European-Asian Relations: Visa Policies, Research Paper Example

The purpose of this research paper is to investigate and describe visa policies of such European countries as the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, and Italy for the citizens of Asian countries: Korea, Japan, China, and India. The early and mid 2000-s were marked by increasing cooperation between Europe and Asia which was partially realized in milder visa policies. Steps were taken to strengthen relationships especially with China, Japan, and India recognized as the main Asian powers. The Asia-Europe Foundation was established in 1997 to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the countries of Europe and Asia. The programs supported by the Foundation included cultural student exchanges, visits and migration. In 2005, the European states claimed openly that the European Union needed a more coherent security policy towards Asia. The Union highlighted its key strategic and economic interests in Asia and named security and stability the main ground for the region’s economic success and for addressing global issues. Europe expected Asian countries to be drawn to the “charm of EU soft power”.

However, it should be mentioned that the current general tendency for visa policies is to become stricter. This can be explained by the economic crisis and the willingness of European governments to first provide their natives with jobs, education, and social benefits and only after that welcome immigrants. This is a strategy aimed at more effective resource management and avoiding unemployment.

For example, the first message that meets the eyes of everyone who visits the website of the UK Border Agency – the organization which control migration in the United Kingdom and considers applications for entering the country, citizenship and asylum – claims that employer should only give a job to a migrant unless they have managed to find a British person willing to take it. Another example is a recent change to visa policy affecting Taiwanese, Jamaican, South African, Bolivian, Venezuelan, Lesotho and Swaziland passport holders: those applying under Tier 1 (General) will have to hold a minimum level of academic qualification equivalent to a Master’s degree in UK confirmed by UK NARIC.

An official partner of the UK Border Agency in Japan is VFS Global – a commercial company. Its website offers comprehensive data on the UK visa application in English and Japanese and offers legal help. A citizen of Japan willing to work in the UK will require a visa and a work permit or a Certificate of Sponsorship. But if a Japanese is coming to the UK as a work permit holder for half a year or less or as a Temporary Worker in the Creative and Sporting Category of PBS Tier 5 for less than 3 months, he / she will not need a visa. In order to come to the UK to study, a Japanese normally needs a visa. On March 31, 2009, the new Points Based System was introduced under which students can apply for a visa through Tier 4. They will need to prove their enrollment on a course in an educational institution licensed as a Tier 4 sponsor approved by the UKBA, having sufficient financial support and being able to supply biometric details at the UK Visa Application Centre. In the UK, an independent fee-paying educational institution that wants to accept international students to study will have to apply for and get a license.

The citizens of South Korea normally need a visa alongside with a permit or a Cerificate of Sponsorship if they come to the United Kingdom to work. Just like in case of the Japanese, Korean citizens do not require a visa if they are coming as work permit holders for 6 months or less or as Temporary Workers in the Creative and Sporting Category of PBS Tier 5 for less than 3 months. Applications are considered according to the Points Based System. Korean students who want to work in the UK will need a visa and the same holds true for Korean citizens who want to join a British family.

Nationals of China need a visa and a work permit or a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK. No exceptions are provided for those willing to stay for a short period. However, the holders of diplomatic and service passport have to obtain diplomatic or service visas. It should be stated, however, that this is the general practice for diplomatic and service visas. The British Government website for visa services failed to give specific information on UK visas claiming an error, which might be a temporary situation. In China, diplomatic passport holders are mainly senior officials of the Communist Party, the government, the People Liberation Army, principal leader of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, all democratic parties, diplomats, consular officers and their spouses, underage children, and diplomatic couriers traveling with them. Service passport holders are usually officials ranked as division chiefs and members of governmental offices as well as members of diplomatic and consular missions in foreign countries and the United Nation’s organizations.

The nationals of India also need a visa and a work permit or a Certificate of Sponsorship to come to the United Kingdom to work and they similarly need visas to come to study.

The United Kingdom issues working holiday visas to the nationals of India and Malaysia between the ages of 17 and 30.

Taiwanese visitors can enjoy visa-free access to the UK starting from March 3, 2009. A Taiwanese visitor to the UK must permanently carry supporting documents such as flight tickets, evidence of funding, letters of sponsors and business letters associated with their stay in the UK or a school plan of the educational institution in which they study.

All applicants for UK visas must submit biometric finger scans.

Germany grants visa-free visits for 90 days and less to the following Asian countries:

Brunei, Japan, Korea (South), Macao, Malaysia, and Singapore. These countries are included in the positive visa list of countries also known as White Schengen List.

Citizens of other Asian countries such as Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam require German visas which are normally associated with a specific purpose of visit or stay in Germany (e.g. tourist visa, student visa, business visa, etc.) The reason for coming stated by an immigrant should coincide with that stated for the residency permit which obtained on entrance to Germany. Within Germany, one cannot alter the reason for stay and consequently get another visa. For example, one cannot enter the country on a student visa and then obtain work residence permit. If an immigrant wants to change his / her residency status, he / she will have to first leave the country and apply for another visa at home. the main difference in the procedure of obtaining  visa and residency permit is that visa is obtained in the home country while a residency permit will be issued in Germany.

The citizens of the following countries require a visa to enter the Netherlands for a stay up to 90 days: Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan. The Kingdom of the Netherlands does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state; Taiwanese passport are considered to be travel documents only. If a stay does not exceed 90 days, the citizens of Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea do not require visas. Only the citizens of Japan and South Korea do not require visas for longer stays.

It is not possible to change the type of a visa within the Netherlands. Holders of tourist visas cannot obtain a residence permit. Every international visitor must report to the Aliens Department of a police station within 8 days on arrival in the Netherlands. There are four main types of visas which can be obtained to enter the Netherlands. They are as follows:

• A-Visa (transit visa for airports)
  This type of visa does not give the right to get into the country, it only allows to transit the Netherlands on the journey to another country. The nationals of the following countries need this visa for a transit: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Sri Lanka.
• B-Visa (travel through visa issued for a maximum of 5 days)
  This type of visa gives the right to enter for a maximum of 5 days in case the final destination lies outside the Schengen area.
• C-Visa (a short stay visa)
  This visa is issued for a 30-month stay within half a year. The reasons for obtaining this visa include holiday, tourism, business, a visit to a family or friend, participation in congresses and / or sporting events etc. It does not give the right to apply for a residency or work permit.
• D-Visa (temporary stay which exceeds 3 monts)
  (MVV – Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf)
  The MVV is a visa which can be issued for a period up to one year. On expiration it can be renewed without leaving the Netherlands. The MVV allows to apply for a residency or work permit. In order to obtain the visa, you may be asked to take an Immigration and Citizenship Exam (Inburgeringscursus) at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin.

It is increasingly difficult to get a Dutch work permit under the current circumstances. There are two main ways for a non-EU citizen to get the permit. First, one can apply directly to a company he / she is aiming to work at. Even if the company is willing to hire you, they will first have to make sure that no Dutch or EU candidate is eligible for the job. Moreover, the job should have been advertised for at least six weeks and a number of interviews with Dutch and EU applicants have been held. Only after that will a foreigner be able to obtain a work permit which will expire as soon as the immigrant leaves the company. Second, one can get a work permit if he / she has a Dutch or EU partner. The partner must be living and working in the Netherlands and take on financial responsibility for the immigrant for the period while he / she is looking for a job in case he / she loses it. The relationship should be proved and the partners should live together. If the relationship ends or the sponsoring partner moves out, the permit is rendered invalid.

France grants permission for a 90-day visit to the citizens of Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The nationals of all the other Asian countries need a visa.

Recently visa application for Chinese migrants have been toughened by the French Consulate and Embassy. To obtain a French visa, the Chinese now have to give more personal data and bank savings information. For example, applicants have to provide two current bankbooks instead of one now and one of the deposit books must be opened at least a year before application for a visa.

The basic types of French visas are as follows:

• A student visa
  There are three subtypes of student visas depending on the length of studies in France stated in the letter of enrollment. They are a Schengen visa, multiple entries, for a stay up to 3 months, the temporary long stay visa (from 3 to 6 months), multiple entries, and a one-year visa (stay over 6 months), one entry.
• General long-stay visa
  This visa can be opened for an individual going to open a business or have another type of long-term engagement in France. Depending on the reason, there are extra requirements for the applicants. The applicants can only apply in their country of residence. If they attempt applying on arrival, they will be sent back and have to wait for two month before another try.
• Work permit visa
  This type of visa is believed to be most difficult to obtain. Foreign worker must have a contract draft from a France-based company. An exception is made for computer engineers who should present the documents required for a short stay visa even if they are planning a long stay.

The following countries do not require a visa for a 90-day stay in Italy: Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.

Italian visa policy is in compliance with Schengen visa policy. It means that there are three main types of visas:

• Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)
  USV may be airport transit visas (type A), transit visas (type B), and short-stay and travel visas (type C) for 90 days. The Schengen regulation also allows important and famous persons who travel frequently to obtain a C-type visa which permits 90-day stay within 6 months and a valid for a year (C1), two years (C2), three (C3) or five years (C5).
• Limited Territorial Validity visas (LTV)
  This type of visa only allows migration within the territory of one country and forbids access to or transit through any other Schengen country.
• Long stay or “national” visa (NV)
  The visa allows a maximum of 90-day stay on the Italian territory and a transit through the territory of other Schengen States for a maximum of five days.

All Italian immigrants have to comply with the regulations controlling the stay of aliens in Italy and must report their presence on Italian territory to the local Central Police Station (Questura) within 8 working days on entry.

Works Cited

The Official British Government Website for Visa Services. Do I Need a Visa? 10 June 2009. <http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/>

Departure Passport and Visa. 10 June 2009. <http://www.easyexpat.com/en/amsterdam/departure/passport-visa.htm>

Carr Kelby. France Visa. 10 June 2009. <http://gofrance.about.com/cs/relocating/a/visas.htm>

Italy Visa Information. 10 June 2009. <http://www.learn4good.com/travel/ita_visa.htm>