KRG Warns Visa Agencies Over Baseless Ads and Extortion
At a Glance
- The Ministry of Interior is launching legal proceedings against travel offices promoting fake Western visa schemes.
- These unlicensed brokers exploit local citizens financially while straining ties with foreign diplomatic missions.
- Travelers must submit documentation independently through official web portals since approvals are never guaranteed.
Hemin Mirani, Director General of the Diwan at the Ministry of Interior of the caretaker Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), announced that legal action will be taken against any company or office that advertises Schengen visa procurement.
Key Statements and Focus Areas
- The ministry official noted that some tourism companies and offices have recently been running “baseless advertisements” for acquiring Schengen and British visas.
- Hemin Mirani stated that these agencies extract large sums of money from citizens, causing financial harm to many of them.
During a meeting with Jwan Sabir Ismail, Head of the Tourism Board, Director General Mirani stressed that the advertisements and taking money from citizens have frustrated the offices and consulates of friendly nations operating within the Kurdistan Region.
He highlighted that visa acquisition follows strict legal and administrative procedures, noting that even consulates cannot guarantee approval.
The official reaffirmed that applicants must strictly follow official, online country visa systems and submit the required documentation directly.
Mirani urgently called on travel agencies, aviation companies, and media platforms to immediately remove advertisements and halt promotional campaigns for Schengen, UK, US, and Canadian visas.
FYI
A Schengen visa is an official short-stay document that permits a traveler to enter the Schengen Area, a zone consisting of 29 European nations that have officially abolished internal border controls. It allows individuals to move freely between member countries for tourism or business for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Because it acts as a single gateway to most of Europe, demand for this visa remains exceptionally high.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Interior launched this initiative due to an increase in unlicensed travel offices using false advertisements to guarantee visa approvals.
Western nations like the US, UK, Canada, and EU states process short-stay permits through strict, centralized online portals and authorized third-party biometric hubs (like VFS Global or TLScontact). They explicitly warn that no third-party agency can influence or guarantee a visa decision.
Local brokers often exploit applicants by charging exorbitant fees, sometimes thousands of dollars, under the pretense of "fast-tracking" appointments or bribing officials. When these applicants present forged documents or fake itineraries, it leads to immediate rejections, financial ruin for families, and strained relations with foreign consulates in Kurdistan Region.
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