POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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consular missions abroad regarding current issues and future plans in the field of issue of visas.
Taking into account the requirements of the Visa Code, current practice in embassies and
consular offices was evaluated and necessary developments as well as training of consular
officials was performed for successful start of application of the Visa Code. Attention of
consular officials was drawn also to the need to participate, within the framework of local
Schengen cooperation, in meetings of the Schengen Agreement member states in order to
discuss and agree on the matters to be harmonized in the procedure for review of visa
applications.
In order to comply with the provisions of Paragraph one, Article 6 of the Visa Code that
a visa application shall be examined and decided on by the consulate of the competent Member
State in whose jurisdiction the applicant legally resides, and in order to comply with the
amendment to Paragraph five of Section 13 of the Immigration Law regarding the delegation to
the Cabinet of Ministers to issue regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers that will specify the
territorial competence of diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia abroad in
issuance of visas, the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of 3 August 2010 approved
Regulation No. 725 "Regulation on the Territorial Competence of Diplomatic and Consular
Missions of the Republic of Latvia in Requests of Visas" 137 which was developed by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The State Border Guard applies the Visa Code to full extent and, in 2010, has prepared
a range of internal regulatory documents to ensure the issue, annulment, cancellation of visas
according to the new regulation. The visa information system is being introduced in
cooperation with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs according to the plan of
introduction of the visa information system. 138
Starting from 5 April 2010, there are two categories of visas: entry or C category visa
and airport transit visa or A category visa. Until 4 April 2010, also B category visas were used,
and now such visas are replaced with C category visas with the purpose of entry: transit, but the
EU Visa Code does not regulate the procedure for issuance of long-term or D category visa, but
national legislation of Member States shall be applied to such visas also in the future. 139
In order to introduce the requirements of the Visa Code, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
will, in cooperation with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, amendments to the
137 Information provided by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
138 Information provided by officials of the State Border Guard.
139 Uzsākta Eiropas Savienības Vīzu kodeksa piemērošana (Application of the European Union Visa Code is
Started).// http://www.rs.gov.lv/index.phpid=993&sa=&top=0&doc=4622 - [see: 25.11.2010]