The Vienna MA 35 (immigration and citizenship) as a completely overwhelmed office – not even phones should be picked up there. The “Krone” stopped by the ghost authority on Dresdner Strasse. What do those affected say?
“On November 10, 2020, we submitted the application for a stay at MA 35,” say Ahmed and Majed H. But they have been waiting for an answer for nine months. “It’s a disaster! We just want to know whether it is positive or negative, ”say the two.
Whoever leaves the headquarters of MA 35 reports the same thing: Nobody answers the phone, on site they say you should write an email, the employees just say it’s Corona. The integration department of the City of Vienna also uses the reference to the pandemic as an excuse. Although the budget and staff have increased, the grievances have grown and the procedures have become longer.
Selmir L.’s wife, for example, has been waiting for an answer about family reunification since April: “Waiting list!” Said K. heard the same thing on Thursday when he applied for a visa for the first time: “You have to wait.”