Latest news with #TLSContact
Morocco World
a day ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Belgium Opens New Visa Application Center in Rabat
Doha – Belgium inaugurated on Thursday a new center for processing visa applications in Rabat. The facility, located at TLS-Millenium Business Centre, complements an existing center in Casablanca, expanding services for Moroccan visa applicants. The opening ceremony was attended by several officials, including Joris Salden, Director General of Consular Affairs for Belgium's Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, along with Gilles Heyvaert, Belgium's Ambassador to Morocco, and Bassem Missaoui, TLS Contact's Director General for North and West Africa. In his address, Salden noted that the new center represents an important step in improving access to consular services. He stated that his mission within consular diplomacy is to ensure transparent, professional, reliable, and accessible service. 'This center aligns perfectly with our strategy to bring our services closer to citizens,' Salden said. He explained that the Rabat TLS center will initially be dedicated exclusively to students to simplify the visa application process for those pursuing education in Belgium. 'We are pleased to welcome these students for high-quality training in Belgium, which helps strengthen the historical ties between our two countries,' he added. Previously, students enrolled in higher education programs in Belgium had to visit the embassy in Rabat to complete a study questionnaire and travel to Casablanca to submit their applications. Now, students can complete all procedures in Rabat on the same day: file submission at TLS Rabat, followed by a questionnaire at the Belgian Embassy. 'From now on, a single procedure will be sufficient, which represents a significant simplification of the process,' Salden pointed out. He went on to explain that implementing a digitalization system allows for more efficient processing of applications, while requiring a new work approach based on dedicated software and digital infrastructure. Ambassador Heyvaert stated that this initiative aims 'above all to guarantee quality services and ensure applications are processed within reasonable timeframes.' The ambassador noted that 'Morocco is a strategic country for Belgium, just as Belgium holds a strategic position for Morocco,' continuing that visa policy 'is part of the relationship framework that helps strengthen ties between the two countries.' Missaoui of TLS Contact recalled that since 2016, TLS has proudly worked with Belgium to collect visa applications, initially in Casablanca. 'Today marks an expansion of operations,' he said. The company is committed to ensuring optimal reception conditions that match the high service standards and quality of welcome it intends to offer visa applicants, Missaoui affirmed. The Belgian Embassy in Morocco processes more than 20,000 visa applications annually, a figure that continues to rise. Read also: France Expands Consular Services to Morocco's Southern Provinces
Morocco World
29-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
TLScontact Expands Automated France Visa Appointment System Across Morocco
Doha – Following a successful pilot program in Rabat last autumn, TLScontact has expanded its automated visa appointment allocation system to centers in Fez, Oujda, Tangier, and Casablanca. The new system aims to combat fraudulent practices that have plagued visa applications for France. 'Instead of opening slots for online reservation, appointments are now automatically and randomly assigned to applicants registered on the site,' TLScontact stated in a press release. Confirmation of these appointments requires payment of service fees, without which the slot is reassigned to another applicant. The initiative targets first-time applicants, who are often most affected by fraudulent practices due to high demand for appointments. According to TLScontact, intermediaries have been using technological methods to capture appointment slots as soon as they become available and resell them at inflated prices. Despite implementing advanced cybersecurity solutions like reinforced CAPTCHA, traffic monitoring, and OTP authentication, TLScontact found that fraudsters continuously adapted their methods. This prompted the development of the new approach. The pilot program in Rabat showed immediate results, with bot activity dropping by 48% over four weeks. A decrease of 12% was visible from the first week of implementation. Nearly 15,000 appointments have been securely allocated in Rabat since the system was introduced. Following this success, TLScontact deployed the new system to its centers in Fez, Oujda, and Tangier in February, followed by Casablanca in March. The company is also implementing similar procedures with other government clients facing the same challenges. Read also: Will Brokers Exploit TLSContact's New Video Identity Verification System? The system is being progressively extended to other visa types, including renewals of standard visas and circulation visas. For renewal applications in Rabat, Fez, and Oujda, a special procedure has been established as of April. Under this new procedure, applicants will be placed in a queue and a limited number will be offered appointments within a maximum period of 60 days. Selected applicants will receive a pre-reservation email with instructions on how to confirm their appointment, including payment of service fees within the specified timeframe. Additionally, some applicants may be contacted for a video identity verification call, during which they will be asked to present their passport to the camera. If applicants do not receive an appointment within 60 days of registration, they must renew their application by submitting a new request through the platform. Expansion to Morocco's southern provinces In addition to combating fraud, TLScontact has expanded its services geographically. During the inauguration of a new 3,500 m² visa center in Casablanca, French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier announced the extension of visa services to Laayoune in Morocco's southern provinces. 'In line with the position expressed by the President of the Republic during his official visit last October, visa application services have been expanded directly to Laayoune, in partnership with TLS,' the French Embassy in Morocco said. 'Residents of this region will now benefit from the same services,' they added. The new Casablanca center can handle between 800 and 1,200 visitors daily and includes upgraded facilities such as extended appointment hours, at-home document collection, and free access to a premium lounge for people with reduced mobility. 'Visa applicants have legitimate and growing expectations that we must meet to address the challenges of mobility between Morocco and France,' Lecourtier said during the inauguration. Tags: France visa applicationtls contactvisa appointments
Ya Biladi
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Hungary is set to expand its consular services to the Moroccan Saharan provinces
Hungary reaffirmed its clear support on Wednesday for Morocco's 2007 autonomy plan as the basis for resolving the Western Sahara issue, stating that it «must be the foundation» of a political solution within the framework of the United Nations. Following talks in Budapest with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary's position is in line with those recently reiterated by the United States and France. Szijjártó also announced that he had instructed Hungary's ambassador to Morocco to visit the southern provinces, following in the footsteps of representatives from other major powers. Additionally, the Hungarian minister confirmed the extension of Hungarian consular services to cover all Moroccan territory, including the Saharan provinces. According to him, the move reflects Hungary's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting the growing international backing for Morocco's initiative. France also announced on Wednesday the expansion of its consular services to the Saharan provinces via TLS Contact, which has opened an office in Laayoune. This wave of support comes as the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2756 stresses the need to capitalize on the diplomatic «momentum» surrounding the issue.
Local France
02-04-2025
- Business
- Local France
Americans in France: Executive orders, tax returns and voting from abroad
Welcome to The Local's "Americans in France" newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in France. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below. Dear Americans in France, Even though we are still a few years out, the news in France is very centred around the 2027 presidential election and whether far-right politician Marine Le Pen will be able to run, after being found guilty of embezzlement and banned from holding public office. Here's what the future may hold for Le Pen and the French far right. Tax season in France is rapidly approaching, and it has already begun in the United States. As a reminder, US citizens are still required to submit an US tax return every year, even though they no longer reside on US soil. Advertisement Americans abroad do benefit from an automatic two-month extension for their American returns (meaning your tax return would be due June 15th instead of April 15th). You can also ask for an extension, if needed. Meanwhile, French tax declarations are usually due late-May or early June (depending on your location in France). If you're feeling lost, we have our 2025 bumper tax guide that has answers all of the frequently asked questions when it comes to French taxes. It can also be confusing to determine which tax return to file first - French or American? To get a better idea, The Local spoke with tax expert Jonathan Hadida. In other news, every four weeks, we publish an article with all of the big changes and events for the month ahead. This April, one change will affect Americans who wish to move to France or spend more than 90 out of every 180 days here. The French government has changed the company they use to process visa applications from the US. VFS Global will no longer serve as the application centre for Americans applying for French visas. Instead, it will be replaced by TLSContact. Here is how that change might affect your ongoing or upcoming visa application to France. In the ongoing saga of tensions between the US and Europe, a new disagreement has flared up between the US in France. This time, the dispute stems from a letter the US embassy sent to French companies doing business with the US. In the letter, the companies were reportedly asked to certify that they "do not practice programmes to promote diversity, equity and inclusion" or DEI. In response, the French trade ministry condemned the United States' 'interference' in French companies. US President Donald Trump also issued a new executive order that - if it holds up in court - could make it harder for overseas Americans' to vote . Meanwhile, the SAVE Act, which also seeks to tighten voter registration rules, and could also make it harder for Americans in France to vote, is expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives soon. Advertisement And finally, we would love to hear from you. You can give your best tips for other Americans in France or ask us questions via our ongoing survey . After the last edition of this newsletter, one reader - Stephen in Rennes - said: "For me, there are ways of doing things that the French take for granted that are totally surprising, and I would like someone to explain them to me before I trip into them." We're happy to help - as many of us know, it can be difficult dodge a scolding in France. Here are our best tips to avoid being told off. Another reader, Jody, asked us "Why do I keep getting refused for an apartment in Paris when I meet the qualifications?" "It is BRUTAL to find housing, especially rentals, at least in Paris. You can know some French, you can have 4 times the amount that you need - still, GOOD LUCK." I am right there with you Jody. I have been through this process three times, and it is always stressful and confusing. One of the best things you can do is to verify that your dossier includes every element the landlord has asked for. If you are struggling with the 'guarantor' step, there are some alternatives if the landlord insists on one. Thanks for reading, and as always, you can reach me at
Local France
27-03-2025
- Local France
US to change French visa applications company
VFS Global will no longer serve as the application centre for Americans applying for French visas. Instead, it will be replaced by TLSContact, following a contract change by French authorities. The service provider change will happen on April 18th, according to the French government website France Visas. VFS Global had 10 centres in the United States, and these will close on April 17th. From April 18th, TLSContact will take over operations, also offering 10 centres in the same US cities. You can see their map of where centres will be located on their website . READ MORE: What is the difference between a French 'carte de séjour' and a visa? What does that mean for people with ongoing applications? VFS Global says it will continue processing applications until April 17th, so if you have your appointment already booked before that you can either keep it or cancel it and book a new one with TLSContact after April 18th. For all future appointments, you will need to book with TLSContact (more info on steps below). If you already had your appointment - and you are waiting to get your passport back - it will depend on whether you opted to pick it up in person or have it shipped. Advertisement VFS Global said in their press release that "if you requested your passport to be shipped back to you by express mail, no action is required from your side." However, "if you chose to retrieve your passport at a VFS center, please note that you will have to retrieve it at a different location after the 18th April." VFS Global then advised people in this situation to go to the France Visas website to consult where the new pick-up location would be, but presumably this would be the new TLSContact centre in the same city or area that the VFS Global office was located. To double check that your passport will be given to the new TLSContact centre, you can fill out their contact form and verify. What will change for new applications? The initial steps will remain the same. Assuming you do not hold EU nationality, you first need to determine the type of visa you need. READ MORE: EXPLAINED: What type of French visa do you need? Once you have done so, you submit your visa application on the France-Visas website . Advertisement When you have completed the application, you print out the form along with the receipt and the other supporting documents that they ask you to provide (eg proof of finances, work contract, etc). The documents required are not affected by the change, as these are decided by the French government. READ MORE: New rules for French visas and residency cards in 2025 Compile your file ( dossier ) and now, instead of submitting to VFS Global, submit to TLSContact. You will need to create a TLSContact account, then book an appointment at one of their centres. At the appointment, you will submit your passport and file. They will also collect biometric data (as they would have at VFS Global). Keep in mind that the application itself is actually processed by consular authorities, not TLSContact. You should be able to track your application on your TLSContact account. Once your visa is ready, your passport will be sent back to you with the visa stamped inside. In some locations, you may be able to opt to pick up your passport in person. Advertisement What will this mean for processing times? TLSContact has said that their new facilities "are designed to optimise the visa application process, reduce appointment times, and improve the overall customer experience." The company will have 50 staff in total in the US and Jamaica, who will be "shadowed by TLScontact operations experts sent to the US for the first few weeks of our new operations, to ensure a smooth launch." That said, the company warned in their announcement that the "timelines are very tight for these openings, and teams from across our organisation have been working around the clock to ensure that the new centres are ready on time." As such, there may be an adjustment period as the transition takes hold. TLSContact already operates visa processing centres in dozens of other countries, and they currently operate French visa processing for people in the UK. Readers in the UK have long complained about long processing times and repeated technical glitches with TLSContact's website. It remains to be seen if similar issues will occur in their US sites. READ MORE: 'We'll give up our French house' - users speak of their frustration with TLS visa site
