The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) wants to stop the special program that allows earthquake victims from Turkey and Syria with close relatives in Switzerland to get a visa more quickly. According to the federal government, the reason for this is one decreasing need.
The program will therefore be discontinued in the foreseeable future, an SEM spokesperson for the Keystone-SDA news agency said on Sunday when asked. He confirmed information from “NZZ am Sonntag”. According to the newspaper, the special visa program will be discontinued in mid-May.
According to the SEM, most visa applications were received in early March, with twice over 100 applications per week. Since then, the number has been declining. Last week there were 41 registrations.
About 300 such visas have been issued so far, according to the SEM. Of these, 240 went to people from Turkey and 60 to people from Syria. So far, none of those who have entered the country have applied for asylum. Visas issued are valid for 90 days.
Mostly older people
Just over half of the people admitted to Switzerland are over 60 years old. About 24 of them are even older than 80. About 40 children and young people aged 20 or younger also received a visa.
Anyone who has lost their home as a result of the earthquake and has close relatives in Switzerland can benefit from the so-called accelerated procedure for visas from the earthquake zones in Turkey and Syria.
This includes spouses, parents, grandparents, children and minor grandchildren – but not siblings. For a positive visa decision, the family members in Switzerland must confirm that they will take them in and pay for them.
More than 50,000 people died and more than 100,000 were injured in the two earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria in early February. In addition, numerous homes and infrastructure were destroyed.
(jam/sda)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
