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VisaMetric, a service provider facilitating visa applications in Kosovo, has become embroiled in controversy following allegations of unfairly profiting from citizens by imposing a mandatory €30 fee for passport delivery. The decision to require payment for courier services without providing an option for applicants to collect their passports free of charge at VisaMetric's offices has sparked widespread concern and prompted legal action aimed at reimbursing affected individuals.
The situation has escalated to the courts, where Flamur Abdullahu, a prominent Kosovo lawyer, has presented expert calculations indicating that VisaMetric may have gained €1,579,530 unlawfully from these mandatory fees. Abdullahu's own assessment suggests that the actual damages incurred by citizens could be as high as €3 million, taking into account the number of visa applicants affected by the policy. Despite court orders mandating disclosure, VisaMetric has refused to provide information on applicant numbers, citing privacy concerns, a stance Abdullahu views as contradictory.
To ensure a fair resolution, Abdullahu has called upon affected citizens to participate in legal proceedings against VisaMetric. This collective legal action represents a significant step forward in Kosovo's legal landscape and aims to secure compensation for individuals charged for delivery services between October 13, 2022, and May 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, the recent milestone allowing Kosovo citizens visa-free travel to the EU for short stays has had a profound impact on travel dynamics. This development has not only increased the interest of Kosovars in visiting the EU but has also resulted in an elevation of Kosovo's passport ranking to 97th globally, with a score of 42.7 points according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. The surge in travel demand has led to a significant 21 percent increase in passenger traffic at the International Airport of Prishtina compared to the previous year. In response, the airport has introduced several new routes, including destinations such as Luxembourg, Riga, Heraklion, Halmstag, and Izmir, to meet the growing demand and facilitate smoother travel experiences for Kosovo citizens.
By fLEXI tEAM