The Federal Office for Migration has tightened visa requirements for relatives of Syrian nationals living in Switzerland, after the numbers of those coming and submitting asylum requests rose steeply.
The requirements had only recently been eased in September in a special provision to allow visas to be issued more quickly and simply as a reaction to the «dramatic situation» in war-torn Syria, the office said.
«But the experience of the last few weeks has shown that that the provision leaves many questions open which is why diplomatic representatives have approached us. This has prompted the Federal Office for Migration to define the provision,» the office said in a statement on Friday, confirming a report that had appeared on the 10 vor 10 programme on Swiss public television, SRF, on Thursday.
The easing measure had been a «humanitarian gesture by Switzerland,» the office continued, which had allowed Syrians in Switzerland to bring their family members living in crisis regions to Switzerland legally and to offer them temporary protection in Switzerland.
It had applied to Syrians whose relatives were already living in Switzerland with B or C residence permits or who were naturalised Swiss citizens.
Family reunification had been extended from the nuclear family (spouses and children up to 18) to relatives such as grandparents and parents, as well as brothers and sisters and members of their families.
«It was not the aim of the provision that these people upon arrival in Switzerland submit an asylum request,» the statement said. «We expect that these people in a first phase (as is usual for a visitors’ visa) are looked after by their relatives.»
In mid-October 44 people came to Switzerland following the easing of visa requirements. A month later this had risen to 642 people. The number of visitor visa requests shot up over the same period from 800 to 1,400.
The migration office now requires a letter of invitation from the host families, as is also usual for a visitors’ visa. It is also checking the financial affairs of host families who will be responsible for their relatives for three months. The relatives from Syria must also agree to leave the country after 90 days or, if not possible, register themselves with cantonal migration offices.
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The cantonal migration authorities association told 10 vor 10 that it was worried that there might be a large amount of extra work for the cantons, as well as costs.
Beat Meiner from the Swiss Refugee Council is also critical. «This is not just tightening, it’s basically a cancellation of easing of family reunification,» he said in the television report.
«These financial demands now being made prevent Syrians from travelling to Switzerland,» he said. The non-governmental organisation is therefore calling for the new measures to be withdrawn.