The incredible business of appointments for visa applications

2023-08-21 23:04:58

In Senegal, business related to the visa process continues to flourish and expand. To travel to member countries of the Schengen area such as France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and others, applying for and obtaining visas have become real challenges.

Once handled internally by consulates for a fee, visa applications are now handled by an Indian operator called VFS. At first, the advantages of the dematerialization of requests were felt. Digitization improved the efficiency and speed of the process, while making it cheaper and more user-friendly for visa applicants.

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However, the dematerialization of visa applications to the embassies or consulates of these countries in Dakar has reached its limits today. Among the victims of this situation are patients, students and business people who struggle to obtain appointment slots online. Prepaid service fees are officially set at 18,500 CFA for students and individuals, and 34,500 CFA for VIPs.

The current bitter observation is the temporary or even regular unavailability of the “Rendez-vous” platform or application. Traffickers, intermediaries and cyberspace entrepreneurs are watching the “Rendez-vous” application in order to take it hostage as soon as it is accessible. Thus, online meeting slots are monopolized by these intermediaries and traffickers, who demand sums ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 CFA francs. Take it or leave it! The situation has escalated to such an extent that it has sparked criticism on social networks.

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“Are diplomatic representations in #Senegal aware that appointments for visa applications are currently sold between 200,000 FCFA and 300,000 FCFA by third parties who manage to obtain availability, who knows how, by what magic?” , published journalist and entrepreneur Jaly Badiane.

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