Employees of the Spanish Foreign Ministry in the United Kingdom have warned that visa applications may be delayed due to ongoing strikes.
Because its employees have been protesting and participating in strikes over working conditions, the Spanish Embassy in the UK has been operating on a reduced personnel basis for critical services since Monday, March 14th.
According to Spanish regulations, a reduced employee service is in place to assist with essential and basic tasks. Although the offices are still open, there may be delays in the process of analyzing visa applications due to a reduction in staff members and their ability to handle the burden.
Citizens of the United Kingdom who plan on staying longer than 90 days in Spain in the wake of Brexit will need a visa. This is because many foreign nationals are now applying for visas to the EU, and all other foreign nationals who cannot travel to the European Union using their UK residence cards.
This surge in visa applications already posed a difficulty for the embassies last summer, when they battled to accommodate every applicant on schedule. Working with fewer employees is thought to result in a similar situation.
How long did the strike by employees of the Spanish Foreign Office last?
The strike by employees of the Spanish Foreign Office has lasted almost two weeks. So far, Jose Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Madrid, has never taken part in a negotiation, according to the employees.
Workers request that the Spanish government halt years of pay freezes and job instability as inflation continues to rise.
What do you think about the recent issues regarding Spanish visas? Give us your comments.
