Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin on Wednesday raised with Italy the issue of the backlog of the visa applications, particularly of aspirant migrant workers.
He said such delays in issuing visas might result in the work permits (Nula Ostas) getting expired or cancelled while causing huge financial, social and psychological distress for the visa aspirants and their families.
When Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on, the foreign secretary requested him to take due measures to dispose of the applications and resolve the existing visa gridlock at the earliest.
Ambassador Alessandro took active note of the points raised by the foreign secretary, according to the foreign ministry.
He, however, conveyed that all Nulla Ostas issued to Bangladeshi citizens until 22 October 2024 are currently suspended by the new law adopted by the government of Italy on 11 October 2024.
The embassy has, therefore, decided to return the travel documents of those who have already submitted visa applications before the adoption of the law while keeping their applications open until the confirmation or rejection of their Nulla Ostas.
The ambassador also informed that the re-examination process of Nulla Osta is solely performed by the Provincial Immigration Authority in Italy which can either confirm or revoke the Nulla Osta.
The embassy has no power to intervene in scrutinisation of the pending Nulla Osta.
With regard to a query on processing times, the Italian ambassador apprised that the embassy is not in a position to conclude each visa process within the period of 90 days.
The work visa applications received in Bangladesh coupled with the mandatory control on implementation of the ‘Flow Decree’ in Italy sometimes requires more than 90 days.
On the duration of “Nulla Osta” Ambassador Alessandro explained that the suspension by law has frozen the expiration date.
Ambassador Alessandro assured the foreign secretary that he will convey the request to the competent authority of Italy to expedite the re-examination of the pending Nulla Ostas and address the issue as early as possible.