【新聞稿】外交部,請停止在簽證申請過程中歧視西非學生!

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2021/11/09
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【新聞稿】外交部,請停止在簽證申請過程中歧視西非學生!

 

[Press Release] Stop Discriminating Against West African Students in the Visa Application Process!

 

Sequel to our message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated November 5th, 2021 and in response to the Ministry's reply, we (the aggrieved students from West Africa) find the Ministry's reply discriminatory.

 

早前於11月5日,我們(一群被不公對待的西非學生)向外交部發公開信,其後獲得外交部回應。我們認為,該部門的答覆具有歧視性。

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the representative office in Nigeria has been processing cases and there have been cases of students from West African countries being granted visas to study in Taiwan. While this is true, we make bold to say that the number of visas granted are very low. In a virtual platform where some West Africa students have a rendezvous, we only know of one person whose visa has been processed and is currently in Taiwan at the moment. The turn out is too poor. Mostly, people who have been granted visas are government scholarship students which took only two weeks to process their visas. There are some sorts of discriminations when it comes to visa processing time for government scholarship students and non-government scholarship students. This is unfair. It is worthy of note that these non-government scholarship students equally have full tuition scholarships from their various schools.

 

外交部宣稱,駐奈及利亞聯邦共和國臺北貿易辦事處一直在辦理簽證申請,並已經審批來自西非國家的學生的簽證,讓西非學生來台就學。儘管這是事實,但我們確定的另一部份事實是,獲批簽證的西非學生人數仍然非常少。在某網路平台上的西非學生的社群當中,僅有一名學生獲批簽證,而且他現在就身處台灣。這個比例實在過低。獲批簽證的學生通常已經獲得台灣政府獎學金,並且只花兩星期就取得簽證。就簽證審核時間而言,獲得台灣政府獎學金與沒有獲得台灣政府獎學金的學生所遭受的待遇有著天淵之別。這種做法對全體西非學生並不公平。值得注意的是,這些沒有獲得台灣政府獎學金的學生,同樣獲得校方給予的學費全免的獎學金。

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further pointed out that in recent years, it has detected several cases in which people from West African countries who had been admitted to Taiwan's tertiary institutions had applied for study visas with forged academic documents, so, it is necessary to check the relevant documents when receiving visas. We have already elucidated this thus: to ascertain the genuineness and originality of the application documents submitted by students, every applicant is required to have their documents verified and endorsed firstly by the Apex educational body (The Ministry of Education) and also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their respective countries.  The students did exactly as required. Apart from the authentication by the above named ministries, the Taipei Trade Office in Lagos equally authenticates our documents. With these three authentications, how will those who forge their documents gain entry into Taiwan for their studies? Therefore, the issue of document forgery is untenable. One of the students who studied in Ghana said "l have a Bsc degree from Ghana and endorsed my certificates in seven ministries or institutions including supreme court of Ghana, Ghana’s Ministry of Education, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s High Commission, Ghana consulate in Lagos, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, and my university. How can you forge documents and in seven ministries, none will find out ?"

 

外交部更進一步指出,他們發現近年有些案例,被台灣的大學錄取的西非國家學生偽造簽證文件,以取得學生簽證入境台灣,因此在收到簽證申請以後,有必要審查相關文件。對此,我們已經清楚說明過簽證文件驗證程序:為了確保所呈交的文件的真確性,每位申請人需要請他們的國家的教育部和外交部確認文件的真實性。申請簽證的學生完全依循這個規定。除了上述部門的文件驗證,駐奈及利亞聯邦共和國臺北貿易辦事處也會再度驗證我們的文件。申請文件驗證的程序多達三重,試問誰還可以通過偽造文件入境台灣就學?因此,外交部聲稱西非學生偽造文件的論點是站不住腳的。有一位曾在迦納就學的學生指出:「我在迦納取得一個學士學位,並且已經在七個部門或機構驗證文件,包括迦納最高法院、迦納教育部、迦納外交部、迦納的最高委員會、在拉哥斯的迦納領事館、奈及利亞外交部和我的大學。七個部門中,竟然沒有任何一個發現你偽造文件,這怎麼可能?」

 

For crying out loud, Nigerians enroll in schools in developed countries and they are not treated at the respective embassies the way the Taipei Trade Office in Lagos treats applicants. It is on record that Nigerians are the most educated immigrant black community in the United States. They combobulate themselves very well and do fantastically well, academically.

 

令人困擾和無奈的是,很多奈及利亞人被不少已發展國家的大學錄取,但他們在奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處所遭受的待遇,遠遠遜於其他國家的大使館。事實上,奈及利亞人是美國裡教育程度最高的非裔移民社群。他們頭腦清晰,並且有卓越的學術表現。

 

One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is that by the year 2030, all men and women should have access to equitable and quality education. We enrolled in Taiwan Universities because of the high quality education it promises, but, we are not seeing the Taiwan government giving equitable educational opportunities to West African students. How can one explain why other students from other African countries easily garner student visas but we are tactically refused visas?  The universities believe in us that is why they offer us admission, why do the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believe otherwise?

 

聯合國其中一項永續發展目標是,在2030年前,所有男女應該能夠享有平等和高品素的教育。我們選擇報考台灣的大學,因為這裡的教學品素很有保證。然而,我們並不認為台灣政府給予西非學生平等的教育機會。不然,如何解釋非洲其他國家以及其他洲的學生得以順利取得簽證,但我們卻被簽證程序拒諸門外?台灣的大學正正是信任我們,才給予錄取機會,那為甚麼外交部的取態卻恰恰相反?

 

We want to make it clear that The Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria deploys a number of manipulative tactics to prevent people from getting visas. They disguise it in a form of administrative procedures required to secure a visa. The manipulative tactics include giving late appointment dates when they know that the semester has already started in Taiwan. One student said " I know people who got December as their appointment date but they requested an appointment in August" . More so, they try to keep you in the dark by making information requested by applicants clandestine by being rude and very intolerant. Another aggrieved student said "They collect your documents and dump them, when you are tired you go and collect your documents". This has to stop! We think that the Trade office in Lagos needs a complete overhauling because of gross unprofessionalism in handling matters. For instance, there have been cases of students who were given an appointment date but on getting to the office, they were told that they had no appointment that day. Some of these students flew in from their home countries.

 

我們想清楚提出一點:奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處使用各種伎倆,以阻止在西非的申請人取得簽證。他們以申請簽證必需的行政手段,來掩飾他們的意圖。這些伎倆包括:他們在台灣已經開學以後,才提供預約辦理簽證日期。有位學生如是說:「我知道有人在八月預約辦理簽證,奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處卻只提供了一個十二月的辦理簽證時間。」更甚者是,他們通過無禮的態度,隱藏申請人所需的資訊,嘗試以此棄我們於黑暗之中。另一位受到不當對待的西非學生指出:「他們蒐集了你的文件,然後丟在一邊。當你疲於等待,你就會去取回你的文件。」這種情況必須停止!我們認為,針對毫不專業處理簽證的問題,奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處必須全面檢討現有處理簽證的程序。例如,有些申請人按照奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處提供的預約日期到場,竟然被告知當天並無預約。這些申請人當中一部份,卻特地由自己居住的國家遠道而來。

 

We understand that the visa processing is on a case by case basis, but how do one explain why it could take up to 6 weeks even after complete submission of documents, payments and interview; yet no response?

 

我們明白,簽證是按照個案原則辦理。但到底如何解釋,為甚麼即使提交所有文件、繳費及面試,要花長達六星期等待簽證,甚至至今仍然音信全無?

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan also posited that West Africa people overstay their visas. This is a general phenomenon, and there are lots of people from other countries who also overstay their visas in Taiwan. According to the National Immigration Agency (NIA), the largest number of overstaying foreign nationals in Taiwan are migrant workers, who accounted for 51,982 of the total as of Nov. 2018.[1] We want to point out here that the number of West Africa nationals resident in Taiwan is  comparatively very low. We should not be punished because of the behavior of a few misguided West Africans. As students, we promise to live according to the laws of the Republic of Taiwan, if our visas are granted.

 

外交部亦預設了西非人士逾期居留。事實上,這是一個普遍現象,台灣裡也有來自其他地方的逾期居留者。根據移民署的數字,人口最多的逾期居留者是移工,在2018年11月總計51,982人。[1] 我們希望指出,對照之下,這個數據裡在台的西非國籍人口非常少。來自西非國家人士在台違法只佔非常少數,我們不該因而被牽連受罰。作為學生,我們承諾,如果我們獲得來台簽證,將嚴格遵守台灣的法律。

 

Giving West African students a fair opportunity to study in Taiwan like students from other countries will not only improve Taiwan's influence in the region; it will also help in promoting future relationships between Taiwan and West African countries.

This is because, here in West Africa, there are still a lot of people who do not know about the country of Taiwan because of its size and geographic location. Giving us the opportunity will help reduce China domination and indoctrination, which will in turn make Taiwan more known and increase  support for Taiwan in the international community.

 

如其他在台的境外生,給予西非學生在台受教育的平等機會,不單能夠提升台灣在區域裡的影響力,亦有助發展台灣與西非國家的關係。由於台灣的地理位置和面積,西非很多人仍然對台灣一無所知。給予西非學生在台就學機會將有助減低中國的影響力,並進一步令世界各國認識和支持台灣。

 

We are hereby pleading with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and calling on all concerned bodies and persons of good conscience, to look into these issues; and see to the abysmal treatments mated out to West African students at the Taipei Trade Office in Lagos, Nigeria.

 

我們在此懇求外交部,並呼籲所有關注事態的組織和良善的個體,請調查西非申請入境簽證的問題;並關注西非學生在奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處所遭受的惡劣待遇。

 

Our demands are simple and are as follows :

1. West African students should be treated the same way as students from other countries and not be discriminated against.

 

2. The Taiwan government should not assume that all documents submitted by West African students for the purpose of visa application are doctored.

 

3. Government should reduce the visa application processing time.

 

4. Information regarding visa application should be transparent to applicants. By implication, there should be quick communication to applicants by the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, if need be.

 

Long Live Taiwan!

 

 

我們的訴求很簡單,包括以下四點:

 

1.西非學生應該得到與來自其他國家的國際學生相同的對待,不應該被歧視。

2.台灣政府不應以少數個案為理由,而視所有西非學生文件為偽造。

3.簽證申請審核時間應該被適當地減少。

4.簽證申請審核資訊應該對申請人公開透明。如有需要進一步釐清或補充文件,奈及利亞的臺北貿易辦事處應儘快與申請人溝通。

 

台灣萬歲!

 

Note

 

[1] “Taiwan to start amnesty program for overstaying foreign nationals”, Pingtung County Police Bureau, accessed 7 Nov 2021, shorturl.at/agvzR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Able 發言稿:

 

Visa Application Problem and long time of waiting

 

簽證申請問題,以及無盡的等待

 

It is disheartening that in a global world, in this season of human right and technological influence, a visa applicant will not know how long to wait for his or her documents or visa decision after a visa application.

 

令人沮喪的是,在一個全球化的世界裡,在這個充滿人權和技術的時代,簽證申請人不知道在申請簽證後,究竟要等多久,才能得到他/她的文件或申請結果。

 

Taiwan as a country is technologically adept and ranked as one of the most advanced countries of the world. This is clearly seen with the way the country handled the COVID-19 situation which made most countries come for tutorship from Taiwan. Why will a country like Taiwan be associated with countries who give preferential treatment of other African countries and exonerate West African countries and its citizens simply because of claims? It is true that there are bad eggs in every society, not only Africa but the world at large. Let's face the greater picture; Nigeria as a country has some of the most educated individuals alive, the country has the most experienced professionals and some of the nicest and industrious people in the world. We deserve to be given an opportunity just like every other country!

 

台灣作為一個國家,在技術上非常成熟,是世界上最先進的國家之一,這一點可以從台灣處理COVID-19疫情的方式中清楚地看到,疫情使許多國家來尋求台灣的經驗。為什麼像台灣這樣一個友善對待其他非洲國家的國家,會僅僅因為一些個別的違法事件而區別對待西非國家及其公民呢?的確,每個社會都有壞蛋,不僅是非洲,而是整個世界都如此。但讓我們來看看更重要的部份:奈及利亞作為一個國家,裡面同樣有受教育程度最高的人、最有經驗的專業人士,以及這世界上最善良和勤奮的人。我們應該像其他國家的人一樣,公平地得到一個機會。

 

l am of the opinion that visas, especially student visas, just like everywhere in the world should be prioritized. It is very absurd that a student will apply for a study visa, study online for 2 months and the embassy will not even authenticate his documents... If there are better ways of verifying the documents, we are willing to work with the government to fish out those bad eggs. We want the government to treat us justly, and we are ready to prove the assertions of the Trade Office wrong.

 

我認為,簽證,特別是學生簽證,就像世界上任何地方一樣,應該被優先考慮。一個學生申請了學習簽證,並已經在線上學習了2個月,而台灣的大使館卻不認可他的文件,這是非常荒唐的。如果有更好的方法來驗證文件,我們願意與政府合作,把偽造證件的人找出來。我們希望政府公平地對待我們這些人,我們會證明台灣駐奈及利亞辦事處的論斷(指西非偽造證件盛行,所以學生的簽證申請難以相信)是錯誤的。

 

We demand that just like other countries, let our visa decision be faster for at most 3 weeks and there should be proper communication with applicants on the visa process. It is very disturbing and emotionally draining that an applicant cannot be informed of the mistakes in his or her application on time to enable him or her to correct it and reapply. Even in other advanced countries, study visa applicants can apply for several times until the Visa officer is convinced. The government should work with the school authorities and deport any student who doesn't perform well academically after a year. We are willing to sign this agreement with the government. All we are asking is trust, believe and love... Taiwan is a lovely country and we believe just like other countries of the world that West African countries will be a safe haven and business hub for them. This is also an opportunity for the country to export the strong academic environment and technology to West African countries. Thank you!

 

我們要求像其他國家一樣,讓我們的簽證決定更快一些,縮短到三週以內。並且,我們認為台灣辦事處應該與申請人就簽證過程,進行適當的溝通。如果申請人不能被及時告知他的申請中有任何錯誤,使他或她能夠改正並重新申請,這是非常令人不安的,也會讓申請人情緒低落。在其他先進國家,學習簽證的申請人可以進行多次申請,直到簽證官認可為止。我們希望政府能與學校合作。如果在我們當中,有誰學術表現差勁,一年後可以把他/她驅除出境;我們願意跟政府簽下這份同意書。我們所要求的是信任、和愛。台灣是一個可愛的國家,我們相信,就像世界上其他國家一樣,西非國家也可以成為台灣人的安全港口和商業中心。這也是台灣向西非國家輸出強大的學術環境和技術的一個機會。謝謝你!

 

Chang 發言稿:

 

Transparency and prompt communication

 

公開透明和及時溝通

 

The Taipei Trade office in Lagos does not completely communicate to student visa applicants regarding their application but instead, they withhold information regarding it.

 

台北駐拉各斯貿易辦事處(以下簡稱TECO)並不與學生簽證的申請人就其申請案進行溝通,反而選擇隱瞞相關資訊。

 

During visa application, one of the most important criteria in an applicant-foreign affairs relationship is COMMUNICATION.

 

在簽證申請過程中,申請人/外事關係中最重要的標準之一是溝通。

 

The applicant (student) will send emails to the TECO trying to get clarified information on his application but will never get a reply.

 

申請人(學生)曾向TECO辦公室發送多封電子郵件,試圖獲得有關其申請的明確資訊,但從未得到過答覆。

 

The only communication from TECO in Nigeria is their response on seeking a visa application date or when they reschedule you to come to pick up your application due to an error or so.

 

我們能夠獲得來自奈及利亞的TECO的、幾乎是唯一的溝通是:關於簽證申請日期的回應,或者當他們基於一些錯誤之類的原因,而需要重新安排你前往TECO辦公室取件時。

 

An applicant can worry about why his or her visa application is delayed or how long the decision is taking. Such an applicant should be given room to explain himself or herself and the proper solution to the challenge should be gently proffered by the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria rather than ignoring the applicant or treating the applicant with a disdainful attitude.

 

申請人會擔心為什麼他或她的簽證申請被延遲,或者他/她想要知道整個審核過程需要花大概多長時間。我認為應該給這樣的申請人以適當的解釋;就一切問題和挑戰,台北駐奈及利亞貿易辦事處應該溫和地提出適當的解決方案,而不是完全忽視申請人,或以不屑一顧的態度對待申請人。

 

Information regarding visa applications should be transparent to applicants from West Africa. By implication, there should be quick communication to applicants by the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, if need be. The information gap between students applying for visas and the Taipei Trade Office should be closed.

 

有關簽證申請的資訊,對來自西非的申請人應該是儘可能透明的。也就是說,如果有需要,駐尼日利亞的台北貿易辦事處應該與申請人迅速溝通。申請簽證的學生和台北貿易辦事處之間的資訊鴻溝應該被消除。

 

We expect the Taiwan foreign missions to be abreast with all the visa application details of a student applicant. So, it is their role to inform applicants early enough of any challenges with their application so it could be rectified on time.

 

我們希望台灣駐外館處能及時更新學生申請人的簽證申請進度。因此,如果我們的簽證申請中發生了任何問題,我們認為TECO有責任儘早告訴我們情況,以便讓我們及時糾正。

 

 

 

 

Samuel Asenso發言稿:

 

Discrimination, and the claim of document forgery:

歧視,以及「偽造文件」的宣稱

 

One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is that by the year 2030, all men and women should have access to equitable and quality education. We enrolled in Taiwan Universities because of the high quality education it promises, but, we are not seeing the Taiwan government giving equitable educational opportunities to West African students in line with the UN’s SDGs. How can one explain why other students from other African countries easily garner student visas but we are tactically refused visas?  The universities believe in us that is why they offer us admission, why do the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believe otherwise?

 

聯合國其中一項永續發展目標是,在2030年前,所有男女應該能夠享有平等和高品質的教育。我們選擇報考台灣的大學,因為這裡的教學品質很有保證。然而,我們並不認為台灣政府給予西非學生平等的教育機會,並不符合聯合國的永續發展目標。不然,如何解釋非洲其他國家以及其他洲的學生得以順利取得簽證,但我們卻被簽證程序拒諸門外?台灣的大學正正是信任我們,才給予錄取機會,那為甚麼外交部的取態卻恰恰相反?

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs posits that document forgery is prevalent in West Africa.  We have already refuted this claim because, to ascertain the genuineness and originality of the application documents submitted by students, every applicant is required to have their documents verified and endorsed firstly by the Apex educational body (The Ministry of Education) and also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The students did exactly as required. Apart from the authentication by the above named ministries, the Taipei Trade Office in Lagos equally authenticates our documents at $15 per document. With these three authentications, how will those who forge their documents gain entry into Taiwan for their studies? Therefore, the issue of documents forgery is untenable.

 

外交部預設,偽造簽證申請文件的情況在西非特別普及。我們已經清楚反駁過這個宣稱:為了確保所呈交的文件的真確性,每位申請人需要請他們的國家的教育部和外交部確認文件的真實性和蓋章。申請簽證的學生完全依循這個規定。除了上述部門的文件驗證,駐奈及利亞聯邦共和國臺北貿易辦事處也會再度驗證我們的文件,每一份文件驗證收費15美元。申請文件驗證的程序多達三重,試問誰還可以通過偽造文件入境台灣就學?因此,外交部聲稱西非學生偽造文件的論點是站不住腳的。

 

二維碼和蓋印

 

It is already very much discriminatory that students from West African countries and some few countries are the only ones asked to submit a guarantee letter alongside a visa application. The terms and conditions on these guarantee letters are so strong that only a Professor who is sure of the academic strength and motivation of the student can accept to append his signature to it. It is also very discriminatory that of all the countries in the world, only West African students and some few countries are asked to come for an interview where the Visa officer only repeats questions the student has addressed on his study plan which shows lack of trust; It is now more discriminatory and image tarnishing to still allege that is only this west African students that have falsified academic documents... It is really heartbreaking that we will suffer so much just because of our region. The right to Education is an equal right for all and the government of Taiwan should come out and assist us.

 

只有西非和少數國家在申請簽證過程中必須提交擔保信,這已經是一項具歧視性質的規定。擔保信的條款非常苛刻,只有熟知學生的學術專長與動機的教授才會同意簽署。同樣,只有西非和寥寥可數的國家被要求進行簽證申請面試,這也是歧視。簽證官的提問只是重複讀書計劃裡已經清楚表達的內容,顯示他們對這些地方的學生缺乏信任。現在外交部竟然指責,只有西非學生偽造學術文件,更是赤裸裸的歧視,甚至損害我們的形象⋯⋯我們僅僅因為我們出生和成長的地方,就蒙受如此種種,實在令人心碎不已。受教權是一項屬於所有人的平等權利,台灣政府理應站在來,幫助我們。

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