More Visa Fraud in Germany

More and more visas are getting rejected because of fraud.

Germany is increasingly becoming a target of visa applications with forged documents in the area of skilled worker and labor migration. In a recently published internal warning, the Federal Police addressed the worrying increase in visa applications with forged documents under the Skilled Worker Immigration Act (FEG) . The false documents include, among other things, forged employment and training contracts, manipulated certificates from immigration authorities, and even false school certificates. These illegal practices are aimed at circumventing the rather stringent requirements of the Skilled Worker Immigration Act, which is intended to facilitate the entry of skilled workers from non-EU countries to Germany.

The weak points in the digital application process

Interestingly, the first vulnerabilities appear to have emerged in the Federal Foreign Office's digital application process . Applicants who submitted forged documents online hoped that they would not be thoroughly checked during the online application process. The process for applying for a skilled immigrant visa is now largely digitalized. While digitalization offers many advantages such as faster processing and greater efficiency, it also has a downside. Dishonest applicants are constantly discovering new ways to introduce forged documents into the digital process. A fundamental problem is that the digital platforms of embassies and consulates are often inadequate to verify the authenticity of submitted documents. While applicants can submit their documents from the comfort of their own home, the intensive scrutiny that would normally take place during a physical application in person is missing.

Employer accreditation as a possible solution

To close these weaknesses and prevent misuse, an effective protective mechanism could take the form of a closer link between the online application process and the accreditation of employers . Experienced lawyers in the field of labor migration law have been calling for this mechanism for some time . The idea behind it is that employers who hire skilled workers would be involved as responsible parties in the visa application process. They could submit the application and ensure that all documents are authentic. This would significantly reduce the need to submit original documents such as employment or training contracts directly to the embassy or consulate. Such a mechanism would not only increase the efficiency of the process but also reduce the likelihood of forged documents falling through the cracks. Employers could indicate the authenticity of the documents submitted during the application process and ensure that they are correct and complete.

Conclusion: More protection mechanisms and employer accreditation

The problems caused by forged documents in connection with the Skilled Immigration Act demonstrate the urgent need to revise digital procedures and make them more robust. Furthermore, the introduction of employer accreditations and increased employer oversight could not only increase the security of visa issuance but also strengthen trust in the system. The ball is now in the competent authorities' court, who must act urgently to protect the skilled immigration process against abuse and fraud.