Bangladeshis Trying To Work In Malta Left In The Lurch As Visa Applications Suddenly Frozen
Bangladeshi nationals seeking to work in Malta have been left wondering when they will be allowed to do so after all their visa applications were suddenly frozen.
On 30th May, the Malta High Commission of India, which is responsible for processing potential Maltese visas for Bangladeshi nationals, issued a statement that visa applications for Bangladeshis have been postponed till further notice.
No reason for the postponement was given, leaving several Bangladeshis bitterly disappointed as their passports were returned to them.
Lovin Malta asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to clarify the situation last week but no response has been given and it is as yet unclear whether the issue is arising from Malta’s side or India’s.
Bangladeshis seeking to apply for a visa at the Malta High Commission in New Delhi must first obtain an Indian visa.
The situation is frustrating several Bangladesh nationals who have been approved for a job in Malta by their employer and Identity Malta but who have been trying to secure a Maltese visa for months or, in some cases, even years.
“I left my job in Bangladesh when I received my Maltese work permit in February,” a man called Rofiq told Lovin Malta. “I submitted all my documents on 21st February at the High Commission in Malta but after three months and 15 days, they have sent me back my passport without any results. I have lost my job and wasted my money and don’t know the reason or what to do next.”
A man called Nur said he has been trying to enter Malta for work reasons since 2020.
After he was initially denied entry due to global COVID-19 travel restrictions, he tried his luck again in January of this year after being approved by Identity Malta to work as a plumber with a Maltese construction company.
“I received the approval letter in January and booked an appointment date with the Malta High Commission, which cost around 35K Bangladesh Taka (€351.50),” he said.
“After I was provided with an appointment date for the start of March, I travelled from Bangladesh to India and submitted my passport and documentation, but now they have been returned to me after 96 days.”
“I am staying in India right now but everything is lost and I can’t go to my dream country, the Republic of Malta.”
The High Commission, along with other key embassies, is facing a major gridlock in visa applications, prompting the Foreign Affairs Ministry to pledge to hire more staff.
The Chamber of SMEs has warned the situation is leaving several businesses short-staffed and costing the economy “several million”.
It doesn’t only appear to be affecting Malta either, with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) recently flagging huge visa processing delays for several countries in the EU’s Schengen zone as well as the USA.
“We have spoken to VFS, the embassies and the Ministry of External Affairs and it is becoming a huge challenge,” said Jyoti Mayal, president of TAAI. “We will officially write to all European countries on the matter.”
“We are hearing countries such as Greece have not returned traveller passports for over two months and there is a huge pending demand for the US as well. The situation is getting worse and this is the peak summer season.”
Cover photos: Bangladeshi nationals gather at the VFS offices in New Delhi in the hope of receiving some information
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