Over 1,000 ‘stranded’ as one and only visa application centre remains closed

CONCERNED students and workers across Malaysia are gravely dissatisfied with the prolonged closure of the one and only VFS Visa Application Centre (VFS) located inside the Wisma MCA building.

A petition launched on June 30 has since gathered more than 1,000 people demanding the centre to swiftly resume normal operations before the start dates of university or employment approach.

VFS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, an outsourcing company that manages visa applications for governments across the world, had since June 1 posted a note on its website informing that it will remain closed due to the Government’s lockdown restrictions until further notice.

In light of the visa centre further closure that extends beyond June 28, some 50 affected visa applicants hailing from diverse backgrounds, age, gender, ethnicity and expertise came together virtually to form an advocacy alliance through the Facebook Messenger group chat function.

The group claims to represent all affected visa applicants and is demanding VFS to swiftly resume normal operations.

The spokesperson expresses profound concerns that further closure of VFS will be a catastrophe as the mounting backlogs might cause undesirable delays for applicants to receive visa approval on time.

The group projected that the peak time for visa application would range from July till October; students are expected to apply for their September enrolment while workers rush to start work for the new fiscal year.

Separately, the spokesperson emphasises that the demand to re-open VFS should also be met with stringent infection prevention measures to ensure the health and safety of all.

“Visa office closures during prime time for applications have been disappointing,” lamented affected student Yu Wen Ung. “This circumstance could have been better handled considering we’ve been battling COVID-19 for a year.”

Qamarina Azman, an affected student who has had her first and second years of study disrupted due to university staff on strike said with her course is starting in September, she hopes to be back in the UK early to complete her isolation before class commences.

“If I can’t get my visa done on time, it leaves me no choice but to defer for another year which is not ideal after suffering from episodes of interrupted studies for the past years which I am now receiving professional help for my mental health,” she noted.

“I’m paying £20,000 (RM114,700) for university fees and it’s only fair that students get the full contact hours.” – July 7, 2021

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