Cape Verdean loses money for ticket to Portugal due to delay in granting visa

The delay in obtaining visas has caused problems for several people who apply for a visa with the intention of visiting Portugal. Many lose their right to travel because, by the date of travel, they still do not have the document requested months in advance. The episode is repeated with different people who criticize the poor service at the Portuguese Embassy. The request is made two months in advance, however, not everyone manages to reach the intended destination. This is the case of Lavínia, a mother who wanted her daughter to live with her father who is in Camões.

It is not an easy task for Cape Verdeans to reach Portugal. The bureaucracy, the long waiting time to obtain the visa, wears out the users, leading them to often waste their own savings achieved with a lot of effort and sweat.

This is because not all people manage to obtain the document before the scheduled date for the trip, losing the right to travel. There are a lot of accusations and the case of Lavinia's daughter is just one of several episodes that happen all over the country.

To NN, Lavinia says she lost the money she saved to buy a ticket for her daughter who wanted to live with her father who has lived in Portugal for several years. She says that other times she tried to apply for a holiday visa but was unable to do so.

Lavínia points out that the attempt to place her daughter with her father has not been an easy task, as there is a lot of bureaucracy and, in addition, “the service at the Portuguese Consulate leaves much to be desired”.

I gave up many things, with a lot of effort, sweat and several months of savings, I managed to acquire the ticket and, now, I see that all the sacrifice was in vain, because so far I have not received any response from the Portuguese Embassy.

The mother, who says she is worried about the situation, blames the current Government "which does nothing to solve the problem that Cape Verdeans have been experiencing for a long time".