Multinational human resource company helps to expedite processing

FESCO Adecco, which bills itself as the largest multinational human resource company in China, will start a new visa center for the Netherlands on Friday to handle an expected 20,000 applications annually.

As the first visa application center for the Netherlands in Shanghai, it will offer postal applications and other services for accredited companies and travel agencies using channels dedicated to organizations accredited by the consulate general and with approved destination status.

Applicants can now use the services for joint Schengen visas, said Feng Zhihao, FESCO Adecco national business development director.

"Applicants also do not need to come in person to the center. A postal application service is offered as well as the option to send a representative. The time to get an appointment is shorter as appointments are available within five working days," said Feng.

Once the diplomatic mission's decision is made, passports are transferred in the same secure way back to the visa application center. Applicants can follow their status online in real time through their personal account on a dedicated website.

When the passport is back at the visa application center, applicants receive a SMS informing them that their passport is ready for pick up.

Kong Chunmei, a retired high school teacher in Shanghai who flies frequently to the Netherlands to visit her daughter, said the new service sounds convenient.

"As long as the company provides safe and efficient service, I would not mind spending more money for the visa application, which always requires so much time and work in great detail, especially for us who travel frequently between China and the Netherlands."

FESCO Adecco received its visa agent qualification from China's Ministry of Public Security in 2011 and launched a Franco-German visa application center with partner TLScontact in November 2012.

James Kite, chief operating officer of TLScontact, said they will "keep improving standards to deliver to each visa applicant a good experience and help in the diplomatic mission's transparency, security, control and scalability."

Min Qiang, general manager of FESCO Group, noted that "visa outsourcing is relatively new to China".

"At present, several consulates general in Shanghai have adopted this mode. The service will become more mature and widely accepted by the general public."

The total number of visa applications for the Netherlands from China was 55,000 last year, with 20,000 in Shanghai, 25,000 in Beijing and 10,000 in Guangzhou. A 10 percent increase is expected in 2013.

shijing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/18/2013 page17)