to clarify or be interviewed by the consular Officer. Also keep in mind we don't have SL embassies in every country. Online system actually compliments our tourism industry

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Nimal Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:46 AM

These corrupt officials don't know how to attract tourists to the country. They are all puppets of politicians. These idiots should be chased away on the first day of a new government. Unfortunately, all SL governments are the same.

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Lanka Thursday, 06 June 2024 09:57 AM

That is good and it would be easy to get rid of all corruption and fraud

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Wimal Thursday, 06 June 2024 10:09 AM

I wonder if vfs global gave a backhander to Govt officials to change policy and win this contract

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Shiiraan Nooramith Thursday, 06 June 2024 12:17 PM

Goes without saying . Why do you need a post box ( VFS) to scrutinize your docs and pay them an additional fee , when this online service was initially done directly with the immigration dept . Doesn't make sense. Corruption at its highest .

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Lawry Thursday, 06 June 2024 10:29 AM

This being termed as "stripped of authority" seems malicious. Then the other diplomatic missions of Canada, Australia and others who's work is done by VFS also must have been stripped naked. What is negative with this change is that the VFS does not provide a straight forward smooth process online. Will fully sending one in circle looking at different web pages to reach the application form. Visa third party agents mint money from applicants. This definitely should be stopped on this count.

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Lanka Thursday, 06 June 2024 10:56 AM

Staff in Sri Lankan embassies and high commission do not work for the public and they do not look after the public rather they work for themselves, for their own interest. some are selfish and greedy and they use deceptive means to earn money people do not like to go to get any service: Online service is far better. ..

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Lionel Thursday, 06 June 2024 10:59 AM

This Immigration chief has no backbone; useless and incompetent, just doing what corrupt politicians are asking him to do. SL visa system is a disaster, full stop. All of SL's competitors will benefit immensely. Tourists from many developed Western countries do not need visas to visit many countries in the world. Why pay a massive US$500 (for a family) to come to this corrupt country when there are hundreds and cheaper nicer places in the world. Has anyone in SL got an iota of a brain? Of course not, that is why the country is bankrupt.

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Rip Winkle Thursday, 06 June 2024 11:15 AM

Waiting impatiently to see a change in the governance of Sri Lanka and the arrests of so many corrupt politicians and government officials, including those behind the visa scam.

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Dee Thursday, 06 June 2024 02:22 PM

Good luck waiting! It will never happen.

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Katukanna Tissa Thursday, 06 June 2024 12:17 PM

we already had this and it called ETA

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Frustrated exporter Thursday, 06 June 2024 01:04 PM

Sri Lankan missions overseas are not helping exporters. I applied for visa for a trade show in Germany neither Ministry of Foreign affairs or Embassy in Germany didn't help to get visa on time so Sri Lankan company missed export opportunities. These people are wasting public tax money.

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ED Fernando Thursday, 06 June 2024 03:07 PM

ETA system was absolutely perfect. Why did they change and ruin the system?

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Visafreelanka Thursday, 06 June 2024 04:57 PM

So much drama over visas and there are many many many foreigners here upto 15 years without a visa. Immigration is nothing and no one cares about visa here. If you are a foreigner here who wants to override immigration rules, please reach out. We will even give you a sri lankan passport. Let the immigration controller challenge this we will end his entire family if he open his mouth.

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Pathmaranjan Thursday, 06 June 2024 06:23 PM

This is a big scam. Minister or government hierarchy is getting a huge commission.

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A Supporter of Politicians Friday, 07 June 2024 04:25 AM

This Government believes that it is better to allow a bogus company sponsored by a politician to earn billions from Visa scam instead of Sri Lankan Government receiving the money.

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Sunil Friday, 07 June 2024 07:26 PM

Hiring An indian company to do this? Why? I thank that person who raised his voice against this scam.As always currupt politicians behind this scam!

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Sunil Friday, 07 June 2024 07:26 PM

Hiring An indian company to do this? Why? I thank that person who raised his voice against this scam.As always currupt politicians behind this scam!

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Prasantha Kumara Saturday, 08 June 2024 12:49 AM

As a citizen of Sri Lanka We don't like to give to foreign company to make issues visa and earn money to using our motherland.but unfortunately our stupid politicians are not thinking about that.actually it's also threat to nations security

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Liza Elly Saturday, 08 June 2024 03:22 PM

Some years ago I applied at the Sri Lankan mission for a 3 months tourist visa, which was easy and comfortable for me. But the fee was paid local not to an account in SL. Suddenly they stopped this service. Was this a million dollar business? I don't think so. Several embassies in Sri Lanka have outsourced the job for a Visa application to VFS in Colombo. For ex Australia.

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