Africa-Press – Cape verde. A client of an alleged advisory and facilitation company for the visa scheduling process for Portugal sought out A NAÇÃO to denounce an alleged scam. According to her, she delivered 53,339 thousand escudos to the “APS Group” to deal with the scheduling and document process, which did not happen. The company would be creating difficulties to return the amount.
The user in question, who prefers to remain anonymous, says that she contacted the “APS Group”, on May 29, with the promise that they would facilitate the process of acquiring a temporary stay visa in Portugal for trade.
He delivered a power of attorney and the amount of 53,339 thousand escudos to ensure the documentation and guarantee of an appointment, which until today, as he points out, has not yet happened.
Difficulties in getting a refund
As our source also tells, the company would be making it difficult to refund the amount paid, since, after “several contacts”, APS Group does not answer the phone and does not give explanations.
NAÇÃO contacted the company in question which, when asked about the case, assured that the refund would be made yesterday, Friday, the 14th, which did not happen.
As explained by our interlocutor, the block in the scheduling system prevented us from following up on the case.
However, when asked about the legality of the operation, he changed the subject and said that online scheduling is done for people with difficulties using the system and together with the client.
APS Group is represented in São Vicente and Praia.
Authorities ask to report scheduling companies
It is recalled that, in April, the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafôfo, was in Cape Verde and denounced illegal services and companies that promise appointments.
He called, at the time, for the “hoarding” of vacancies to apply for visas to be denounced because this service was illegal.
That official assured that in the case of visas for Portugal, scheduling is free, in person or through the website of VFS Global, an external company that has been processing applications for work, study, medical treatment and family reunification visas in Cape Verde for eight months. to Portugal.
Another option is through the Common Visa Center (CCV), in Praia.
In turn, Cape Verde’s Minister for Communities, Jorge Santos, classified companies and individuals who hoard vacancies for scheduling visas to Portugal as “traffickers” and said that they should be punished.
Last Friday, in Praia, a group of citizens demonstrated against the difficulties in scheduling visas.
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