Migrants fear delays in national security checks are causing hold-ups to decisions on their fast-track residence visas. Security services look for evidence of extremism, espionage, organized crime and intellectual property theft when they run immigration and citizenship services checks. Immigration figures showed fewer than a third of Chinese applicants had decided on their residence, compared to half of Indian and UK migrants and 60 percent of South Africans.
This has caused great frustration and anxiety among many Chinese applicants who had expected their residence visas to be processed quickly and easily. Some have even accused the security checks of being biased.
“It’s just unfair. I followed all the rules and did everything right, but now it feels like I’m being punished for being Chinese,” said one applicant who wished to remain anonymous.
“It’s like they’re saying that all Chinese people are automatically suspects, and that’s just not right.”
The delays in processing residence visas for Chinese applicants are just one example of the increased scrutiny that China is facing from Western governments. In recent years, there has been growing concern over China’s alleged involvement in espionage and intellectual property theft.
As a result, Chinese citizens and businesses are often subjected to stricter security checks and higher standards of proof when applying for visas, contracts, or investment opportunities.
There is no evidence that the security checks for residence visas are discriminatory or that they are being applied unfairly to Chinese applicants. However, the delays and confusion caused by the increased scrutiny are undoubtedly frustrating for those affected.
If you are a Chinese applicant for a residence visa, you must be patient and cooperative with the security checks. Remember that the officials conducting the checks are just doing their job and are not singling you out.