Public Security Minister Tiran Alles held a press conference today to address the ongoing debate surrounding the transfer of visa fee management to a private company and the subsequent fee hike. During the live broadcast, it was reported that a cabinet minister repeatedly directed questions to a journalist, prompting concerns about undue influence.
Following the press conference, several journalists reportedly brought this matter to Minister Alles’ attention.
Minister Alles clarified that the decision to implement the new visa system, including fee adjustments, was passed unanimously in Parliament on November 23. However, due to technical issues with the Electronic Travel Approval (ETA) system, the changes couldn’t be enacted until April 17 through the VFS system.
Regarding the involvement of VFS, Minister Alles emphasized its global reputation and the misconception that it is an Indian company. He revealed that Blackstone is the major shareholder and highlighted VFS’s role as a facilitator, not a decision-maker, in visa processing.
Addressing recent controversies, Minister Alles refuted claims of Indian involvement in the visa counters and reiterated that VFS, as a service provider, operates under strict guidelines set by immigration authorities.
As Minister Alles navigates these challenges, questions linger about the transparency and accountability of the visa management transition.
