Our Bureau
Mumbai
Indian visa and consular services provider BLS International has come under scrutiny in Spain as the country’s National Court investigates an alleged visa fraud network operating around the Spanish Consulate in Algiers. The investigation is examining whether companies involved in visa appointments and document processing helped facilitate preferential access for applicants who allegedly paid large sums.
According to judicial sources cited in reports, applicants were allegedly charged as much as €25,000 per family to obtain Schengen visas, residence permits or work permits, including in cases where they did not meet the required conditions. Investigators are examining allegations that altered, incomplete or falsified documents were used to facilitate migration to Spain and, in some cases, France.
The investigation follows the arrests in April of Vicente Moreno, the Spanish consulate’s chancellor and local employee Mohamed Boutouchent. Moreno’s wife has also been placed under investigation. Spanish authorities are probing possible offences including money laundering, document falsification, influence peddling, crimes against the rights of foreign citizens and membership of a criminal organisation.
However, BLS International categorically rejected any involvement in the alleged irregularities referred to in media reports. There is no evidence establishing any wrongdoing by BLS International or its employees in relation to the issuance of visas. BLS International’s role is strictly administrative and is carried out in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the competent authorities. All decisions relating to the processing and issuance or refusal of visas rest solely with the relevant diplomatic and consular authorities. BLS International remains committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, compliance and service delivery, and to its role as a trusted service partner to governments and citizens across the world.
The court has specifically referred to processing platforms such as BLS while examining the possible involvement of service providers. BLS received a €175-million contract from Spain’s Foreign Ministry in 2016 to manage visa appointments and document processing at certain consulates.