JEDDAH: The Austrian Embassy on Thursday introduced its services for the collection of visa applications and delivery process in Jeddah through a dedicated Austria Visa Application Center (VAC) set up at VFS Global, described as the world's largest outsourced consular services company.
The center was formally opened by Georg Postinger, deputy head of mission at the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh, and Nesma Holding Vice President Abdulaziz Gabel, who represented Austria's local honorary consul Saleh Al-Turki. The center at the Jeddah Visa Application Center (JVAC) on Manazil Muttaqin Street, off King Abdullah Road in Ruwais district, will be operational from Jan. 14.
Postinger said: "Austria is very glad to offer to the citizens and foreign residents the possibility of handing in their visa applications not only in Riyadh but also in Jeddah. The number of Saudi citizens visiting Austria for business and tourism has seen a steady increase over the past years. The Austria VAC in Jeddah is a service that makes it more comfortable and convenient for travelers in the western provinces of the Kingdom to prepare and organize their trip to Austria."
"Austria, which is rich in tourism, is a favorite country for visitors and has been receiving approximately 30,000 travelers from Saudi Arabia annually. They include those traveling through other Schengen countries," Postinger said. "A number of student visas are also issued by the embassy," he said.
Speaking on behalf of VFS Global, Mohan V. Mathew, chief operating officer of Al Etimad Modern Business Solutions Co. (Etimad), said VFS Gobal is responsible only for accepting and processing applications for Austrian visas at the dedicated center. "All applications will continue to be assessed by the Embassy of Austria in Riyadh. Timelines for turnaround of visas are according to Schengen regulations," he added.
The JVAC receives applications for visas for France and processed 60,000 applications since the country introduced the outsourcing in 2009. There was a 20 percent jump in the number of applications for French visas last year. Aside from France, the JVAC is also the exclusive center for collecting visa applications for Germany, Italy and Malta. In an adjoining location facing Madinah Road, the center is the collection center for visa applications for Singapore, Bulgaria and India. In another nearby location, the center is the collection point for visa applications for the UK and Australia, both of which have introduced the biometric system.
Mathew said some Schengen countries were considering the introduction of the biometric system, which was introduced for visa applications for Spain in Riyadh on Thursday. The system, in order to strengthen security and improve services to visa seekers in the country, includes fingerprinting and full-face digital photography.
© Arab News 2012
