Malaysian visa one-stop-centres to introduce E-VLN by year end
BEIJING: The Malaysian visa processing one-stop-centres (OSCs) in China are expected to offer the online version of the overseas visa or Visa Luar Negara (VLN) or E-VLN service by the year end.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was aimed at ensuring the services were in line with modern technology, as well as faster and easier access by all.
Ahmad Zahid was attending the globalised launching of Malaysia Visa Luar Negara at the VISAMalaysia office, here Monday.
Also present was the Malaysian ambassador to China, Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.
"Currently, China is specially exempted from the VLN processing fee due to Visit Malaysia Year (VMY2014)," Ahmad Zahid said.
"However, beginning next year, the VLN processing in China will be charged just like it has been in other parts of the world."
The VLN is a key system to enable the government provide enhanced global security and safety standard.
"The VLN has been successfully implemented in other parts of the world including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia," said Ahmad Zahid.
Apart from Beijing, the OSC has been set up in other Chinese cities including Shanghai, Kunming, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Chief executive officer of VISAMalaysia, Raymond Chong Kian Leong told Bernama that the OSC in Beijing, on average, processed about 1,000 visa applications daily.
Following the introduction of E-VLN, he foresees the number of applications increasing.
"It takes about 15 minutes to process an application here at the centre, but after the introduction of E-VLN, the clients could make the applications online without visiting the centre," he said.
"However, they still have to submit the passport and other supporting documents via courier service."
The OSC is to facilitate visa applications before submitting the applications to the embassy or consulate for approval.
For more information, visit the official website http://www. windowmalaysia.my. – Bernama