In order to improve the service standards and fast-track the visa processes, the Peoples Republic of China said it has concluded plans to open visa application centers in Abuja and Lagos respectively.
According to the Deputy Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Lin Jing, the Abuja center would open for service on September 20, 2017 at the Churchgate Plaza.
He told journalists on Monday in Abuja that regular applicants would still apply for visa in advance on www.visaforchina.org, while diplomatic and official passport holders would submit their applications to the embassy.
Jing stated that the visa centres would submit the applications to the mission, which he said reserved the right to approve or reject them.
He added that the visa centres, which would be run by VSF Global, would operate strictly as a commercial entity and charge fees as appropriate.
Responding to concerns about the high charges that may be imposed on applicants by the visa centre operators, Punch reports that the envoy said the firm must have consulted with their lawyers and factor in local situation before deciding their service charges.
“Basically, the duration for visa applications remains the same. Applicants are required to book appointments on the website and pay N14,000 visa fee and N17,260 service charge, which includes VAT,” the envoy explained.
Jing added, “After the opening of the centre, holders of diplomatic or official passports or applicants who qualify for the Chinese diplomatic, courtesy service visas or applicants applying for Hong Kong or Macau special administration region visa/entry permit still need to submit their applications directly to the Chinese Embassy.”
Posted by Juliet Ekwebelam
