When the Office of Citizenship and Migration (OCM) examines any application for an invitation, visa or residence permit (UA), the first thing it looks at are the migration risks associated with the foreigner.
What are migration risks?
Migration risks are the likelihood that a person obtaining a visa or UA will break residence or Latvian and EU laws. The assessment of risks is aimed at protecting national security, public order and public welfare.
What migration risks is the PMLP assessing?
Based on:
– Immigration Law (“On Entry and Residence of Foreigners and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Latvia”);
– Law on employment of foreigners;
– Relevant cabinet rules and regulations;
– Practical experience of working with applications.
The main migration risks analysed by the PMLP are:
- Risk of illegal residence
– Is there any reason to believe that the person might stay in Latvia illegally after entry?
– Travel history, compliance with previous visa regimes, refusals from other Schengen countries, provision of false information are analysed. - Risk of unauthorised employment
– Is the purpose of the trip as declared (e.g. tourism, study, work)?
– Are there any indications that the person will work without the appropriate permit or outside the declared area? - Risk of forged or false documents
– All documents (invitations, guarantees, certificates, contracts, etc.) are checked for authenticity. - Risk to public order, safety or health
– Information on criminal record, offences, links to extremist or terrorist organisations?
– Are there no valid entry bans in Latvia or the Schengen area? - Economic security risk
– Does the applicant have sufficient means to earn a living?
– Legal sources of income, means for the period of stay, insurance, residence are checked. - Risk of previous migration irregularities
– History of irregularities – overstaying visas, illegal stay, attempting to stay beyond the expiry date of your visa or UA. - Risk of sham marriages or sham reasons
– Marriages or other grounds for UA may be considered fictitious (e.g. if the aim is only legalisation and not family formation). - Risk of re-migration or transit
– There are no signs that the aim is to reach another EU country using Latvia as a transit country.
How is the evaluation carried out?
– Formal check of documents.
– Comparing the information provided with databases from other countries and international organisations.
– Checking the applicant’s history: previous visits, compliance with the law.
– Interviews and clarifying questions if necessary.
– Contacting the employer, educational institution or inviter to confirm the information.
– Assessing possible links to at-risk groups.
What should applicants and employers look out for?
– Documents must be true, accurate and confirm the purpose of your stay.
– Travel and behaviour history in the Schengen area is very important!
– Employers must format the invitation correctly, specifying the exact vacancy, and comply with legal requirements (e.g. obtaining an SEA opinion on the unavailability of a local worker).
– Any attempts to circumvent the procedure or provide false information will lead to an entry ban and other sanctions.
– You must have adequate living and working conditions and health insurance.
Conclusion
Each visa or UA application is not a formality, but a legally significant event that is carefully analysed by the PMLP in terms of migration risks.
Both applicants and companies are responsible for preparing transparent, accurate and legal documents.
Accountability is the basis for a positive decision.
If you need advice on obtaining a visa, invitation or residence permit in Latvia, or help with the paperwork – fill in the form on the website or contact our experts directly. We help you prepare your documents and support you every step of the way!
