100 underskrifter nådda
Till: Maria Malmer Stenergard, Alexandra Berg von Linde (Ambassador to Pakistan)
Remove Barriers for Swedish Visa Processing for Pakistani Nationals
The Problem: Unnecessary Financial and Logistical Burden
Since February 2023, the Swedish Embassy in Pakistan has stopped processing visa applications for external visitors. As a result, Pakistani nationals seeking Swedish visas are compelled to travel to third countries, creating significant financial, logistical, and emotional hardships for individuals and families.
- For Long-Term Visas : Applicants for student, work, or family reunion visas are required to travel to Ethiopia for biometric submissions and interviews. This often costs upwards of 1 million PKR, an overwhelming burden for students who have already paid substantial tuition fees or families trying to reunite.
- For Short-Term Tourist Visas : Families and visitors must travel to Thailand, where they are required to stay for up to 15 days while awaiting visa decisions. This not only increases costs but also poses logistical challenges, especially for parents visiting their children for temporary occasions, such as the birth of a grandchild.
Impact on Pakistani Nationals
These policies disproportionately affect Pakistani nationals, creating:
- Financial Hardship : The costs associated with traveling to third countries are unaffordable for many families, students, and visitors.
- Logistical Barriers : The need to travel and stay in third countries adds unnecessary stress and complexity to an already challenging process.
- Geographic Discrimination : These policies create unequal access to visa services, disproportionately targeting Pakistani nationals.
Call to Action
We urge the Swedish authorities to:
- Reinstate Local Visa Processing Facilities in Pakistan : This includes biometric submissions, interviews, and visa decision-making for all visa types, including student, work, family, and tourist visas.
- Alleviate Financial and Logistical Challenges : By providing services within Pakistan, applicants can avoid the unnecessary financial burden and logistical hurdles of traveling to third countries.
- Uphold Fairness and Inclusivity : Sweden has long been a champion of equality and human rights. Ensuring that Pakistani nationals have fair access to visa services aligns with these values.
Why This Matters
Addressing this issue is not just about easing financial and logistical barriers; it's about ensuring fairness, maintaining family connections, and fostering goodwill between Sweden and Pakistan. By reinstating visa processing facilities in Pakistan, Swedish authorities can demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity and support for international students, workers, and families.
We, the undersigned, call on decision-makers to take immediate action to resolve this issue and ensure that Swedish-Pakistani families and individuals can access visa services without unnecessary hardship.
Please sign this petition to help bring change.
Varför är det viktigt?
I care about this issue because it affects so many people I know, and it's heartbreaking to see the struggles they go through just to connect with their loved ones or pursue opportunities in Sweden. Imagine being a student who has already paid a huge amount in tuition fees, only to find out you need to spend another million PKR just to give your biometrics in Ethiopia. For families, it's even harder—parents wanting to visit their children for a special occasion, like the birth of a grandchild, are forced to travel to Thailand, stay for weeks, and spend money they simply can't afford.
This isn't just about the inconvenience; it feels unfair and discriminatory. Swedish-Pakistani families deserve the same access to visa services as others, without facing these financial and emotional hurdles. We're talking about basic human rights here—about staying connected with the people who matter most. By bringing back local visa services in Pakistan, Sweden can show that it values fairness, inclusivity, and the strong bonds that unite families across borders. It's a simple step that would make a world of difference for so many.