The Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reminds Chinese citizens to beware of illegal visa intermediaries.

Recently, the embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has received several requests for consular assistance, as Chinese citizens in the Congo have been detained by the immigration department on suspicion of holding fake visas. According to feedback, in the mentioned incidents, the individuals, due to language barriers and the complexity of procedures, excessively trusted local so-called lawyers, translators, accountants, and other "intermediaries" to assist them in handling visa applications for the first time, renewing or obtaining new visas, and were charged high intermediary and visa fees. During routine inspections by the immigration department, the held visas were found to be fake, leading to their detention and being requested to assist in the investigation. The embassy reminds Chinese citizens in the Congo that visa issuance is the national prerogative of a country's central government and should be processed at designated immigration management institutions. Chinese citizens in the Congo should be vigilant, take visa matters seriously, and be cautious of visa fraud. If unable to visit the immigration department to apply for visas due to language or work constraints, it is advisable to carefully select stable and reputable officially designated intermediary agencies for processing, and keep copies of application documents and contact details for the agents. Do not easily trust referrals from acquaintances or low-cost intermediary services, as this may lead to financial losses or legal risks. During the period of assisting in the investigation as required by the immigration department, cooperate and if your personal safety is threatened, and your basic human rights are not protected, promptly contact the embassy's consular protection and assistance hotline.