New Challenges
A significant increase in Visa Applicants during the last few years, has given rise to a number of challenges. The current Embassy premises were no longer able to cope with the large number of visitors, there were long queues, people had to wait for a long time and the working environment was very tough for the Visa Officers.
New Structure
The Visa Service Centre is the front line of the Visa Section. Its main task is to assist applicants and sponsors by providing information and guidance about different types of Visas and Residence Permits ahead of an application. When applicants are ready to hand in an application they are interviewed as usual in the Visa Section upstairs. The result is less waiting, a more comfortable application process, better customer service and a better working environment for the staff.
Norwegian Pilot Project
The Service Centre is the first of its kind in Norwegian Foreign Service and the latest project to be piloted at the Norwegian Embassy in Manila. The Visa Section has already piloted three other projects ahead of the Service Centre, all attempts to achieve higher efficiency, shorter processing times and better customer service. The goal is a fully electronic Visa Section, with high quality in all parts of the operation.
Public Diplomacy
The Visa Section is most people’s first meeting with Norway and we want this first impression to be a good one, said Head of Visa Section, Ms Frøy Løvåsdal.
Information about the Visa Service Centre may be found here.