Poland tightens visa rules as probe confirms previous government's cash-for-visas scandal
Poland's foreign minister says the European Union nation is tightening its visa regulations as probes into alleged cash-for-visa scandal have confirmed irregularities under the previous governmnet going into millions of dollars
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland is tightening its visa regulations as probes into alleged cash-for-visa scandal have confirmed irregularities under the previous right-wing government which cost the public purse millions of dollars, the foreign minister of this European Union country said Thursday.
Radek Sikorski said it will be much tougher now to obtain a visa for Poland, a document which gives access to unrestricted travel within Europe’s border-free Schengen zone, and the vetting of applicants will be stepped up. For example, student visa applications will be scrutinized to prevent situations in which they were only used as a means of getting into Europe.
On Thursday the state Supreme Audit Office released the report of its investigation into the Foreign Ministry visa department and confirmed media allegations made last year that Polish consulates in Asia and Africa took thousands of dollars for each work visa, against regulations. It said it found 46 kinds of irregularities in five different areas, including a lack of transparency, an environment prone to corruption and poor supervision by the minister at the time, Zbigniew Rau.
One of the most egregious examples involved visas for dozens of farmers from India, who were described in their documents as Bollywood filmmakers.
