There are several procedural changes aimed at streamlining consular visa application processes. Key changes include:
- Business Visas. Applicants are no longer required to submit medical certificates, degree certificates, CVs, flight and hotel reservations, or proof of the applicant’s financial solvency. Instead, applicants must now provide proof of the host company’s financial stability (such as a bank certification). This shifts the burden of documentation from individuals to sponsoring companies.
- Business Visa for Employment Purposes. Applicants are no longer required to submit medical certificates or proof of the applicant’s financial solvency. Instead, these applicants must also now provide proof of the host company’s financial stability. Additionally, police clearance certificates submitted in support of the application are now valid if they were issued within the last 12 months at the time of the application, up for the previous six-month validity period, which gives applicants more flexibility in document preparation.
- Dependent Visa. Applicants no longer need to submit medical certificates, reducing administrative hurdles.
Additionally, for all these visas, the validity of the support/guarantee letter (issued by the company or applicant, as applicable) has been standardized to six months. Previously, there were no specific validity requirements.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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