Germany Launches Investigations into Questionable Visa Issuance Practices in Certain Third Countries
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. German judicial authorities are investigating staff at certain consulates and embassies for accepting false visa documents.
2. German consular staff in countries such as Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan are suspected of approving visas based on fake documents.
3. Numerous reports indicate questionable visa issuance practices by German authorities.
Investigations and Reports
The German judiciary has launched investigations into consular and embassy staff abroad for accepting fake and incomplete visa documents. This decision follows reports suggesting that staff at German consulates and embassies in countries like Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan were advised to accept fraudulent documents, allowing migrants to enter Germany legally despite lacking the necessary documents.
A report from UnHerd highlights that the German Greens' support for mass immigration is well-known. Vice President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt was quoted as saying, "We are being given people as a gift." The investigation into forged visa documents, along with the Foreign Ministry's lack of denial, suggests that authorities are acting on substantial evidence.
FOCUS Report and Government Response
Last month, FOCUS reported on investigations into questionable visa issuance. Following this, the Foreign Office confirmed ongoing proceedings against its employees and noted that organizational measures had been taken in response. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's office stated that public prosecutors in Berlin and Cottbus are investigating individual cases related to entry documents.
FOCUS revealed that the Foreign Office in Berlin had instructed embassy and consulate staff to grant entry to applicants with false or incomplete documents. Thousands of people reportedly entered Germany this way over the past five years, with many applying for asylum.
A similar case was reported last year by the magazine "Cicero," which noted that a former Federal Ministry of the Interior employee filed a criminal complaint against Foreign Office officials. This plan is currently under investigation by the public prosecutor’s office.
Visa Issuance Statistics
Germany remains a popular destination for multiple-entry Schengen visas. In 2023, Germany received 1,459,560 visa applications and granted 1,233,561 visas, including 1,114,424 multiple-entry visas. The rejection rate for visa applications in Germany was 14.3%, lower than the Schengen average of 16%.