Education/Visa

W/African students face visa problem over embassy closure In Abuja

By Hakeem Babalola

Dr. Kató ex-Hungarian Amb to Nigeria

Many West African students who have been admitted to Hungarian Institutions are currently facing visa problem due to the sudden closure of Hungarian Embassy in Abuja which had been serving the entire West African region until it stopped issuing visa on August 31st this year. 
 

It was gathered that these students are now compelled to process their visa in North or South or East Africa where Hungary still maintains its Mission. This process often takes longer than expected resulting to late arrival to their respective institutions which may deny them admission due to what sources described as late registration.  

The case of a Nigerian medical student was cited by the Embassy of Nigeria Budapest which is being pressurized to intervene. Cases like this was said to be rampart among students who had paid for admission but finding it difficult getting their visa due to combination of logistic and extra expenses.

“The closure has put pressure on us by Nigerians and especially students who have paid their admission fees but couldn’t secure visa due to logistic problem,” said Mr. Adenrele Adepoju, cda a.i at the Embassy of Nigeria Budapest. He added that even if they managed to get their visa, there’s still the problem of late registration which is taken seriously by some Hungarian schools.  

The issue has continued to generate controversy among West African citizens living in Hungary who find it difficult to believe that the only Hungarian Embassy serving the entire region could be suddenly closed down. It was also one of the issues that dominated the Nigeria-Hungary Business seminar that recently took place at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs to mark Nigeria's Independent Golden Jubilee.

"This is unfair as the Abuja embassy is the only one covering the region," lamented a Ghanaian resident in Budapest.

Another concerned West African citizen who is also Hungarian said that the whole thing is beyond understanding. "Why is it not one of the Hungarian North African Missions but the only one in West Africa?" He asked.

Although officials described the situation as unfortunate, they believed each country has the right to either maintain its Mission or close it down as dim fits, saying categorically that such closure will not affect bilateral relations between Nigeria and Hungary which had existed since 1964. 

Hungarian former ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Ferenc Kató who was one of the moderators at the Nigeria-Hungary business seminar personally apologised for the inconvenience the situation might be causing and thus begged for understanding as he was no more in the position to officially comment on the issue. 

Out of 424 African students studying in various Hungarian Institutions, 325 are from West African countries, while the number of Nigerian students topples with 288, according to the 2008 data provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

In most cases, Visa application is the sole responsibility of each student as Hungarian Institutions cannot influence the decision of the embassy regarding visa application but can only arm prospective students with necessary documents to secure their visa. 

Contacted, Ms Aniko Ronai, Admissions Officer at the International Education Center University of Debrecen refused to go into details saying, “I can only give an unofficial answer: no, the information is not correct”.

But the case is different at the International Business School which provided detail account of the situation. The school said that although the registration fee of 900 Euros is non refundable, students who cannot secure visa due to the embassy closure will get full refund on tuition fee. 

The Admissions Officer at IBS explained further that in spite of late registration, students who are facing visa problem can still join the programme as soon as they arrive in Hungary, adding that it depends on individual student.

“Those who arrive late can still join the programme in February,” said Ms Orsolya Hentes. “We have written to such students telling them that they can continue their study as soon as they arrive in Hungary”. 

Meanwhile, it appears not only students bearing the brunt as a result of the closure. Businessmen and women, tourists, visitors are all lamenting over the closure of such a strategic Hungarian Mission in West Africa.