02, Nov 2011

In an attempt to prevent fraud, the European Union (EU) has launched a new Visa Information System (VIS) for Indians and other non-EU citizens applying for a Schengen visa. Indian citizens seeking to visit the 25 countries in the Schengen area in European Union need the Schengen visa.

According to EU sources, the use of biometrics––fingerprints and a digital facial image, a feature included in the new system––will streamline the process of visa issuance. It will allow for a quick and effective exchange of data on short-stay visas among Schengen countries.

Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, also minister in charge for Home Affairs, said that from now on, foreigners wishing to visit the EU will benefit from clearer, more precise, transparent, and fairer visa application rules. The new system will also allow visas to be issued and verified in a more efficient and secure way. This, she believed, is a big step towards improving and modernizing the common EU visa policy. She added that the old application process can be cumbersome for those who are legitimately seeking a short-stay visa for travel within the EU and that it was not always easy to prevent frauds and abuses.

Around 13 million Schengen visas are issued every year by the 25 countries of the Schengen area, and the numbers are expected to increase in the future. The current visa delivering, monitoring, and verifying system is struggling to cope with such big numbers.
The new technologically advanced Visa Information System (VIS)––besides revving up the  processing of visa applications––will also make checks at external borders more efficient and enhance overall border security. Visa authorities in all Schengen states will now be able to consult the VIS database whenever necessary.

The VIS database will include all Schengen visa applications and all subsequent decisions taken by the visa authorities. Applicants can now expect to obtain new visas more quickly, as it is now easy for authorities to verify an applicant’s track record and reliability.
However, the VIS will not become operational in all Schengen countries’ consulates at once.

The EU is looking to connect all Schengen states’ consular posts worldwide to the VIS within two years.

Schengen Visa norms altered to help authorities verify your track-record and reliability with ease