Sumar asks Foreign Ministry about alleged irregularities by BLS in outsourced visa processing

Eduardo González The Plurinational Parliamentary Group Sumar has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whether it is aware of the irregularities and improper charges of which the Indian company BLS International Services Ltd. has been accused. BLS International Services Ltd. has been outsourced to manage visas in more than forty countries. In a written parliamentary question submitted on November 7, Sumar (a junior partner in Pedro Sánchez's coalition government) points out that, according to information published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself, BLS International operates as a concessionary company officially authorized by the Spanish government to process visa applications in more than forty countries, including Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, and the United States. The contract between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BLS for the collection and processing of visa applications was first signed on December 12, 2016, which was heavily criticized at the time by union representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency International, and even some embassies due to the company's poor performance. The contract was renewed in March 2023, despite reports from various media outlets, social organizations, and citizens' groups of irregularities, improper charges, and potential abusive practices in the operation of its processing centers. According to Sumar, in Canada, the BLS subsidiary responsible for Indian consular services has been the subject of "public complaints of forced charges, financial pressure, and degrading treatment of applicants," according to investigations by the public broadcaster CBC Toronto. In Estonia, the Ministry of the Interior itself recently terminated a contract with BLS after detecting serious violations in the management of the state e-Residency program. Separately, within the realm of Spanish consulates, complaints and reports have been registered from citizens in several countries related to both the management of BLS and the subsequent review by the consulate. In this regard, Sumar asserts that particularly sensitive cases have been documented, such as that of a Spanish woman whose Senegalese spouse's visa was denied, preventing her from attending the birth of her second child in Spain. In response, several groups conducted a survey to gather testimonies and cases of irregularities and delivered hundreds of signatures to the Spanish Consulate in Dakar, achieving temporary improvements, "although complaints of corruption and unequal treatment persist." Similar situations have been reported in Pakistan, where the Pakistani diaspora in Spain alleges that BLS employees demand payments of up to €3,000 to process visas, which in some cases have not been granted even after a year's wait. “Those affected claim to have reported these incidents to the staff of the Spanish Embassy without receiving an effective response or structural solutions,” continues the party led by Vice President Yolanda Díaz. Therefore, Sumar asks the Government if it is aware “of the cases of alleged irregularities and improper charges publicly denounced in Senegal, Morocco, and Pakistan by BLS International” and if it has requested formal explanations from BLS International or its subsidiaries regarding the aforementioned cases of fraud or non-compliance in other countries. Furthermore, Sumar asks “how the Government guarantees that applicants will not suffer improper or abusive charges,” what mechanisms exist for Spanish or foreign citizens to file complaints or report abuses committed by BLS International “without jeopardizing their visa application,” and if audits, inspections, or performance evaluations have been carried out on BLS International since the beginning of its contract and, if so, whether the Government could provide the results. Yolanda Díaz's party also asks the Government if it plans to "review or suspend the contractual relationship with said company in light of the international complaints and ongoing legal proceedings" and if it is considering "partially recovering direct management of visas or implementing a public digital system for submitting applications, in order to reduce dependence on private companies."

Related Content

Spain will defend its "No to war" stance this week before its European Union partners

The Spanish government condemns the violence in the West Bank and the persecution of pro-Palestinian Israeli activists

The King and Queen will be received in audience at the Vatican on Friday for the first time in twelve years.

More than 40 digital leaders will analyze the challenges of the technology sector at the Cervantes Institute

CCOO demands adaptation of Foreign Ministry staff labor framework “to the realities of the Southern Hemisphere”