Brazilians in São Paulo have taken to protesting outside the Portuguese Consulate again, expressing frustration over prolonged visa delays. Unlike the previous protest, this time the demonstration was focused solely on the consulate in São Paulo.
Protesters are voicing their dissatisfaction with the authorities’ lack of response, pointing out that despite weeks of waiting, nothing has changed in the processing times. They have accused both the consulate and the outsourced company, VFS Global, of mishandling the visa process and failing to implement any improvements.
Many participants in the protest reported that their work visa applications are taking up to six months to process. Additionally, only a small number of applications have been approved, with some mentioning that out of a group of about 300 applicants, only ten received a positive response recently. Another common complaint was that applicants are being asked to resubmit documents that have already been provided, adding further delays to the process.
The protesters also expressed concern over the financial impact of the delays, with some individuals having quit their jobs in Brazil to relocate to Portugal but unable to proceed due to the stalled visa applications.
In response to the protests, the Portuguese consulates in Brazil issued a statement, placing blame on VFS Global for the delays. António Pedro Rodrigues da Silva, the Portuguese Consul General in São Paulo, explained that the outsourcing company has been making repeated errors during the visa processing, including submitting incorrect documents to the consulates. Silva also cited a lack of sufficient staff at VFS Global and its outdated system as major contributors to the delays.
VFS Global, however, defended its procedures, stating that it regularly updates its systems to maintain efficiency and accuracy. A spokesperson for the company emphasized that applicants with specific concerns are encouraged to reach out for assistance, affirming their commitment to supporting everyone involved in the visa process.
