EU countries take steps to prevent ‘visa shopping’

New Delhi: European countries have become active to stop ‘Visa Shopping’ Passengers at airports in India are being checked thoroughly for hotel bookings and other documents to cross check if passengers have given incorrect information in order to get visa faster.

As per Schengen Visa norms, in case of travel to multiple countries, you need to take visa from the country, where you will have maximum days of stay, irrespective of the fact which country is your port of entry to Europe. In case, you are visiting two countries with equal days of stay then country to be visited first will issue the visa. The Schengen zone includes the 26 countries which allows people to travel within the zone freely. The country competent for deciding on your visa application must be the one that is your sole destination of visit; whose territory is the main destination of your visit (as far as length or purpose of stay), or the country whose borders you intend to cross first to enter the Schengen Area. However, several travellers use the short cut to get quick visa by providing incorrect information to the embassies and not adhering to any of these norms. Officials in embassies in India said that it is not possible to verify itinerary of all the visa applicants due to heavy rush and added t
hat to prevent “Visa Shopping”, immigration officers are there at airports to question passengers and check for discrepancies in information.

Visa Shopping is the practice of applying for “visas” at a consulate, where it is easier or faster to get travel permission compared to others.

On an average, Europe bound airlines are turning back 3-5 passengers from Delhi airport after catching them during the check-in, a duty staff of one of the airlines said. He added that there are also days where there is no such case but the airlines have been asked to be vigilant to prevent illegal and wrongful entry to Europe. Embassy staff of all EU countries too are present on rotation basis at airports to stop such passengers. “All airlines are bound to adhere to commonly applicable visa regulations such as the Schengen Agreement. Foreign missions have Airline Liaison Officers to assist airlines in respective visa queries during operational hours at the airport,” Lufthansa spokesperson said. People in the travel industry said that the problem comes when there is a mismatch identified in the itinerary or the purpose of travel.

Since some countries give visas faster, many use their visas to enter Europe.

European countries have become active to stop ‘Visa Shopping’ Passengers at airports in India are being checked thoroughly for hotel bookings and other documents to cross check if passengers have given incorrect information in order to get visa faster.

As per Schengen Visa norms, in case of travel to multiple countries, you need to take visa from the country, where you will have maximum days of stay, irrespective of the fact which country is your port of entry to Europe. In case, you are visiting two countries with equal days of stay then country to be visited first will issue the visa. The Schengen zone includes the 26 countries which allows people to travel within the zone freely. The country competent for deciding on your visa application must be the one that is your sole destination of visit; whose territory is the main destination of your visit (as far as length or purpose of stay), or the country whose borders you intend to cross first to enter the Schengen Area. However, several travellers use the short cut to get quick visa by providing incorrect information to the embassies and not adhering to any of these norms. Officials in embassies in India said that it is not possible to verify itinerary of all the visa applicants due to heavy rush and added t
hat to prevent “Visa Shopping”, immigration officers are there at airports to question passengers and check for discrepancies in information.

Visa Shopping is the practice of applying for “visas” at a consulate, where it is easier or faster to get travel permission compared to others.

On an average, Europe bound airlines are turning back 3-5 passengers from Delhi airport after catching them during the check-in, a duty staff of one of the airlines said. He added that there are also days where there is no such case but the airlines have been asked to be vigilant to prevent illegal and wrongful entry to Europe. Embassy staff of all EU countries too are present on rotation basis at airports to stop such passengers. “All airlines are bound to adhere to commonly applicable visa regulations such as the Schengen Agreement. Foreign missions have Airline Liaison Officers to assist airlines in respective visa queries during operational hours at the airport,” Lufthansa spokesperson said. People in the travel industry said that the problem comes when there is a mismatch identified in the itinerary or the purpose of travel.

Since some countries give visas faster, many use their visas to enter Europe.