New Delhi: A sharp revival in post-Omicron demand for international travel has led to huge delays in visa processing – from seeking appointment slots for delivering biometrics to submitting paperwork and then receiving passports back. The problem is particularly acute with the Schengen states, the US and some other countries as foreign consulates have yet to scale up the workforce to pre-2020 levels. VFS Global COO (South Asia) Prabuddha Sen says his company has been “extremely proactive”, adding that the “travel season” has now shifted. Part:
Why is there so much delay in the visa process for so many countries?
(a) There has been a huge increase in visa demand. We are experiencing an unprecedented volume – an average of 20,000 to 23,000 visa applications from India, given the growing demand for travel. This was expected with the gradual opening of international borders, easing of travel restrictions and resumption of regular international flights from India. Visa processing can take longer than expected during peak season, and is common in all geographic areas and across governments.
How did VFS and consulates in India prepare for this situation?
We have been extremely proactive in restarting operations. We have over 540 Visa Application Centers (VACs) in India serving the interests of 51 client governments in 17 cities. Visa processing deadlines depend on visa categories and vary from government to government. Several embassies and diplomatic missions have actively addressed the issue over the past few weeks and urged applicants to apply early and on time to be able to catch their flights.
Applicants complain that it is also difficult to make an appointment for VFS Global Biometrics. notes.
The limited availability of appointments has again been attributed to demand exceeding supply. VFS Global provides placements through a transparent and secure appointment management system on a first-come-first-served (and) allocated as per the directives of the client governments. The passengers who were planning in advance have got the appointment seamlessly. This peak season is different from the pre-pandemic and last year we experienced that the season has also shifted towards travel plans in the August-September period. During the entire second half of 2021, we have experienced travel demand.
What do you want passenger Doing?
It is recommended to apply for a visa at the time of booking flights and stays. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) prior to your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective from February 2, 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. With the high demand and limited placement slots available especially this year, we urge applicants to apply for their visas as early as possible.
Can people demand the return of their passport to travel on the visa they already have while their application for a new visa is being processed?
If the passport, being a valid visa to another destination, gets stuck with a diplomatic mission, at VFS Global we have procedures in place to assist in getting the passport back when needed. However, since there is a dependency on the applicant’s location with respect to the diplomatic mission concerned and the presence of the diplomatic mission, we urge applicants to plan well in advance to avoid any last minute surprises.
Student travel season is approaching. What steps, if any, are being taken for them to reduce the delay?
We urge students to apply early to avoid last minute rush. Often client governments are proactive in reducing the amount of student visas. Furthermore, visa issuing authorities in various countries are under pressure from education governing bodies to issue visas to prospective students on time to ensure that students can start attending their scheduled courses on time. For example, the High Commission of Canada last year introduced a dedicated queue system for student applicants for biometric appointments.
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